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North Iowa Community School District

111 3rd Ave Nw
Buffalo Center, IA 50424
(District boundaries shown in map)
3/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2026 school year, there are 2 public elementary schools serving 331 students in North Iowa Community School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Iowa.
Public Elementary Schools in North Iowa Community School District have an average math proficiency score of 75% (versus the Iowa public elementary school average of 70%), and reading proficiency score of 70% (versus the 69% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 14% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Iowa public elementary school average of 29% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (IA)
# Schools
3 Schools
924 Schools
# Students
465 Students
320,020 Students
# Teachers
32 Teachers
23,100 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

North Iowa Community School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% 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 80% has decreased from 90% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (IA)
#236 out of 327 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
69%
68%
66%
70%
65-69%
63%
(21-22)
≥80%
90%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.26
0.47
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
n/a
3%
% Hispanic
13%
13%
% Black
1%
7%
% White
85%
71%
% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
% Two or more races
1%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $17,402 is higher than the state median of $16,468. The school district revenue/student has grown by 7% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $16,460 is higher than the state median of $16,042. The school district spending/student has grown by 13% over four school years.
This School District
This State (IA)
Total Revenue
$8 MM
$8,262 MM
Spending
$8 MM
$8,048 MM
Revenue / Student
$17,402
$16,468
Spending / Student
$16,460
$16,042

Best North Iowa Community School District Public Elementary Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
North Iowa Elementary Buffalo Center
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
111 3rd Ave Nw
Buffalo Center, IA 50424
(641) 562-2525
Gr: PK-5 | 231 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #22.
North Iowa Middle School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
111 3rd Ave Nw
Buffalo Center, IA 50424
(641) 562-2525
Gr: 6-8 | 100 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 15%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 3 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 465 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 15%
  • : ≥80% (Btm 50% in IA)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 69% (Btm 50%)
  • : 66% (Btm 50%)
  • : 65-69% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education

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