Total enrollment
11,665
+225 (+2%) vs SY 2020-21
Story County
Iowa · Public K-12
Public-school enrollment in Story County clocks in around 11,665 students across 26 schools (14 elementary, 5 middle, and 7 high).
4-year change in Story County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
26
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Story County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Iowa | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 79.7% | #12 of 89 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 11,665 | #10 of 90 | #725 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 26 | #10 of 90 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 14.5:1 | #74 of 90 | #1,592 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 27.9% | #84 of 90 | #2,438 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 39.3% | #25 of 89 | #1,507 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.
Story County school rankings
Residents
100,466
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
26
7 districts
Enrollment
11,665
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$69,685
Below Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
27.9%
Below Iowa avg
Elementary
14
5,277 students
Middle
5
2,632 students
High
7
3,756 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Ames Comm School District
4,688 students · 7 districts in Story County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Story 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+
54.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.8%
civilian labor
Median age
27
16.2% under 18
Test scores in Story County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 23 schools ranked. Iowa state average: 73.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Gilbert Middle School· 95.8%
- Gilbert High School· 94.0%
- Gilbert Intermediate School· 90.4%
- Central Elementary School· 88.1%
- Roland-Story High School· 87.8%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Colo-Nesco Elementary School· 61.2%
- Mitchell Elementary School· 71.8%
- Edwards Elementary School· 72.1%
- Sawyer Elementary School· 72.5%
- Ballard East Elementary· 73.4%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ames High School | Ames | High | 09-12 | 1,440 | · |
| Ames Middle School | Ames | Middle | 06-08 | 1,033 | · |
| Central Elementary School | Nevada | Elementary | PK-04 | 632 | · |
| Ballard High School | Huxley | High | 09-12 | 586 | · |
| Gilbert High School | Gilbert | High | 09-12 | 509 | · |
| Nevada High School | Nevada | High | 09-12 | 498 | · |
| Fellows Elementary School | Ames | Elementary | KG-05 | 489 | · |
| Ballard West Elementary | Slater | Elementary | PK-02 | 451 | · |
| Roland-Story Elementary School | Story City | Elementary | PK-04 | 446 | · |
| Nevada Middle School | Nevada | Middle | 05-08 | 442 | · |
| Edwards Elementary School | Ames | Elementary | KG-05 | 436 | · |
| Ballard Middle School | Huxley | Middle | 06-08 | 418 | · |
| Ballard East Elementary | Cambridge | Elementary | 03-05 | 417 | · |
| Gilbert Elementary School | Gilbert | Elementary | PK-02 | 409 | · |
| Gilbert Middle School | Gilbert | Middle | 06-08 | 408 | · |
| Sawyer Elementary School | Ames | Elementary | KG-05 | 371 | · |
| Meeker Elementary School | Ames | Elementary | KG-05 | 361 | · |
| Gilbert Intermediate School | Gilbert | Elementary | 03-05 | 356 | · |
| Roland-Story Middle School | Roland | Middle | 05-08 | 331 | · |
| Roland-Story High School | Story City | High | 09-12 | 317 | · |
| Mitchell Elementary School | Ames | Elementary | KG-05 | 314 | · |
| Northwood Pre-School | Ames | Elementary | PK-PK | 244 | · |
| Colo-NESCO Middle/High School | Colo | High | 05-12 | 216 | · |
| Collins-Maxwell Middle/High School | Maxwell | High | 06-12 | 190 | · |
| Collins-Maxwell Elementary School | Collins | Elementary | PK-05 | 182 | · |
| Colo-Nesco Elementary School | Zearing | Elementary | PK-04 | 169 | · |
Cities in Story County
About Story County
In Iowa, Story County is a medium-population county of about 100,466 residents. 26 public schools across the county educates about 11,665 students between them.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show median household income runs near $69,685, 55% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 6%.
On the school-mix side, Story County covers 14 elementary schools (5,277 students), 5 middle schools (2,632), and 7 high schools (3,756).
Ames Comm School District is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 4,688 students across Story County.
Five-year track record. Total public-school enrollment in Story County has held roughly steady since SY 2020-21, moving from about 11,440 students to 11,665.
On allk12, the community for Story County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data