Public schools in Spencer, IA
5 open public schools with an address in Spencer, 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
2,094
5 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
15.6:1
Iowa median 13.7:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Spencer public schools
The federal directory lists 5 public schools in Spencer, IA: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high. The 5 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,094 students, an average of 419 per school. The largest campus is Spencer High School (688 students), and the largest elementary school is Lincoln Elementary School (442).
Every listed school belongs to Spencer 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 15.6:1, higher 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 50% 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 Spencer
Elementary schools in Spencer
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairview Park Elementary Spencer Comm School District | 01–02 | 249 | 12:1 | |
| Johnson Elementary Spencer Comm School District | PK–KG | 201 | 11:1 | |
| Lincoln Elementary School Spencer Comm School District | 03–05 | 442 | 15.6:1 |
Middle schools in Spencer
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer Middle School Spencer Comm School District | 06–08 | 514 | 17.2:1 |
High schools in Spencer
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer High School Spencer Comm School District | 09–12 | 688 | 17:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White83.8%
- Hispanic9.4%
- Black1.6%
- Asian1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial4.1%
Enrollment-weighted across 5 Spencer schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,094 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Spencer
How many public schools are in Spencer, IA?
The current NCES directory lists 5 open public schools with a location address in Spencer: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high. Together they reported 2,094 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Spencer?
All listed public schools with an address in Spencer belong to Spencer 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 Spencer?
Spencer High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Spencer, with 688 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Spencer?
No school with an address in Spencer 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 Spencer schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Spencer public schools is 15.6:1, higher 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 Spencer 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