Central City Comm School District

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Central City, Iowa - 2 schools

An equity score of 52/100 ranks Central City Comm School District #157 of 303 districts in Iowa (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,582 per pupil, Central City Comm School District ranks #253 of 327 Iowa districts by per-pupil spending (Iowa districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

451
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$11,582
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Central City Comm School District operates 2 public schools serving 451 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Iowa. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 1 elementary schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Linn County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,582 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 327 Iowa districts by per-pupil spending. See how Iowa compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 41.8% local, 50.4% state, and 7.7% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 52/100, ranked #157 of 303 in Iowa against a state average of 50, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 232.6:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 32.7% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 93.0% White, 2.5% Hispanic or Latino, 1.5% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Central City High School, enrolling 200 students (54% of the district's total enrollment).

Central City High School accounts for 44.3% of all Central City Comm School District student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Central City Comm School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Central City Comm School District student-counselor ratio is 233:1 — low (typically associated with meeting or exceeding the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommended 250:1 benchmark, which correlates with stronger college and career counseling capacity)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Central City Comm School District chronic absenteeism rate is 32.7% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

7.7%
Federal
50.4%
State
41.8%
Local

Funding Equity

52
Equity Score
157 / 303
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 2 schools in Central City Comm School District.

White 93.0%
Hispanic or Latino 2.5%
African American 1.5%
Multiracial 2.7%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

232.6:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
32.7%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Central City Comm School District

School Enrollment
Central City High School
200
Central City Elementary School
170

How Central City Comm School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Iowa districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
English Valleys Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Kingsley-Pierson Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
East Mills Comm School District Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Southeast Warren Comm School District Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Springville Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Central City Comm School District's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Iowa

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Compare Central City Comm School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Des Moines Independent Comm School District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Central City Comm School District?

Central City Comm School District has 2 schools, including 1 combined, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 451 students.

How much does Central City Comm School District spend per student?

Central City Comm School District spends $11,582 per student. The district has an equity score of 52/100, ranking #157 in Iowa.

What is the demographic composition of Central City Comm School District?

Central City Comm School District students are 93.0% White, 2.5% Hispanic or Latino, 1.5% African American, 0.3% Asian, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Central City Comm School District?

Central City Comm School District has an equity score of 52/100, ranking #157 out of 303 districts in Iowa.