Western Dubuque 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.

Farley, Iowa - 8 schools

An equity score of 38/100 ranks Western Dubuque Comm School District #208 of 303 districts in Iowa (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,657 per pupil, Western Dubuque Comm School District ranks #248 of 327 Iowa districts by per-pupil spending (Iowa districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

3,742
Total Enrollment
8
Schools
$11,657
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Western Dubuque Comm School District operates 8 public schools serving 3,742 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Iowa. The school portfolio breaks down into 6 combined, 1 high, 1 middle schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Dubuque County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,657 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 42.9% local, 46.7% state, and 10.4% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 38/100, ranked #208 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 2 of 8 schools offering Advanced Placement (6 AP courses district-wide), a 338.6:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 15.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 90.1% White, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 1.4% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Dyersville Elementary School, with a diversity index of 25.4/100.

Its largest campus is Western Dubuque High School, enrolling 927 students (25% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Farley Elementary School, at 273 students, a 3x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Western Dubuque High School accounts for 24.8% of all Western Dubuque Comm School District student enrollment

That concentration means Western Dubuque 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

Western Dubuque Comm School District school enrollment varies 3.4× across entities

Western Dubuque Comm School District school enrollment ranges from 273 students (lowest) to 927 students (highest), a spread of 654 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Western Dubuque Comm School District student-counselor ratio is 339:1 — 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 Western Dubuque Comm School District is typically wider than the Western Dubuque Comm School District-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Western Dubuque Comm School District chronic absenteeism rate is 15.6% — 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 Western Dubuque Comm School District is typically wider than the Western Dubuque 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?

10.4%
Federal
46.7%
State
42.9%
Local

Funding Equity

38
Equity Score
208 / 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 8 schools in Western Dubuque Comm School District.

White 90.1%
Hispanic or Latino 6.2%
African American 1.4%
Multiracial 2.0%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 18.0/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Dyersville Elementary School 25.4
  2. 2 Farley Elementary School 25.0
  3. 3 Cascade Elementary School 23.1
  4. 4 Drexler Middle School 18.6
  5. 5 Peosta Elementary School 16.7

Programs & Resources

2 / 8
Schools with AP
6 AP courses total
338.6:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
15.6%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Western Dubuque Comm School District

School Enrollment
Western Dubuque High School
927
Drexler Middle School
639
Peosta Elementary School
425
Cascade Junior-Senior High School
392
Epworth Elementary School
360
Dyersville Elementary School
322
Cascade Elementary School
305
Farley Elementary School
273

How Western Dubuque Comm School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Iowa districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Dallas Center-Grimes Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Fort Dodge Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Indianola Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Mason City Comm School District Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Norwalk Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Western Dubuque 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 Western Dubuque 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 Western Dubuque Comm School District?

Western Dubuque Comm School District has 8 schools, including 1 high, 1 middle, 6 combined. Total enrollment is 3,742 students.

How much does Western Dubuque Comm School District spend per student?

Western Dubuque Comm School District spends $11,657 per student. The district has an equity score of 38/100, ranking #208 in Iowa.

What is the demographic composition of Western Dubuque Comm School District?

Western Dubuque Comm School District students are 90.1% White, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 1.4% African American, 0.3% Asian, averaged across 8 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Western Dubuque Comm School District?

Western Dubuque Comm School District has an equity score of 38/100, ranking #208 out of 303 districts in Iowa.