North Mahaska 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.

New Sharon, Iowa - 2 schools

An equity score of 31/100 ranks North Mahaska Comm School District #237 of 303 districts in Iowa (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,347 per pupil, North Mahaska Comm School District ranks #277 of 327 Iowa districts by per-pupil spending (Iowa districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

616
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$11,347
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

North Mahaska Comm School District operates 2 public schools serving 616 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Iowa. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined 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 Mahaska County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,347 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 52.4% local, 37.5% state, and 10.1% 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 31/100, ranked #237 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.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 2 schools offering Advanced Placement (1 AP courses district-wide), a 325.6:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 18.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 93.9% White, 2.0% Hispanic or Latino, 0.8% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is North Mahaska Elementary School, enrolling 301 students (52% of the district's total enrollment).

North Mahaska Elementary School accounts for 48.9% of all North Mahaska Comm School District student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of North Mahaska Comm School District a distant remainder — means North Mahaska 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 Mahaska Comm School District student-counselor ratio is 326:1 — 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 North Mahaska Comm School District is typically wider than the North Mahaska Comm School District-aggregate figure suggests.

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

North Mahaska Comm School District chronic absenteeism rate is 18.4% — 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 Mahaska Comm School District is typically wider than the North Mahaska 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?

10.1%
Federal
37.5%
State
52.4%
Local

Funding Equity

31
Equity Score
237 / 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 2 schools in North Mahaska Comm School District.

White 93.9%
Hispanic or Latino 2.0%
African American 0.8%
Multiracial 2.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 2
Schools with AP
1 AP courses total
325.6:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
18.4%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in North Mahaska Comm School District

School Enrollment
North Mahaska Elementary School
301
North Mahaska Jr-Sr High School
275

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

The Iowa districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Nodaway Valley Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Akron Westfield Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
St Ansgar Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Wayne Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Westwood Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

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

North Mahaska Comm School District has 2 schools, including 2 combined. Total enrollment is 616 students.

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

North Mahaska Comm School District spends $11,347 per student. The district has an equity score of 31/100, ranking #237 in Iowa.

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

North Mahaska Comm School District students are 93.9% White, 2.0% Hispanic or Latino, 0.8% African American, 0.2% Asian, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

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

North Mahaska Comm School District has an equity score of 31/100, ranking #237 out of 303 districts in Iowa.