Villisca 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.

Villisca, Iowa - 2 schools

An equity score of 75/100 ranks Villisca Comm School District #36 of 303 districts in Iowa (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $14,695 per pupil, Villisca Comm School District ranks #52 of 327 Iowa districts by per-pupil spending (Iowa districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

279
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$14,695
Per-Pupil Spending
Middle, Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Villisca Comm School District operates 2 public schools serving 279 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Iowa. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 middle, 1 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 Montgomery County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,695 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 52.6% local, 36.9% state, and 10.4% 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 75/100, ranked #36 of 303 in Iowa against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 275.8:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 29.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 95.8% White, 2.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.4% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Southwest Valley Middle School, enrolling 131 students (54% of the district's total enrollment).

Southwest Valley Middle School accounts for 47.0% of all Villisca Comm School District student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Villisca Comm School District a distant remainder — means Villisca Comm School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: middle. 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

Villisca Comm School District reports 52.2% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share clears the 50% majority mark. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Villisca Comm School District student-counselor ratio is 276:1 — 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 Villisca Comm School District is typically wider than the Villisca Comm School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Villisca Comm School District chronic absenteeism rate is 29.5% — 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 Villisca Comm School District is typically wider than the Villisca Comm School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

10.4%
Federal
36.9%
State
52.6%
Local

Funding Equity

75
Equity Score
36 / 303
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores well on funding equity, with balanced funding sources and good resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 2 schools in Villisca Comm School District.

White 95.8%
Hispanic or Latino 2.2%
Multiracial 1.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

275.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
29.5%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Villisca Comm School District

School Enrollment
Southwest Valley Middle School
131
Sylvia Enarson Elementary School
112

How Villisca Comm School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Iowa districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Adair-Casey Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
North Kossuth Comm School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Stanton Comm School District Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Murray Comm School District Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
H-L-V Comm School District Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Villisca 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 Villisca 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 Villisca Comm School District?

Villisca Comm School District has 2 schools, including 1 middle, 1 combined. Total enrollment is 279 students.

How much does Villisca Comm School District spend per student?

Villisca Comm School District spends $14,695 per student. The district has an equity score of 75/100, ranking #36 in Iowa.

What is the demographic composition of Villisca Comm School District?

Villisca Comm School District students are 95.8% White, 2.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.4% African American, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Villisca Comm School District?

Villisca Comm School District has an equity score of 75/100, ranking #36 out of 303 districts in Iowa.