Total enrollment
3,820
-328 (-8%) vs SY 2017-18
Washington County
Iowa · Public K-12
Iowa's Washington County runs 13 public K-12 schools between its districts, the largest being Washington Comm School District at 1,600 students. That works out to 6 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools.
7-year change in Washington County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
13
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
82%
was 85%
% Hispanic
14%
was 11%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
22,561
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
13
4 districts
Enrollment
3,820
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$75,647
Above Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
31.9%
Below Iowa avg
Elementary
6
1,945 students
Middle
3
881 students
High
3
963 students
Combined / other
1
31 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Washington Comm School District
1,600 students · 4 districts in Washington County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Washington 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+
26.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.2%
civilian labor
Median age
41
24.5% under 18
Test scores in Washington County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 9 schools ranked. Iowa state average: 73.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Highland Middle School· 79.6%
- Mid-Prairie Middle School· 79.6%
- Highland High School· 78.6%
- Mid-Prairie West Elementary School· 73.9%
- Mid-Prairie High School· 70.3%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Washington High School· 53.9%
- Lincoln Upper Elementary School· 62.6%
- Highland Elementary School· 63.0%
- Washington Middle School· 68.0%
- Mid-Prairie High School· 70.3%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stewart Elementary School | Washington | Elementary | PK-02 | 457 | · |
| Washington High School | Washington | High | 09-12 | 452 | · |
| Mid-Prairie Middle School | Kalona | Middle | 05-08 | 415 | · |
| Mid-Prairie High School | Wellman | High | 09-12 | 362 | · |
| Washington Middle School | Washington | Middle | 06-08 | 347 | · |
| Lincoln Upper Elementary School | Washington | Elementary | 03-05 | 344 | · |
| Mid-Prairie West Elementary School | Wellman | Elementary | 03-04 | 330 | · |
| WACO Elementary School | Crawfordsville | Elementary | PK-06 | 317 | · |
| Mid-Prairie East Elementary School | Kalona | Elementary | KG-02 | 255 | · |
| Highland Elementary School | Riverside | Elementary | PK-05 | 242 | · |
| Highland High School | Riverside | High | 09-12 | 149 | · |
| Highland Middle School | Riverside | Middle | 06-08 | 119 | · |
| Mid-Prairie Virtual Academy | Wellman | Combined | KG-12 | 31 | · |
Cities in Washington County
About Washington County
Across the sparse Iowa county of Washington County of about 22,561 residents, the public-school footprint covers 13 schools and about 3,820 students.
In context, census numbers show the median household earns about $75,647 a year, roughly 26% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 6%. That income level is 6% noticeably above the Iowa median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Washington County is made up of 6 elementary schools (1,945 students), 3 middle schools (881), 3 high schools (963), and 1 combined or other schools.
Washington Comm School District dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,600 students on its own.
Looking at the last 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment decreased 8%: 4,148 students in SY 2017-18 versus 3,820 in SY 2024-25. Demographically, the Hispanic share of enrollment increased from 11% to 14%.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Washington County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
Washington County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data