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West Branch, Iowa - 3 schools
An equity score of 28/100 ranks West Branch Comm School District #255 of 303 districts in Iowa (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.
At $11,971 per pupil, West Branch Comm School District ranks #215 of 327 Iowa districts by per-pupil spending (Iowa districts). NCES F-33 finance data.
871
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$11,971
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types
District-Level NCES Analysis
West Branch Comm School District operates 3 public schools serving 871 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Iowa. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 1 high, 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 Cedar County.
Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,971 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 52.0% local, 41.0% state, and 7.0% 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 #255 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 3 schools offering Advanced Placement (1 AP courses district-wide), a 294.3:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 15.2% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 86.5% White, 8.4% Hispanic or Latino, 1.9% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is West Branch Middle School, with a diversity index of 27.6/100.
Its largest campus is Hoover Elementary School, enrolling 353 students (41% of the district's total enrollment).
Hoover Elementary School accounts for 40.5% of all West Branch Comm School District student enrollment
That dominant concentration means West Branch 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.
West Branch Comm School District student-counselor ratio is 294:1 — 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 West Branch Comm School District is typically wider than the West Branch Comm School District-aggregate figure suggests.
West Branch Comm School District chronic absenteeism rate is 15.2% — 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 West Branch Comm School District is typically wider than the West Branch Comm School District-aggregate figure suggests.
Comparisons are relative to West Branch 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.
How many schools are in West Branch Comm School District?
West Branch Comm School District has 3 schools, including 1 combined, 1 high, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 871 students.
How much does West Branch Comm School District spend per student?
West Branch Comm School District spends $11,971 per student. The district has an equity score of 28/100, ranking #255 in Iowa.
What is the demographic composition of West Branch Comm School District?
West Branch Comm School District students are 86.5% White, 8.4% Hispanic or Latino, 1.9% African American, 0.5% Asian, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.
What is the equity score for West Branch Comm School District?
West Branch Comm School District has an equity score of 28/100, ranking #255 out of 303 districts in Iowa.