Public schools in Mason City, IA
9 open public schools with an address in Mason City, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
9
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
3,406
9 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
13.7:1
Iowa median 13.7:1
Charter schools
0
1 virtual
An overview of Mason City public schools
The federal directory lists 9 public schools in Mason City, IA: 4 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high. The 9 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 3,406 students, an average of 378 per school. The largest campus is Mason City High School (891 students), and the largest elementary school is Harding Elementary School (387).
Every listed school belongs to Mason City Comm 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 13.7:1, similar to 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.
School choice options include 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 48% 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 Mason City
Elementary schools in Mason City
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harding Elementary School Mason City Comm School District | PK–04 | 387 | 14.6:1 | |
| Hoover Elementary School Mason City Comm School District | KG–04 | 361 | 13.3:1 | |
| Jefferson Elementary School Mason City Comm School District | KG–04 | 292 | 11:1 | |
| Roosevelt Elementary School Mason City Comm School District | KG–04 | 348 | 12.2:1 |
Middle schools in Mason City
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Adams Middle School Mason City Comm School District | 07–08 | 463 | 13.7:1 | |
| Lincoln Intermediate Mason City Comm School District | 05–06 | 485 | 13:1 |
High schools in Mason City
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alternative School Mason City Comm School District · Alternative School | 09–12 | 91 | 15.4:1 | |
| Mason City High School Mason City Comm School District | 09–12 | 891 | 16.6:1 | |
| Mason City Virtual Academy Mason City Comm School District · Virtual | 07–12 | 88 | 58.7:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White68.5%
- Hispanic12.5%
- Black6.6%
- Asian1.2%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.6%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander5.3%
- Multiracial5%
Enrollment-weighted across 9 Mason City schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (3,406 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Mason City
How many public schools are in Mason City, IA?
The current NCES directory lists 9 open public schools with a location address in Mason City: 4 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high. Together they reported 3,406 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Mason City?
All listed public schools with an address in Mason City belong to Mason City Comm 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 Mason City?
Mason City High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Mason City, with 891 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Mason City?
No school with an address in Mason City 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 Mason City schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Mason City public schools is 13.7:1, similar to 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 Mason City 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