Rural Elementary School #2

Rural Elementary School #2, a very small elementary-level community in Fairbank, Iowa, overseen by Wapsie Valley Comm School District, serves 24 students, covering grades K through 8. Compared to the state average of about 325 students per school, that is 93% smaller than typical.

Rural Elementary School #2 is one of 6 schools operated by Wapsie Valley Comm School District, a district that works with 637 students overall.

Looking at the student body, Rural Elementary School #2 reports that nearly all students (100%) are White. That composition is broadly in line with Buchanan County as a whole.

On the resource side, Rural Elementary School #2 shows 2 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 13.3:1. The state averages about 13.7:1, putting this campus right in line with peers. An estimated 13% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, often used as a Title I proxy. By comparison, Buchanan County runs at roughly 29%, so the school's eligibility rate is below the surrounding baseline.

Around the school, community-level numbers for Buchanan County indicate the typical household earns roughly $78,236 per year, 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Rural Elementary School #2 is one of 18 public schools in Buchanan County (combined enrollment of about 3,231 students).

The closest other public school is Rural Elementary School #1, roughly 1.0 miles away. 5 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius.

The school occupies an outlying site.

Trend over the last 7 years. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Rural Elementary School #2 has shrank 14%, going from 28 students in 2018 to 24 in 2025. Class-load math has tightened: from 14.4:1 in 2018 to 13.3:1 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, the feed for Rural Elementary School #2 typically covers classroom updates, athletics, and weather closures. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.