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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 campus. The level mix is 10 elementary, 2 middle, and 5 high schools.

7-year change in Wapello County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
6,892
+585 (+9%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
18
+3 (+20%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
60%
was 72%
% Hispanic
21%
was 18%
% Black
7%
was 5%
% Asian
2%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
18
3 districts
Enrollment
6,892
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
White
79%
Hispanic
13%
Black
3%
Asian
2%
Two or more
9%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
2%
School enrollment
White
60%
Hispanic
21%
Black
7%
Asian
2%
Two or more
2%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
7%
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%.

See all 14 schools in Wapello County ranked by score →

All schools (18)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Ottumwa High SchoolOttumwaHigh10-12910·
Evans Junior High SchoolOttumwaHigh08-09684·
Liberty Intermediate SchoolOttumwaMiddle06-07633·
Pickwick Early Childhood CenterOttumwaElementaryPK-KG560·
Cardinal ElementaryEldonElementaryPK-04495·
Fahrney ElementaryOttumwaElementary03-05490·
Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Jr/Sr HighEddyvilleHigh07-12431·
Wilson Elementary SchoolOttumwaElementaryKG-05335·
Douma Elementary SchoolOttumwaElementary01-02327·
Cardinal Junior HighEldonMiddle05-08314·
Eddyville ElementaryEddyvilleElementaryPK-06274·
Cardinal High SchoolEldonHigh09-12270·
Horace Mann Elementary SchoolOttumwaElementaryKG-05250·
James Elementary SchoolOttumwaElementaryKG-05249·
Eisenhower Elementary SchoolOttumwaElementaryKG-05248·
Gateway High SchoolOttumwaHigh09-12213·
Ottumwa Virtual LearningOttumwaCombinedPK-12106·
Blakesburg ElementaryBlakesburgElementaryPK-06103·

Cities in Wapello County

Ottumwa12 schoolsEldon3 schoolsEddyville2 schoolsBlakesburg1 school

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 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Wapello County has grew 9% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 6,307 students to 6,892. Wapello County now counts 18 public schools, up from 15 in SY 2017-18. The White share of public-school enrollment fell from 72% to 60%.

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

How many public schools are in Wapello County?
Wapello County, Iowa has 18 public K-12 schools serving approximately 6,892 students.
How many high schools are in Wapello County?
Wapello County, Iowa has 5 public high schools, serving approximately 2,508 students.
How many middle schools are in Wapello County?
Wapello County, Iowa has 2 public middle schools, serving approximately 947 students.
How many elementary schools are in Wapello County?
Wapello County, Iowa has 10 public elementary schools, serving approximately 3,331 students.
What is the largest school district in Wapello County?
Ottumwa Comm School District is the largest school district in Wapello County, serving approximately 5,005 students. The county contains 3 school districts overall.
What is the population of Wapello County?
Wapello County, Iowa has a population of approximately 35,362, with a median age of 39. About 23.8% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Wapello County?
Median household income in Wapello County is $64,766, below the Iowa average of $71,592. About 11.6% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Wapello County?
Approximately 19.6% of adults 25 and older in Wapello County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Wapello County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 48.2% of students in Wapello County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Iowa county average of 41.8%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Wapello County schools?
Across Wapello County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 15.2 to 1.

Wapello County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data