| District | City | Rating | Students | Schools | Grades | Zip Codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gilbert Community School District | Gilbert | 10/10 Excellent · 99th pct | 1,697 | 4 | PK–12 | 1 |
| Roland-Story Community School District | Roland | 10/10 Excellent · 95th pct | 1,125 | 3 | PK–12 | 2 |
| Nevada Community School District | Nevada | 10/10 Excellent · 93rd pct | 1,542 | 3 | PK–12 | 1 |
| Ballard Community School District | Cambridge | 9/10 Excellent · 80th pct | 1,969 | 4 | PK–12 | 4 |
| Collins-Maxwell Community School District | Collins | 7/10 Good · 65th pct | 412 | 2 | PK–12 | 2 |
| Ames Community School District | Ames | 6/10 Average · 51st pct | 4,678 | 8 | PK–12 | 4 |
| Colo-NESCO Community School District | Colo | 3/10 Below Average · 26th pct | 387 | 2 | PK–12 | 3 |
How Story County compares
Together they enroll 11,810 students across 26 schools. The largest is Ames Community School District with 4,678 students. Districts here average 7.9/10, above the Iowa average of 5.4/10. Ratings range from 3/10 to 10/10.
School Districts in Story County, Iowa
Story County has 7 public school districts covering 17 zip codes. The top-rated district in Story County is Gilbert Community School District (10/10). Ratings are based on the share of students proficient in reading and math on state assessments (ISASP 2024–25), ranked against all districts in Iowa. Directory details come from NCES CCD 2024–25.
Enter your zip code on any page to confirm your exact district assignment — district boundaries are address-specific and may not follow county or city lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many school districts are in Story County, IA?
7 school districts serve zip codes in Story County, IA. This page lists each one with its rating, enrollment, grade span and the zip codes it covers.
What is the best-rated school district in Story County, IA?
Of the districts serving Story County, Gilbert Community School District has the highest rating on this site at 10/10. That places it in the 99th percentile among Iowa school districts.
How are these school district ratings calculated?
Each rating is the share of students scoring proficient or above on Iowa reading and math assessments, ranked against other districts in Iowa and converted to a 1–10 scale. Percentiles compare districts within Iowa only, never across state lines.