Northwood-Kensett 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.

Northwood, Iowa - 2 schools

An equity score of 39/100 ranks Northwood-Kensett Comm School District #211 of 303 districts in Iowa (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,357 per pupil, Northwood-Kensett Comm School District ranks #223 of 327 Iowa districts by per-pupil spending (Iowa districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

594
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$12,357
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Northwood-Kensett Comm School District operates 2 public schools serving 594 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 Worth County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,357 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 51.2% local, 40.1% state, and 8.6% 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 39/100, ranked #211 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 320.1:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 15.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 89.0% White, 6.5% Hispanic or Latino, 1.9% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Northwood-Kensett Elementary, enrolling 287 students (52% of the district's total enrollment).

Northwood-Kensett Elementary accounts for 48.3% of all Northwood-Kensett Comm School District student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Northwood-Kensett Comm School District a distant remainder — means Northwood-Kensett 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

Northwood-Kensett Comm School District student-counselor ratio is 320:1 — 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 Northwood-Kensett Comm School District is typically wider than the Northwood-Kensett Comm School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Northwood-Kensett Comm School District chronic absenteeism rate is 15.4% — 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 Northwood-Kensett Comm School District is typically wider than the Northwood-Kensett Comm School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

8.6%
Federal
40.1%
State
51.2%
Local

Funding Equity

39
Equity Score
211 / 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 Northwood-Kensett Comm School District.

White 89.0%
Hispanic or Latino 6.5%
African American 1.9%
Multiracial 2.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 2
Schools with AP
1 AP courses total
320.1:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
15.4%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Northwood-Kensett Comm School District

School Enrollment
Northwood-Kensett Elementary
287
Northwood-Kensett Middle/High School
265

How Northwood-Kensett Comm School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Iowa districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Sigourney Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
New London Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
West Hancock Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Starmont Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
East Buchanan Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Northwood-Kensett 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 Northwood-Kensett 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 Northwood-Kensett Comm School District?

Northwood-Kensett Comm School District has 2 schools, including 2 combined. Total enrollment is 594 students.

How much does Northwood-Kensett Comm School District spend per student?

Northwood-Kensett Comm School District spends $12,357 per student. The district has an equity score of 39/100, ranking #211 in Iowa.

What is the demographic composition of Northwood-Kensett Comm School District?

Northwood-Kensett Comm School District students are 89.0% White, 6.5% Hispanic or Latino, 1.9% African American, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Northwood-Kensett Comm School District?

Northwood-Kensett Comm School District has an equity score of 39/100, ranking #211 out of 303 districts in Iowa.