Total enrollment
2,190
-90 (-4%) vs SY 2020-21
Winnebago County
Iowa · Public K-12
Winnebago County's public-school footprint spans 9 K-12 schools with combined enrollment of about 2,190, the largest district being Forest City Comm School District. By grade band, the county runs 3 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools.
4-year change in Winnebago County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
9
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Winnebago County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Iowa | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 79.4% | #14 of 89 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 2,190 | #55 of 90 | #2,126 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 9 | #56 of 90 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.3:1 | #39 of 90 | #1,060 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 36.4% | #65 of 90 | #2,235 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 30.2% | #35 of 89 | #1,794 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.
Winnebago County school rankings
Residents
10,583
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
9
3 districts
Enrollment
2,190
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$67,642
Below Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
36.4%
Below Iowa avg
Elementary
3
978 students
Middle
3
591 students
High
3
621 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Forest City Comm School District
1,082 students · 3 districts in Winnebago County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Winnebago 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+
26.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.0%
civilian labor
Median age
43
21.1% under 18
Test scores in Winnebago County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 9 schools ranked. Iowa state average: 73.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Lake Mills Elementary School· 90.1%
- Lake Mills Middle School· 89.1%
- Forest City Elementary School· 84.7%
- Forest City Middle School· 83.8%
- Lake Mills Senior High School· 83.1%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- North Iowa Elementary Buffalo Center· 71.2%
- North Iowa High School· 73.6%
- Forest City High School· 80.1%
- North Iowa Middle School· 82.8%
- Lake Mills Senior High School· 83.1%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest City Elementary School | Forest City | Elementary | PK-04 | 448 | · |
| Forest City Middle School | Forest City | Middle | 05-08 | 330 | · |
| Forest City High School | Forest City | High | 09-12 | 304 | · |
| Lake Mills Elementary School | Lake Mills | Elementary | PK-05 | 303 | · |
| North Iowa Elementary Buffalo Center | Buffalo Center | Elementary | PK-05 | 227 | · |
| Lake Mills Senior High School | Lake Mills | High | 09-12 | 193 | · |
| Lake Mills Middle School | Lake Mills | Middle | 06-08 | 146 | · |
| North Iowa High School | Buffalo Center | High | 09-12 | 124 | · |
| North Iowa Middle School | Buffalo Center | Middle | 06-08 | 115 | · |
Cities in Winnebago County
About Winnebago County
Across the sparse Iowa county of Winnebago County of about 10,583 residents, the public-school footprint covers 9 schools and about 2,190 students.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show the median household earns about $67,642 a year, roughly 26% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 9%. That income level is 6% meaningfully below the Iowa median.
In terms of grade levels, Winnebago County covers 3 elementary schools (978 students), 3 middle schools (591), and 3 high schools (621).
Forest City Comm School District dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,082 students on its own.
Five-year track record. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment contracted 4%: 2,280 students in SY 2020-21 versus 2,190 in SY 2024-25.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Winnebago County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data