Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District

Hartley, Iowa — 3 schools

663
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$18,386
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District operates 3 public schools serving 663 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Iowa. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 other, 1 high, 1 elementary schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 629 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in O'Brien County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $18,386 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 54.7% local, 33.6% state, and 11.7% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $83,253 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 67/100, ranked #67 of 303 in Iowa against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

a 266.5:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 24.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 80.2% White, 15.3% Hispanic or Latino, 1.7% African American across the district's schools.

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Elementary School accounts for 41.5% of all Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: other. 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

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District student-counselor ratio is 267:1 — 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 Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District is typically wider than the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District chronic absenteeism rate is 24.3% — 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 Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District is typically wider than the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 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?

11.7%
Federal
33.6%
State
54.7%
Local

Funding Equity

67
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.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in O'Brien County county, where this district is located.

$682
Studio/mo
$700
1 BR/mo
$919
2 BR/mo
$1,111
3 BR/mo
$1,217
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$83,253
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District.

White 80.2%
Hispanic or Latino 15.3%
African American 1.7%
Multiracial 2.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

266.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
24.3%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District

School Enrollment
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Elementary School
261
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School
203
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Middle School
165

Nearby Districts in Iowa

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District?

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District has 3 schools, including 1 other, 1 high, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 663 students.

How much does Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District spend per student?

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District spends $18,386 per student. The district has an equity score of 67/100, ranking #67 in Iowa.

What is the average teacher salary in Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District?

The average teacher salary in Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District is $83,253 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in O'Brien County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District?

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District students are 80.2% White, 15.3% Hispanic or Latino, 1.7% African American, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District?

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District has an equity score of 67/100, ranking #67 out of 303 districts in Iowa. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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