Public schools in Decorah, IA
5 open public schools with an address in Decorah, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
5
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
1,522
5 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.3:1
Iowa median 13.7:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Decorah public schools
The federal directory lists 5 public schools in Decorah, IA: 2 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 1 combined or other. The 5 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 1,522 students, an average of 304 per school. The largest campus is Decorah High School (555 students), and the largest elementary school is John Cline Elementary School (300).
Every listed school belongs to Decorah Community School District. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 12.3:1, lower than the statewide school median of 13.7:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
About 24% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Decorah
Elementary schools in Decorah
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrie Lee Elementary Decorah Community School District | 03–04 | 215 | 12.9:1 | |
| John Cline Elementary School Decorah Community School District | KG–02 | 300 | 11.6:1 |
Middle schools in Decorah
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decorah Middle School Decorah Community School District | 05–08 | 432 | 12.3:1 |
High schools in Decorah
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decorah High School Decorah Community School District | 09–12 | 555 | 14.1:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Decorah
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Side Elementary School Decorah Community School District | PK–PK | 20 | 10.2:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White89%
- Hispanic7.1%
- Black0.9%
- Asian0.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial2.4%
Enrollment-weighted across 5 Decorah schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (1,522 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Decorah
How many public schools are in Decorah, IA?
The current NCES directory lists 5 open public schools with a location address in Decorah: 2 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 1,522 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Decorah?
All listed public schools with an address in Decorah belong to Decorah Community School District. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Decorah?
Decorah High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Decorah, with 555 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Decorah?
No school with an address in Decorah is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Iowa.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Decorah schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Decorah public schools is 12.3:1, lower than the Iowa school median of 13.7:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Decorah guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Iowa cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Iowa cities