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Northwood Iowa North East viewPhoto: KRS9400 · CC BY-SA 4.0
B
Schools in Northwood · Northwood-Kensett Community School District

Northwood’s public schools outscore 59% of Iowa districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Northwood, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Iowa, not nationally.

≈could be anywhere from C+ to A−K–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
74%
▲ 4 pts vs IA 70%
2021–22
Math proficiency
70%
▲ 6 pts vs IA 64%
2021–22
Spent per student
$13.2K
▼ 4% vs IA $13.7K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.9
IA 14.1
Schools in town
2
552 students on the public path
In brief

Northwood’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 627 Iowa towns with household incomes within a quarter of Northwood’s, its schools beat 64%, higher than their 59% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 74% and math 70% in spring 2022, against 70% and 64% statewide. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,217 per student, against $13,713 across Iowa (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle school

From grade 6 the district’s path is Northwood-Kensett Middle/High School. See the path ↓

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 Northwood’s grade

B Test scores

B: better than 59% of Iowa school districts. Test scores are above the Iowa average; there is no graduation rate to add.

Iowa school districts we grade (326)Better than 59%
Lower resultsHigher results
Iowa towns with similar household incomes (627)Better than 64%
C+A−A rough placement. Ordinary sampling error in 337 test results could put Northwood anywhere from C+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Northwood’s students in the tested grades sat them (337 in math, 337 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–5Northwood-Kensett ElementaryNorthwood-Kensett Community School DistrictB−
6–12Northwood-Kensett Middle/High SchoolNorthwood-Kensett Community School DistrictB−

Northwood’s public schools are run by Northwood-Kensett Community School District, which also serves Kensett. 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.

Northwood-Kensett Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 2 schools · 552 students, down 4% since 2020–21 · 13.9 per teacher (IA 14.1)
$13,217IA $13,713 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading74%
State average 69.7% · 337 students tested
Math70%
State average 63.8% · 337 students tested

Northwood vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
NorthwoodBNorthwood-Kensett

Every school in Northwood

2 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 Northwoodby address
Northwood-Kensett Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B−
287 students15:1Rate it →
Northwood-Kensett Middle/High School
High · Grades 6–12
B−
265 students13:1Rate it →

Questions about Northwood’s schools

Are Northwood’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Iowa: the public schools Northwood children attend outscore 59% of Iowa’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 64%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Northwood in?

Northwood-Kensett Community School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 552 students in 2 schools (2024–25).

How much does Northwood spend per student?

$13,217 in Northwood-Kensett Community School District (FY2024), against $13,713 across Iowa. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Northwood families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Northwood → 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.