Total enrollment
6,892
+352 (+5%) vs SY 2020-21
Wapello County
Iowa · Public K-12
Wapello County serves about 6,892 K-12 students across 18 public schools, an average of roughly 383 students per school. The level mix is 10 elementary, 2 middle, and 5 high schools.
4-year change in Wapello County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
18
+3 (+20%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Wapello County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Iowa | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 59.1% | #87 of 89 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 6,892 | #14 of 90 | #1,070 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 18 | #16 of 90 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 14.4:1 | #71 of 90 | #1,562 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 48.2% | #23 of 90 | #1,715 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 58.4% | #9 of 89 | #658 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.
Wapello County school rankings
Residents
35,362
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
18
3 districts
Enrollment
6,892
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$64,766
Below Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
48.2%
Above Iowa avg
Elementary
10
3,331 students
Middle
2
947 students
High
5
2,508 students
Combined / other
1
106 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Ottumwa Comm School District
5,005 students · 3 districts in Wapello County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Wapello 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+
19.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
11.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.3%
civilian labor
Median age
39
23.8% under 18
Test scores in Wapello County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 14 schools ranked. Iowa state average: 73.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Eddyville Elementary· 77.2%
- Cardinal Junior High· 76.8%
- Cardinal High School· 76.2%
- Eisenhower Elementary School· 73.2%
- Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Jr/Sr High· 72.1%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Gateway High School· 37.7%
- James Elementary School· 44.4%
- Wilson Elementary School· 53.0%
- Blakesburg Elementary· 54.5%
- Liberty Intermediate School· 60.8%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ottumwa High School | Ottumwa | High | 10-12 | 910 | · |
| Evans Junior High School | Ottumwa | High | 08-09 | 684 | · |
| Liberty Intermediate School | Ottumwa | Middle | 06-07 | 633 | · |
| Pickwick Early Childhood Center | Ottumwa | Elementary | PK-KG | 560 | · |
| Cardinal Elementary | Eldon | Elementary | PK-04 | 495 | · |
| Fahrney Elementary | Ottumwa | Elementary | 03-05 | 490 | · |
| Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Jr/Sr High | Eddyville | High | 07-12 | 431 | · |
| Wilson Elementary School | Ottumwa | Elementary | KG-05 | 335 | · |
| Douma Elementary School | Ottumwa | Elementary | 01-02 | 327 | · |
| Cardinal Junior High | Eldon | Middle | 05-08 | 314 | · |
| Eddyville Elementary | Eddyville | Elementary | PK-06 | 274 | · |
| Cardinal High School | Eldon | High | 09-12 | 270 | · |
| Horace Mann Elementary School | Ottumwa | Elementary | KG-05 | 250 | · |
| James Elementary School | Ottumwa | Elementary | KG-05 | 249 | · |
| Eisenhower Elementary School | Ottumwa | Elementary | KG-05 | 248 | · |
| Gateway High School | Ottumwa | High | 09-12 | 213 | · |
| Ottumwa Virtual Learning | Ottumwa | Combined | PK-12 | 106 | · |
| Blakesburg Elementary | Blakesburg | Elementary | PK-06 | 103 | · |
Cities in Wapello County
About Wapello County
Across the sparse Iowa county of Wapello County of about 35,362 residents, the public-school footprint covers 18 schools and about 6,892 students.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show the median household earns about $64,766 a year, roughly 20% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 12%. That income level is 10% lower than the Iowa median.
For a sense of the school types, Wapello County covers 10 elementary schools (3,331 students), 2 middle schools (947), 5 high schools (2,508), and 1 combined or other schools.
Ottumwa Comm School District dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 5,005 students on its own.
Looking at the last 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Wapello County has grew 5% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 6,540 students to 6,892. Wapello County now counts 18 public schools, up from 15 in SY 2020-21.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Wapello County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data