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Worth County

Iowa · Public K-12

Of the 4 public K-12 schools in Worth County, the largest district by enrollment is Northwood-Kensett Comm School District (552 students). Total county enrollment runs around 931. That works out to 2 elementary and 2 high schools.

7-year change in Worth County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
931
-27 (-3%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
4
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
90%
was 89%
% Hispanic
5%
was 6%
% Black
2%
was 2%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
7,350
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
4
2 districts
Enrollment
931
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$78,008
Above Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
32.0%
Below Iowa avg
Elementary
2
430 students
Middle
0
schools
High
2
501 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Northwood-Kensett Comm School District
552 students · 2 districts in Worth County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Worth 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
95%
Hispanic
4%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
90%
Hispanic
5%
Black
2%
Asian
0%
Two or more
2%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
19.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.5%
civilian labor
Median age
44
20.7% under 18

Test scores in Worth County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 3 schools ranked. Iowa state average: 73.7%.

See all 3 schools in Worth County ranked by score →

All schools (4)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Northwood-Kensett ElementaryNorthwoodElementaryPK-05287·
Northwood-Kensett Middle/High SchoolNorthwoodHigh06-12265·
Central Springs High SchoolManlyHigh09-12236·
Central Springs Elementary Manly CampusManlyElementaryPK-03143·

Cities in Worth County

Manly2 schoolsNorthwood2 schools

About Worth County

Worth County is a low-population county of about 7,350 residents in Iowa. Its public-school system enrolls approximately 931 students across 4 schools.

Zooming out, census numbers show the median household earns about $78,008 a year, 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 5%. That income level is 9% higher than the Iowa median.

On the school-mix side, Worth County covers 2 elementary schools (430 students), and 2 high schools (501).

The largest single district in Worth County is Northwood-Kensett Comm School District, which alone enrolls about 552 students.

Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 931 students, shrank 3% from the 958 reported in SY 2017-18.

Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Worth County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Worth County?
Worth County, Iowa has 4 public K-12 schools serving approximately 931 students.
How many high schools are in Worth County?
Worth County, Iowa has 2 public high schools, serving approximately 501 students.
How many elementary schools are in Worth County?
Worth County, Iowa has 2 public elementary schools, serving approximately 430 students.
What is the largest school district in Worth County?
Northwood-Kensett Comm School District is the largest school district in Worth County, serving approximately 552 students. The county contains 2 school districts overall.
How many people live in Worth County?
Worth County has roughly 7,350 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Worth County?
Median household income in Worth County is $78,008, above the Iowa average of $71,592. About 5.0% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Worth County?
Approximately 19.1% of adults 25 and older in Worth County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Worth County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 32.0% of students in Worth County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Iowa county average of 41.8%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Worth County schools?
Across Worth County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 13.9 to 1.
What is the racial makeup of Worth County?
Worth County residents are approximately 95% White, 4% Hispanic, 1% Black, 1% Asian, 4% two or more races according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data