South Hamilton 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.

Jewell, Iowa - 2 schools

An equity score of 28/100 ranks South Hamilton Comm School District #256 of 303 districts in Iowa (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,897 per pupil, South Hamilton Comm School District ranks #220 of 327 Iowa districts by per-pupil spending (Iowa districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

690
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$11,897
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

South Hamilton Comm School District operates 2 public schools serving 690 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 Hamilton County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,897 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 54.0% local, 36.7% state, and 9.4% 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 28/100, ranked #256 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 (2 AP courses district-wide), a 342.9:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 23.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 87.3% White, 9.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.1% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is South Hamilton Elem, enrolling 370 students (55% of the district's total enrollment).

South Hamilton Elem accounts for 53.6% of all South Hamilton Comm School District student enrollment

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

South Hamilton Comm School District student-counselor ratio is 343:1 — 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 South Hamilton Comm School District is typically wider than the South Hamilton Comm School District-aggregate figure suggests.

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

South Hamilton Comm School District chronic absenteeism rate is 23.4% — 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 South Hamilton Comm School District is typically wider than the South Hamilton 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?

9.4%
Federal
36.7%
State
54.0%
Local

Funding Equity

28
Equity Score
256 / 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 South Hamilton Comm School District.

White 87.3%
Hispanic or Latino 9.2%
Multiracial 3.0%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 2
Schools with AP
2 AP courses total
342.9:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
23.4%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in South Hamilton Comm School District

School Enrollment
South Hamilton Elem
370
South Hamilton Middle and High School
300

How South Hamilton Comm School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Iowa districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Panorama Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Riverside Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Postville Comm School District Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Madrid Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Belmond-Klemme Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to South Hamilton 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 South Hamilton 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 South Hamilton Comm School District?

South Hamilton Comm School District has 2 schools, including 2 combined. Total enrollment is 690 students.

How much does South Hamilton Comm School District spend per student?

South Hamilton Comm School District spends $11,897 per student. The district has an equity score of 28/100, ranking #256 in Iowa.

What is the demographic composition of South Hamilton Comm School District?

South Hamilton Comm School District students are 87.3% White, 9.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.1% African American, 0.1% Asian, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for South Hamilton Comm School District?

South Hamilton Comm School District has an equity score of 28/100, ranking #256 out of 303 districts in Iowa.