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Shelby County

Iowa · Public K-12

6 public schools serving approximately 1,924 students, in a county of 11,778 residents.

Schools
6
3 districts
Enrollment
1,924
NCES CCD
Median income
$72,738
Above Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
39.4%
Below Iowa avg
Elementary
3
schools
Middle
1
schools
High
2
schools
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Harlan Comm School District
1,498 students · 3 districts in Shelby County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Shelby 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
4%
Black
0%
Asian
1%
Two or more
4%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
89%
Hispanic
n/r
Black
1%
Asian
0%
Two or more
3%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
24.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.2%
civilian labor
Median age
44
22.9% under 18

All schools (6)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Harlan High SchoolHarlanHigh09-12477·
Harlan PrimaryHarlanElementaryPK-02369·
Harlan Community Middle SchoolHarlanMiddle06-08342·
Harlan Intermediate SchoolHarlanElementary03-05310·
Irwin Elementary SchoolIrwinElementaryPK-03230·
ExiraElk Horn-Kimballton High SchoolElk HornHigh06-12196·

Frequently asked

How many public schools are in Shelby County?
Shelby County, Iowa has 6 public K-12 schools serving approximately 1,924 students.
What is the mix of elementary, middle, and high schools in Shelby County?
The county's public school system includes 3 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high schools.
What is the largest school district in Shelby County?
Harlan Comm School District is the largest school district in Shelby County, serving approximately 1,498 students. The county contains 3 school districts overall.
How many people live in Shelby County?
Shelby County has roughly 11,778 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Shelby County?
Median household income in Shelby County is $72,738, above the Iowa average of $71,592. About 7.6% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Shelby County?
Approximately 24.1% of adults 25 and older in Shelby County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Shelby County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 39.4% of students in Shelby 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 42.4%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Shelby County schools?
Across Shelby County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 14.6 to 1.
What is the racial makeup of Shelby County?
Shelby County residents are approximately 92% White, 4% Hispanic, 0% Black, 1% Asian, 4% two or more races according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of housing in Shelby County is owner-occupied?
Shelby County has about 5,441 housing units, of which roughly 77.8% are owner-occupied.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data