Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 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, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Hartley, Iowa - 3 schools

An equity score of 52/100 ranks Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District #152 of 303 districts in Iowa (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,707 per pupil, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District ranks #189 of 327 Iowa districts by per-pupil spending (Iowa districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

663
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$12,707
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District operates 3 public schools serving 663 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Iowa. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 1 high, 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 O'brien County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,707 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 54.7% local, 33.6% state, and 11.7% 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 52/100, ranked #152 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 266.5:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat 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. Its most demographically mixed campus is Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School, with a diversity index of 36.1/100.

Its largest campus is Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Elementary School, enrolling 261 students (41% of the district's total enrollment).

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Elementary School accounts for 39.4% of all Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: combined. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: 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

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

Where does the funding come from?

11.7%
Federal
33.6%
State
54.7%
Local

Funding Equity

52
Equity Score
152 / 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 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.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 33.2/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District's schools, about the same as the Iowa average of 33.8.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School 36.1
  2. 2 Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Elementary School 31.7
  3. 3 Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Middle School 31.7

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

How Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Iowa districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Columbus Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Danville Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Sioux Central Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Lake Mills Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Maple Valley-Anthon Oto Comm School District Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 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.

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 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 Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District?

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District has 3 schools, including 1 combined, 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 $12,707 per student. The district has an equity score of 52/100, ranking #152 in Iowa.

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 52/100, ranking #152 out of 303 districts in Iowa.