Total enrollment
2,190
-161 (-7%) vs SY 2017-18
Winnebago County
Iowa · Public K-12
Winnebago County's public-school footprint spans 9 K-12 campuses 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.
7-year change in Winnebago County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
9
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
83%
was 88%
% Hispanic
12%
was 8%
% Black
1%
was 2%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
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 7-year window, public-school enrollment contracted 7%: 2,351 students in SY 2017-18 versus 2,190 in SY 2024-25. The White share of public-school enrollment contracted from 88% to 83%.
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
Winnebago County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data