Clear Lake 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.

Clear Lake, Iowa - 3 schools

An equity score of 26/100 ranks Clear Lake Comm School District #262 of 303 districts in Iowa (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,877 per pupil, Clear Lake Comm School District ranks #223 of 327 Iowa districts by per-pupil spending (Iowa districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,495
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$11,877
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Clear Lake Comm School District operates 3 public schools serving 1,495 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Iowa. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 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 Cerro Gordo County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,877 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 56.4% local, 34.7% state, and 8.9% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 26/100, ranked #262 of 303 in Iowa against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 282.1:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 18.7% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 84.6% White, 7.5% Hispanic or Latino, 1.7% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Clear Creek Elementary School, with a diversity index of 29.1/100.

Its largest campus is Clear Creek Elementary School, enrolling 685 students (47% of the district's total enrollment).

Clear Creek Elementary School accounts for 45.8% of all Clear Lake Comm School District student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Clear Lake Comm School District a distant remainder — means Clear Lake 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

Clear Lake Comm School District school enrollment varies 2.2× across entities

Clear Lake Comm School District school enrollment ranges from 308 students (lowest) to 685 students (highest), a spread of 377 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

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

Clear Lake Comm School District student-counselor ratio is 282:1 — 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 Clear Lake Comm School District is typically wider than the Clear Lake Comm School District-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Clear Lake Comm School District chronic absenteeism rate is 18.7% — 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 Clear Lake Comm School District is typically wider than the Clear Lake 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?

8.9%
Federal
34.7%
State
56.4%
Local

Funding Equity

26
Equity Score
262 / 303
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Clear Lake Comm School District.

White 84.6%
Hispanic or Latino 7.5%
African American 1.7%
Multiracial 5.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 27.5/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Clear Creek Elementary School 29.1
  2. 2 Clear Lake Middle School 27.5
  3. 3 Clear Lake High School 25.8

Programs & Resources

282.1:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
18.7%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Clear Lake Comm School District

School Enrollment
Clear Creek Elementary School
685
Clear Lake High School
461
Clear Lake Middle School
308

How Clear Lake Comm School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Iowa districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Independence Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
South Tama County Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Clayton Ridge Comm School District Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Harlan Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Humboldt Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Clear Lake 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 Clear Lake 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 Clear Lake Comm School District?

Clear Lake Comm School District has 3 schools, including 1 combined, 1 high, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 1,495 students.

How much does Clear Lake Comm School District spend per student?

Clear Lake Comm School District spends $11,877 per student. The district has an equity score of 26/100, ranking #262 in Iowa.

What is the demographic composition of Clear Lake Comm School District?

Clear Lake Comm School District students are 84.6% White, 7.5% Hispanic or Latino, 1.7% African American, 0.3% Asian, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Clear Lake Comm School District?

Clear Lake Comm School District has an equity score of 26/100, ranking #262 out of 303 districts in Iowa.