North Polk 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.

Alleman, Iowa - 5 schools

An equity score of 25/100 ranks North Polk Comm School District #267 of 303 districts in Iowa (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,296 per pupil, North Polk Comm School District ranks #285 of 327 Iowa districts by per-pupil spending (Iowa districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

2,243
Total Enrollment
5
Schools
$11,296
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

North Polk Comm School District operates 5 public schools serving 2,243 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Iowa. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined, 1 high, 1 middle, 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 Polk County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,296 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 39.6% local, 53.4% state, and 6.9% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 25/100, ranked #267 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 5 schools offering Advanced Placement (12 AP courses district-wide), a 376.8:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 16.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 91.8% White, 3.0% Hispanic or Latino, 1.6% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is North Polk Central Elementary School, with a diversity index of 20.1/100.

Its largest campus is North Polk High School, enrolling 644 students (28% of the district's total enrollment).

North Polk High School accounts for 27.9% of all North Polk Comm School District student enrollment

That dominant concentration means North Polk 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

North Polk Comm School District student-counselor ratio is 377:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

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

North Polk Comm School District chronic absenteeism rate is 16.5% — 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 Polk Comm School District is typically wider than the North Polk 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?

6.9%
Federal
53.4%
State
39.6%
Local

Funding Equity

25
Equity Score
267 / 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 5 schools in North Polk Comm School District.

White 91.8%
Hispanic or Latino 3.0%
African American 1.6%
Multiracial 2.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 15.5/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 North Polk Central Elementary School 20.1
  2. 2 Big Creek Elementary 16.9
  3. 3 North Polk High School 15.9
  4. 4 North Polk West Elementary School 12.6
  5. 5 North Polk Middle School 12.3

Programs & Resources

1 / 5
Schools with AP
12 AP courses total
376.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
16.5%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in North Polk Comm School District

School Enrollment
North Polk High School
644
North Polk Middle School
504
North Polk Central Elementary School
408
North Polk West Elementary School
396
Big Creek Elementary
357

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

The Iowa districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Adel Desoto Minburn Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Marion Independent School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Denison Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Le Mars Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Spencer Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

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

North Polk Comm School District has 5 schools, including 1 high, 1 middle, 2 combined, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 2,243 students.

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

North Polk Comm School District spends $11,296 per student. The district has an equity score of 25/100, ranking #267 in Iowa.

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

North Polk Comm School District students are 91.8% White, 3.0% Hispanic or Latino, 1.6% African American, 0.5% Asian, averaged across 5 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

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

North Polk Comm School District has an equity score of 25/100, ranking #267 out of 303 districts in Iowa.