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Mahaska County

Iowa · Public K-12

Across all districts in Mahaska County, public schools number 8 and enroll approximately 2,757 K-12 students (4 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high).

4-year change in Mahaska County

SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
2,732
-75 (-3%) vs SY 2020-21
School count
7
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages

How Mahaska County ranks

Among counties
MeasureThis countyIn IowaIn the US
State test proficiency
ranked highest first
70.8%#53 of 89N/A
Enrollment
ranked largest first
2,757#41 of 90#1,930 of 2,745
Number of schools
ranked most first
8#64 of 90N/A
Students per teacher
ranked fewest first
13.2:1#36 of 90#1,001 of 2,655
Free or reduced-price lunch share
ranked highest first
38.2%#58 of 90#2,166 of 2,526
Diversity index
ranked most diverse first
23.5%#51 of 89#2,000 of 2,707
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.

Mahaska County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
Residents
22,021
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
8
3 districts
Enrollment
2,757
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$70,940
Below Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
38.2%
Below Iowa avg
Elementary
4
1,421 students
Middle
1
404 students
High
3
932 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Oskaloosa Comm School District
2,073 students · 3 districts in Mahaska County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Mahaska County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
92%
Hispanic
3%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
87%
Hispanic
4%
Black
2%
Asian
1%
Two or more
5%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
24.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.5%
civilian labor
Median age
39
23.7% under 18

Test scores in Mahaska County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. Iowa state average: 73.7%.

See all 5 schools in Mahaska County ranked by score →

All schools (8)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Oskaloosa Elementary SchoolOskaloosaElementaryKG-05903·
Oskaloosa High SchoolOskaloosaHigh09-12632·
Oskaloosa Middle SchoolOskaloosaMiddle06-08404·
North Mahaska Elementary SchoolNew SharonElementaryPK-06301·
North Mahaska Jr-Sr High SchoolNew SharonHigh07-12275·
Oskaloosa Early Childhood Center - PKOskaloosaElementaryPK-PK109·
Fremont ElementaryFremontElementaryPK-06108·
Oskaloosa Virtual AcademyOskaloosaHigh07-1225·

Cities in Mahaska County

Oskaloosa5 schoolsNew Sharon2 schoolsFremont1 school

About Mahaska County

Mahaska County is a sparse county of about 22,021 residents in Iowa. Its public-school system instructs approximately 2,757 students across 8 schools.

Zooming out, census numbers show median household income runs near $70,940, 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 8%.

In terms of grade levels, Mahaska County consists of 4 elementary schools (1,421 students), 1 middle school (404), and 3 high schools (932).

Oskaloosa Comm School District is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 2,073 students across Mahaska County.

Trend over the past 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Mahaska County has contracted 3% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 2,807 students to 2,732.

In the discussion threads here, the community for Mahaska County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Mahaska County?
There are 8 public K-12 schools in Mahaska County, Iowa, with a combined enrollment of about 2,757.
How many high schools are in Mahaska County?
Mahaska County, Iowa has 3 public high schools, serving approximately 932 students.
How many middle schools are in Mahaska County?
Mahaska County, Iowa has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 404 students.
How many elementary schools are in Mahaska County?
Mahaska County, Iowa has 4 public elementary schools, serving approximately 1,421 students.
What is the largest school district in Mahaska County?
Oskaloosa Comm School District is the largest school district in Mahaska County, serving approximately 2,073 students. The county contains 3 school districts overall.
What is the population of Mahaska County?
Mahaska County, Iowa has a population of approximately 22,021, with a median age of 39. About 23.7% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Mahaska County?
Median household income in Mahaska County is $70,940, below the Iowa average of $71,592. About 8.2% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Mahaska County?
Approximately 24.1% of adults 25 and older in Mahaska County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Mahaska County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 38.2% of students in Mahaska County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Iowa county average of 41.8%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Mahaska County schools?
Across Mahaska County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 13.7 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data