Private School Review - Established 2003
North Iowa Christian School Top 14 · Most AP Courses (IA)
Newman Catholic School Top 5 · Highest Avg. ACT Score (IA)

Best Cerro Gordo County Private Schools (2026-27)

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 4 private schools serving 1,048 students in Cerro Gordo County, IA (there are 13 public schools, serving 5,328 public students). 16% of all K-12 students are educated in private schools (compared to the IA state average of 10%).
100% of private schools in Cerro Gordo County, IA are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Christian).

Quick Facts (2026-27)

Quick Facts (2026-27)

Top Ranked Cerro Gordo County Private Schools (2026-27)

Newman Catholic School Photo
Newman Catholic School
Gr: K-12 | 628 students
Avg. class size: 39 students
Sports: 17 | Extracurriculars: 4
Catholic
2445 19th St Sw
Mason City, IA 50401
(641) 423-6939
(1)
View Profile
Map of Clear Lake Classical
Clear Lake Classical
Gr: PK-9 | 75 students
Christian
3714 N Shore Dr
Clear Lake, IA 50428
(630) 854-3006
View Profile
Map of Newman Catholic Elementary School
Newman Catholic Elementary School
Gr: K-5 | 271 students
Catholic
2000 S Mckinley Avenue
Mason City, IA 50401
(641) 423-3101
View Profile
North Iowa Christian School Photo
North Iowa Christian School
Gr: PK-12 | 74 students
Avg. class size: 12 students
Christian
680 6th St SE
Mason City, IA 50401
(641) 423-6440
(4)
View Profile

Overview

Category
This State (IA)
US
# Schools
4 Schools

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

YearCerro Gordo County Total Schools
20254
20243
20232
20221
20211
20201
20191
20183
20173
20163
20154
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# Students
1,048 Students
52,730 Students

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private School

YearCerro Gordo County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
2025262217179
2024140212172
202369192174
202261203185
202161201180
202061196171
201964199175
2018352197172
2017372195180
2016372194178
2015281188167
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% Average Students of Color
9%
16%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearCerro Gordo County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
20259%16%34%
202410%16%34%
20232%17%33%
20226%15%33%
20216%16%32%
20206%15%32%
20195%14%31%
20188%15%31%
201710%13%32%
201610%13%32%
201510%12%32%
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Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
76 Teachers
4,273 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
12:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearCerro Gordo County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
202514:112:111:1
202414:112:111:1
202311:113:111:1
20228:113:111:1
20218:113:111:1
20208:113:112:1
20199:114:112:1
201814:114:112:1
201716:113:112:1
201616:113:112:1
201515:113:112:1
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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
50%
39%

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2015-2025)

YearCerro Gordo County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
202550%40%55%
202440%41%54%
202340%41%54%
202240%41%54%
202140%42%54%
202040%42%54%
201940%42%53%
201850%39%53%
201740%36%53%
201640%38%52%
201540%39%52%
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Average Class Size
26 students
16 students

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

YearCerro Gordo County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
2025261615
202451615
202351515
202251615
202151615
202051615
201951615
2018221615
201751515
201651515
2015101515
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Average Number of AP Courses
7 courses
9 courses

Trends in Average Number of AP Courses Offered

YearCerro Gordo County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
20257913
20247912
20237811
20227911
20217911
20207911
20197811
20187711
20177710
20167710
20157710
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Average ACT score
24
(Out of 36)
25

ACT Score Trends (2018-2025)

YearCerro Gordo County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
2025242526
2018242425
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Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$11,000
$9,320

Tuition Cost Trends (2018-2025)

YearCerro Gordo County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
2025$11,000$9,791$15,012
2018$3,120$5,153$11,017
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Average % on Financial Aid
35%
37%

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2015-2025)

YearCerro Gordo County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
202535%37%34%
202435%38%34%
202335%38%34%
202235%38%33%
202135%38%33%
202035%36%32%
201935%36%31%
201835%37%30%
201735%35%30%
201635%34%29%
201535%33%28%
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Average Financial Aid Grant
$1,200
$2,780

Financial Aid Grant Trends (2015-2025)

YearCerro Gordo County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
2025$1,200$2,769$7,073
2024$1,200$2,727$6,930
2023$1,200$3,038$6,469
2022$1,200$2,364$6,289
2021$1,200$2,185$6,055
2020$1,200$2,161$5,921
2019$1,200$2,028$5,795
2018$1,200$1,968$5,456
2017$1,200$1,243$5,319
2016$1,200$1,160$5,105
2015$1,200$992$5,030
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Students by Ethnicity:

0.36
0.48

Diversity Score Trends

YearCerro Gordo County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
20250.360.470.65
20240.360.470.65
20230.150.500.65
20220.120.470.64
20210.120.470.64
20200.120.470.64
20190.090.460.63
20180.210.450.63
20170.340.390.61
20160.340.390.61
20150.330.390.61
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# American Indian Students
2 Students
116 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
19 Students
1,075 Students
% Asian Students
2%
2%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearCerro Gordo County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
20252%3%5%
20242%2%5%
20192%2%4%
20182%2%4%
20173%2%4%
20163%2%4%
20152%2%4%
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# Hispanic Students
33 Students
3,392 Students
% Hispanic Students
3%
7%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearCerro Gordo County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
20253%6%9%
20242%7%9%
20222%6%8%
20212%6%9%
20202%6%9%
20184%5%8%
20174%4%8%
20164%4%8%
20154%4%8%
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# Black Students
28 Students
1,537 Students
% Black Students
3%
3%

Black Student Percentage Trends

YearCerro Gordo County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
20253%3%7%
20243%3%7%
20232%3%8%
20223%3%7%
20213%3%7%
20203%3%8%
20193%3%7%
20182%3%7%
20171%2%7%
20161%2%7%
20151%2%8%
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# White Students
832 Students
36,965 Students
% White Students
79%
70%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearCerro Gordo County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
202579%70%52%
202479%71%52%
202392%68%52%
202293%71%54%
202193%70%54%
202093%71%54%
201995%72%56%
201889%72%56%
201780%77%58%
201680%76%58%
201581%76%58%
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# Hawaiian Students
3 Students
98 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
131 Students
9,674 Students
% of Others Students
13%
18%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearCerro Gordo County AverageIowa (IA) AverageNational Average
202513%18%26%
202413%17%26%
20236%20%25%
20183%18%23%
201712%15%22%
201612%16%22%
201512%16%21%
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All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
4 extracurriculars
6 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
17 sports
7 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Cerro Gordo County, IA?
The top ranked private schools in Cerro Gordo County, IA is Newman Catholic School.
How many private schools are located in Cerro Gordo County?
4 private schools are located in Cerro Gordo County.
What percentage of students in Cerro Gordo County go to private school?
16% of all K-12 students in Cerro Gordo County are educated in private schools (compared to the IA state average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Cerro Gordo County?
100% of private schools in Cerro Gordo County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Christian).

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