Chariton 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.

Chariton, Iowa - 4 schools

An equity score of 68/100 ranks Chariton Comm School District #67 of 303 districts in Iowa (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,346 per pupil, Chariton Comm School District ranks #177 of 327 Iowa districts by per-pupil spending (Iowa districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,282
Total Enrollment
4
Schools
$12,346
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Chariton Comm School District operates 4 public schools serving 1,282 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Iowa. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle 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 Lucas County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,346 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 30.4% local, 57.7% state, and 11.9% 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 68/100, ranked #67 of 303 in Iowa against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 336.5:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 29.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 89.1% White, 8.6% Hispanic or Latino, 0.4% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Chariton Middle School, with a diversity index of 24.2/100.

Its largest campus is Chariton High School, enrolling 372 students (30% of the district's total enrollment).

Chariton High School accounts for 29.0% of all Chariton Comm School District student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Chariton Comm School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. 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

Chariton Comm School District student-counselor ratio is 337:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

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 Variation between sub-units within Chariton Comm School District is typically wider than the Chariton Comm School District-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Chariton Comm School District chronic absenteeism rate is 29.4% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

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 Variation between sub-units within Chariton Comm School District is typically wider than the Chariton Comm School District-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

11.9%
Federal
57.7%
State
30.4%
Local

Funding Equity

68
Equity Score
67 / 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 4 schools in Chariton Comm School District.

White 89.1%
Hispanic or Latino 8.6%
Multiracial 1.4%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 19.8/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Chariton Comm School District's schools, below the Iowa average of 33.8.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Chariton Middle School 24.2
  2. 2 Van Allen Elementary School 18.9
  3. 3 Columbus Elementary School 18.8
  4. 4 Chariton High School 17.4

Programs & Resources

336.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
29.4%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Chariton Comm School District

School Enrollment
Chariton High School
372
Columbus Elementary School
301
Van Allen Elementary School
292
Chariton Middle School
284

How Chariton Comm School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Iowa districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
West Liberty Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Iowa Falls Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Williamsburg Comm School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Hampton-Dumont Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Davis County Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Chariton 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 Chariton 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 Chariton Comm School District?

Chariton Comm School District has 4 schools, including 1 high, 2 elementary, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 1,282 students.

How much does Chariton Comm School District spend per student?

Chariton Comm School District spends $12,346 per student. The district has an equity score of 68/100, ranking #67 in Iowa.

What is the demographic composition of Chariton Comm School District?

Chariton Comm School District students are 89.1% White, 8.6% Hispanic or Latino, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% African American, averaged across 4 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Chariton Comm School District?

Chariton Comm School District has an equity score of 68/100, ranking #67 out of 303 districts in Iowa.