North Iowa 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.

Buffalo Center, Iowa - 3 schools

An equity score of 53/100 ranks North Iowa Comm School District #151 of 303 districts in Iowa (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $13,297 per pupil, North Iowa Comm School District ranks #85 of 327 Iowa districts by per-pupil spending (Iowa districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

480
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$13,297
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

North Iowa Comm School District operates 3 public schools serving 480 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 Winnebago County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,297 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 327 Iowa districts by per-pupil spending. See how Iowa compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 53.8% local, 29.9% state, and 16.3% 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 53/100, ranked #151 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 175.5:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 19.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 84.8% White, 13.7% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is North Iowa High School, with a diversity index of 32.1/100.

Its largest campus is North Iowa Elem Buffalo Center, enrolling 227 students (49% of the district's total enrollment).

North Iowa Elem Buffalo Center accounts for 47.3% of all North Iowa Comm School District student enrollment

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

North Iowa Comm School District student-counselor ratio is 176:1 — 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

North Iowa Comm School District chronic absenteeism rate is 19.5% — 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 North Iowa Comm School District is typically wider than the North Iowa 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?

16.3%
Federal
29.9%
State
53.8%
Local

Funding Equity

53
Equity Score
151 / 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 North Iowa Comm School District.

White 84.8%
Hispanic or Latino 13.7%
African American 0.6%
Multiracial 1.0%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 26.1/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 North Iowa High School 32.1
  2. 2 North Iowa Elem Buffalo Center 24.6
  3. 3 North Iowa Middle School 21.6

Programs & Resources

175.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
19.5%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in North Iowa Comm School District

School Enrollment
North Iowa Elem Buffalo Center
227
North Iowa High School
124
North Iowa Middle School
115

How North Iowa Comm School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Iowa districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Belle Plaine Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Gmg Comm School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Galva-Holstein Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
North Tama County Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Baxter Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to North Iowa 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 North Iowa 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 North Iowa Comm School District?

North Iowa Comm School District has 3 schools, including 1 combined, 1 high, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 480 students.

How much does North Iowa Comm School District spend per student?

North Iowa Comm School District spends $13,297 per student. The district has an equity score of 53/100, ranking #151 in Iowa.

What is the demographic composition of North Iowa Comm School District?

North Iowa Comm School District students are 84.8% White, 13.7% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% African American, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for North Iowa Comm School District?

North Iowa Comm School District has an equity score of 53/100, ranking #151 out of 303 districts in Iowa.