Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District

Marcus, Iowa — 2 schools

386
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$25,761
Per-Pupil Spending
High, Other
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District operates 2 public schools serving 386 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Iowa. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 high, 1 other schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 379 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Cherokee County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $25,761 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 62.8% local, 28.8% state, and 8.4% 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 $86,658 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 64/100, ranked #83 of 303 in Iowa against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 2 schools offering Advanced Placement (2 AP courses district-wide), a 189.5:1 student-counselor ratio that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 11.7% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 92.3% White, 3.3% Hispanic or Latino, 1.4% African American across the district's schools.

Mmcru High School accounts for 56.2% of all Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn 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

Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District student-counselor ratio is 190:1 — 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

Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District chronic absenteeism rate is 11.7% — low (typically associated with lower-than-average attendance disruption; districts in this range often have attendance interventions, robust transportation, or smaller catchments that reduce barriers)

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 Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

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

Where does the funding come from?

8.4%
Federal
28.8%
State
62.8%
Local

Funding Equity

64
Equity Score
83 / 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 Cherokee County county, where this district is located.

$682
Studio/mo
$811
1 BR/mo
$919
2 BR/mo
$1,278
3 BR/mo
$1,414
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$86,658
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 2 schools in Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District.

White 92.3%
Hispanic or Latino 3.3%
African American 1.4%
Multiracial 2.1%
Other 0.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 2
Schools with AP
2 AP courses total
189.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
11.7%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District

School Enrollment
Mmcru High School
213
Mmcru Marcus Elementary
166

Nearby Districts in Iowa

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District?

Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District has 2 schools, including 1 high, 1 other. Total enrollment is 386 students.

How much does Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District spend per student?

Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District spends $25,761 per student. The district has an equity score of 64/100, ranking #83 in Iowa.

What is the average teacher salary in Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District?

The average teacher salary in Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District is $86,658 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District?

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

What is the demographic composition of Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District?

Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District students are 92.3% White, 3.3% Hispanic or Latino, 1.4% African American, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District?

Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District has an equity score of 64/100, ranking #83 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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50 states + DC

Full national footprint

Update cadence

Quarterly

Refreshed within 30 days of upstream release

Source agency

Federal

Authoritative data, no third-party aggregation

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