Essex Comm School District

111 Forbes St
Essex, IA 51638
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
9/
10
Top 20%

Top Rankings

Essex Comm School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Iowa for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 10%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 5%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 2 public elementary schools serving 188 students in Essex Comm School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public elementary schools in Iowa.
Public Elementary Schools in Essex Comm School District have an average math proficiency score of 76% (versus the Iowa public elementary school average of 70%), and reading proficiency score of 79% (versus the 69% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 11% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Iowa public elementary school average of 30% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (IA)
# Schools
2 Schools
931 Schools
# Students
188 Students
323,671 Students
# Teachers
16 Teachers
23,684 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Essex Comm School District, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 325 school districts in Iowa (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 50% has decreased from 80% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (IA)
#59 out of 327 school districts
(Top 20%)

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

76%
68%

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

80-84%
70%

Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

80-89%
63%
(21-22)
≥50%
90%

Showing 2013–2022. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

(2022-23)
20.4%
24.7%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.20
0.49

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
n/a
2%
% Hispanic
7%
14%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Black
n/a
8%

Showing 2012–2021. Full 22-year historical data available below ↓

% White
89%
70%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
% Two or more races
4%
5%

Showing 2011–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $22,314 is higher than the state median of $18,179. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $23,191 is higher than the state median of $18,122. The school district spending/student has grown by 21% over four school years.
This School District
This State (IA)
Total Revenue
$4 MM
$9,049 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending
$4 MM
$9,021 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Revenue / Student
$22,314
$18,179

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending / Student
$23,191
$18,122

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Best Essex Comm School District Public Elementary Schools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Essex Junior-senior High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
111 Forbes St
Essex, IA 51638
(712) 379-3115
Gr: 6-12 | 87 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #22.
Essex Elementary School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
111 Forbes St
Essex, IA 51638
(712) 379-3114
Gr: PK-5 | 101 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 10%

Recent Articles

When a Public School Cancels a Course Your Child Needs
When a Public School Cancels a Course Your Child Needs
Learn what parents can do when public schools cancel essential courses, including protecting graduation credits, finding approved alternatives, requesting substitutions, and preventing disruptions to college or career plans before deadlines.
Verify School Assignment Before Buying a House
Verify School Assignment Before Buying a House
Before buying a house, learn how to verify your child's assigned public school, check conflicting property listings, confirm enrollment eligibility, and avoid costly school assignment surprises before closing on a property.
School Bus Commute Times: What Parents Should Know
School Bus Commute Times: What Parents Should Know
Discover how long school bus commutes really take, why routes vary, and what parents should ask about pickup times, student fatigue, transportation reliability, and daily schedules before choosing schools.

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • District size: 2 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 188 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 12:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 11%
  • : ≥50% (Btm 50% in IA)
  • : Top 20%
  • : 76% (Top 30%)
  • : 80-84% (Top 10%)
  • : 80-89% (Top 5%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education

Quick Links