Best Schools in Buchanan County, IA
Buchanan County, IA has 39 public schools (9 high, 7 middle, 21 elementary) serving 8,597 students. On average they score 75% on state proficiency tests against a projected 63%, so schools in Buchanan County don't meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Buchanan County, IA
The top high schools in Buchanan County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Vinton-shellsburg High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Vinton-shellsburg Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 425 Students
2. Jesup High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Jesup Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 278 Students
3. North-linn Senior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Linn Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 166 Students
4. Union High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Union Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 316 Students
5. Starmont High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Starmont Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 191 Students
6. Independence Junior Senior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Independence Comm School District • Public • Grades 7 - 12 • 701 Students
7. Wapsie Valley High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Wapsie Valley Comm School District • Public • Grades 7 - 12 • 304 Students
8. Oelwein High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Oelwein Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 314 Students
9. East Buchanan High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
East Buchanan Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 186 Students
Best Middle Schools in Buchanan County, IA
The top middle schools in Buchanan County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Union Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Union Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 201 Students
2. Vinton-shellsburg Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Vinton-shellsburg Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 318 Students
3. Jesup Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Jesup Comm School District • Public • Grades 5 - 8 • 252 Students
4. North-linn Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Linn Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 95 Students
5. Starmont Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Starmont Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 129 Students
6. East Buchanan Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
East Buchanan Comm School District • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 88 Students
7. Oelwein Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Oelwein Comm School District • Public • Grades 5 - 8 • 359 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Buchanan County, IA
The top elementary schools in Buchanan County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. St Athanasius School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
St Athanasius School • Private • Grades Pre K - 8 • 107 Students
2. Jesup Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Jesup Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 438 Students
3. Tilford Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Vinton-shellsburg Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 578 Students
4. La Porte City Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Union Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 273 Students
5. North Linn Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Linn Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 274 Students
6. East Buchanan Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
East Buchanan Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 6 • 309 Students
7. Wings Park Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Oelwein Comm School District • Public • Grades 1 - 4 • 345 Students
8. Shellsburg Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Vinton-shellsburg Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 234 Students
9. Fairbank Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Wapsie Valley Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 6 • 195 Students
10. West Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Independence Comm School District • Public • Grades 3 - 6 • 381 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Buchanan County, IA
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Buchanan County, IA has a total population of 20,565 with 24% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 94%, and 22% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Buchanan County, IA
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Buchanan County, IA.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
10.48 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
2.77 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
7.71 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Buchanan County, IA.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Buchanan County, IA.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Buchanan County, IA Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Buchanan County, IA
How many schools are in Buchanan County, IA?
Buchanan County, IA has 39 public schools: 9 high schools, 7 middle schools and 21 elementary schools, serving 8,597 students in total.
How do schools in Buchanan County perform on state tests?
On average, 39 schools in Buchanan County score 75% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 63%, so on average schools in Buchanan County don't meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Buchanan County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Buchanan County, IA
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 68%
- Projected: 59%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 74%
- Projected: 57%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 78%
- Projected: 64%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 77%
- Projected: 68%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 75%
- Projected: 64%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 73%
- Projected: 57%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 73%
- Projected: 61%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 77%
- Projected: 64%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 78%
- Projected: 65%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 73%
- Projected: 60%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Buchanan County
4 places in Buchanan County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (4)
- Independence (5)
- Jesup (3)
- Winthrop (3)
- Fairbank (2)
School districts (3)
- Jesup Comm School District (6 schools)
- Independence Comm School District (4 schools)
- East Buchanan Comm School District (3 schools)