Total enrollment
2,434
-176 (-7%) vs SY 2017-18
Winneshiek County
Iowa · Public K-12
In Winneshiek County, 10 public K-12 schools make up the local education system, comprising 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high. Combined enrollment is about 2,434 students.
7-year change in Winneshiek County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
10
-1 (-9%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
90%
was 92%
% Hispanic
6%
was 4%
% Black
1%
was 0%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
10
3 districts
Enrollment
2,434
NCES CCD
Median income
$79,066
Above Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
26.9%
Below Iowa avg
Elementary
5
931 students
Middle
2
558 students
High
3
945 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Decorah Community School District
1,522 students · 3 districts in Winneshiek County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Winneshiek 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+
31.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
4.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.3%
civilian labor
Median age
43
18.7% under 18
Test scores in Winneshiek County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 8 schools ranked. Iowa state average: 73.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Decorah High School· 89.5%
- Decorah Middle School· 88.0%
- Turkey Valley Elementary School· 83.1%
- Carrie Lee Elementary· 80.3%
- South Winneshiek Middle School· 79.8%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decorah High School | Decorah | High | 09-12 | 555 | · |
| Decorah Middle School | Decorah | Middle | 05-08 | 432 | · |
| John Cline Elementary School | Decorah | Elementary | KG-02 | 300 | · |
| Carrie Lee Elementary | Decorah | Elementary | 03-04 | 215 | · |
| South Winneshiek High School | Calmar | High | 09-12 | 205 | · |
| South Winneshiek Elementary School | Ossian | Elementary | PK-04 | 198 | · |
| Turkey Valley Elementary School | Jackson Junction | Elementary | PK-06 | 198 | · |
| Turkey Valley Jr-Sr High School | Jackson Junction | High | 07-12 | 185 | · |
| South Winneshiek Middle School | Ossian | Middle | 05-08 | 126 | · |
| West Side Elementary School | Decorah | Elementary | PK-PK | 20 | · |
Cities in Winneshiek County
About Winneshiek County
In Iowa, Winneshiek County is a thinly populated county of about 19,873 residents. 10 public schools across the county hosts about 2,434 students between them.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show the median household earns about $79,066 a year, 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 5%. That income level is 10% higher than the Iowa median.
In terms of grade levels, Winneshiek County consists of 5 elementary schools (931 students), 2 middle schools (558), and 3 high schools (945).
The largest single district in Winneshiek County is Decorah Community School District, which alone enrolls about 1,522 students.
Looking at the last 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment decreased 7%: 2,610 students in SY 2017-18 versus 2,434 in SY 2024-25. The school count fell from 11 to 10 across the same 7-year window.
On allk12, the community for Winneshiek County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
Winneshiek County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data