Winterset 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.

Winterset, Iowa - 4 schools

An equity score of 35/100 ranks Winterset Comm School District #222 of 303 districts in Iowa (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,217 per pupil, Winterset Comm School District ranks #292 of 327 Iowa districts by per-pupil spending (Iowa districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,683
Total Enrollment
4
Schools
$11,217
Per-Pupil Spending
High, Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Winterset Comm School District operates 4 public schools serving 1,683 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Iowa. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 high, 1 combined, 1 elementary, 1 middle 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 Madison County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,217 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 41.4% local, 49.1% state, and 9.5% 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 35/100, ranked #222 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 4 schools offering Advanced Placement (1 AP courses district-wide), a 340:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 18.2% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 92.7% White, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 0.8% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Winterset Elementary School, with a diversity index of 16.8/100.

Its largest campus is Winterset Senior High School, enrolling 530 students (33% of the district's total enrollment).

Winterset Senior High School accounts for 31.5% of all Winterset Comm School District student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Winterset 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

Winterset Comm School District school enrollment varies 2.1× across entities

Winterset Comm School District school enrollment ranges from 256 students (lowest) to 530 students (highest), a spread of 274 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

Winterset Comm School District student-counselor ratio is 340:1 — 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 Winterset Comm School District is typically wider than the Winterset Comm School District-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Winterset Comm School District chronic absenteeism rate is 18.2% — 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 Winterset Comm School District is typically wider than the Winterset 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?

9.5%
Federal
49.1%
State
41.4%
Local

Funding Equity

35
Equity Score
222 / 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 4 schools in Winterset Comm School District.

White 92.7%
Hispanic or Latino 3.5%
Asian 0.8%
Multiracial 2.5%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 13.8/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Winterset Elementary School 16.8
  2. 2 Winterset Middle School 13.5
  3. 3 Winterset Junior High School 12.6
  4. 4 Winterset Senior High School 12.2

Programs & Resources

1 / 4
Schools with AP
1 AP courses total
340:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
18.2%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Winterset Comm School District

School Enrollment
Winterset Senior High School
530
Winterset Elementary School
488
Winterset Middle School
351
Winterset Junior High School
256

How Winterset Comm School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Iowa districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Knoxville Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Washington Comm School District Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Gilbert Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Benton Comm School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Decorah Community School District Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Winterset 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 Winterset 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 Winterset Comm School District?

Winterset Comm School District has 4 schools, including 1 high, 1 combined, 1 elementary, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 1,683 students.

How much does Winterset Comm School District spend per student?

Winterset Comm School District spends $11,217 per student. The district has an equity score of 35/100, ranking #222 in Iowa.

What is the demographic composition of Winterset Comm School District?

Winterset Comm School District students are 92.7% White, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 0.8% Asian, 0.4% African American, averaged across 4 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Winterset Comm School District?

Winterset Comm School District has an equity score of 35/100, ranking #222 out of 303 districts in Iowa.