Total enrollment
2,449
-36 (-1%) vs SY 2020-21
Mills County
Iowa · Public K-12
Public-school enrollment in Mills County clocks in around 2,449 students across 6 schools (3 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high).
4-year change in Mills County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
6
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Mills County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Iowa | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 78.0% | #19 of 89 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 2,449 | #50 of 90 | #2,035 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 6 | #76 of 90 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 14.6:1 | #77 of 90 | #1,621 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 41.9% | #42 of 90 | #2,011 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 20.4% | #62 of 89 | #2,135 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.
Residents
14,568
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
6
2 districts
Enrollment
2,449
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$90,753
Above Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
41.9%
Above Iowa avg
Elementary
3
1,192 students
Middle
1
453 students
High
2
804 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Glenwood Comm School District
2,001 students · 2 districts in Mills County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Mills 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
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
31.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.0%
civilian labor
Median age
42
22.8% under 18
Test scores in Mills County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. Iowa state average: 73.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Glenwood Middle School· 87.1%
- West Elementary School· 81.4%
- Glenwood Senior High School· 80.6%
- East Mills Jr/Sr High School· 76.8%
- East Mills Elementary School· 58.4%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenwood Senior High School | Glenwood | High | 09-12 | 570 | · |
| Northeast Elementary School | Glenwood | Elementary | PK-02 | 538 | · |
| Glenwood Middle School | Glenwood | Middle | 06-08 | 453 | · |
| West Elementary School | Glenwood | Elementary | 03-05 | 440 | · |
| East Mills Jr/Sr High School | Malvern | High | 06-12 | 234 | · |
| East Mills Elementary School | Malvern | Elementary | PK-05 | 214 | · |
Cities in Mills County
About Mills County
Across the compact Iowa county of Mills County of about 14,568 residents, the public-school footprint covers 6 schools and about 2,449 students.
Stepping back, census numbers show the median household earns about $90,753 a year, about 31% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 5%. That income level is 27% meaningfully above the Iowa median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Mills County comprises 3 elementary schools (1,192 students), 1 middle school (453), and 2 high schools (804).
The largest single district in Mills County is Glenwood Comm School District, which alone enrolls about 2,001 students.
Looking at the last 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Mills County has stayed largely flat since SY 2020-21, moving from about 2,485 students to 2,449.
On this page, the community for Mills County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data