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Harlan iowaPhoto: Billwhittaker · CC BY-SA 3.0
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Schools in Harlan · Harlan Community School District

Harlan’s public schools outscore 86% of Iowa districts

76% of students in Harlan’s public schools are proficient in math, above the Iowa average (64%). The grade covers the public school district serving Harlan, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Iowa, not nationally.

#19of 140 Iowa townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Iowa state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
80%
▲ 10 pts vs IA 70%
2021–22
Math proficiency
76%
▲ 12 pts vs IA 64%
2021–22
Graduate on time
95–100%
▲ 8–12 pts vs IA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.8K
▼ 7% vs IA $13.7K
FY2024
Students per teacher
14.7
IA 14.1 · larger classes
Schools in town
5
1,472 students on the public path
In brief

Harlan’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 536 Iowa towns with household incomes within a quarter of Harlan’s, its schools beat 92%, higher than their 86% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 80% and math 76% in spring 2022, against 70% and 64% statewide; 95–100% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $12,751 per student, against $13,713 across Iowa (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one elementary, one middle and one high school

From grade 3 the district’s path is Harlan Intermediate School, then Harlan Community Middle School, then Harlan High School. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Shelby County Catholic School (private) is in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Harlan’s grade

A− Test scoresA− Graduation

A: better than 86% of Iowa school districts, #19 of 140 Iowa towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Iowa average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

Iowa school districts we grade (326)Better than 86%
Lower resultsHigher results
Iowa towns with similar household incomes (536)Better than 92%
A−AA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 998 test results and a graduating class of 107 could put Harlan anywhere from A− to A. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Harlan’s students in the tested grades sat them (998 in math, 997 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Harlan, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–2Harlan PrimaryHarlan Community School DistrictNo scores
3–5Harlan Intermediate SchoolHarlan Community School DistrictB−
6–8Harlan Community Middle SchoolHarlan Community School DistrictA−
9–12Harlan High SchoolHarlan Community School DistrictA

Harlan’s public schools are run by Harlan Community School District, which also serves Defiance, Earling, Panama and Portsmouth and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Harlan Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 1,472 students · 14.7 per teacher (IA 14.1)
$12,751IA $13,713 · FY2024
A
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading80%
State average 69.7% · 997 students tested
Math76%
State average 63.8% · 998 students tested

Harlan vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Iowa towns that share Harlan’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
HarlanAHarlan

Every school in Harlan

5 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Iowa’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Harlanby address
Harlan Primary
Elementary · Grades PK–2
342 students16:1Rate it →
Harlan Intermediate School
Elementary · Grades 3–5
B−
309 students14:1Rate it →
Harlan Community Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
A−
335 students15:1Rate it →
Harlan High School
High · Grades 9–12
A
486 students14:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Shelby County Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
Private · Catholic
101 students10:1Rate it →

Questions about Harlan’s schools

Are Harlan’s schools good?

By Iowa’s own tests, yes: the public schools Harlan children attend outscore 86% of Iowa’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #19 of 140 Iowa towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 92%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Harlan in?

Harlan Community School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,472 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do Harlan kids go to high school?

Harlan High School, with 486 students; its own test results earn an A.

What is Harlan’s graduation rate?

95–100% of the class of 2023 in Harlan Community School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Iowa.

How much does Harlan spend per student?

$12,751 in Harlan Community School District (FY2024), against $13,713 across Iowa. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Harlan?

Yes: Shelby County Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–5, 101 students).

Parents talk

What Harlan families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Harlan → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Iowa. Stars are from neighbors.