Education K-12
Four public K-12 school districts and
one private school district in Shelby Co.
Shelby County schools are among the State’s leaders in combining a top-quality academic education, with a wide variety of successful extracurricular activities.
Shelby County also follows Iowa’s tremendous educational attributes by enjoying a ranking amongst the nations highest ACT and SAT scores, offering higher than national average computer-to-student ratios as well as having Internet access and the ability to have classes from around the state offered in their community through the Iowa Communications (ICN) fiber-optic educational network.
Residents of Shelby County are served by the following school districts:
Schools Budget Faculty Support Adm. Students
Avoca-Hancock-Shelby-Tennant (K-12) $6 million 56 36 4 645
Elk Horn-Kimballton (K-12) $3 million 29 18 3 330
Harlan Community Schools (K-12) $11 million 137 111 7 1,600
Irwin-Kirkman-Manilla
(pre K-12) $4 million 47 34 3 485
Shelby Co. Catholic Schools (PreK-8) $835,781 24 18 2 337
A-H-S-T School District (Avoca-Hancock-Shelby-Tennant )
Average class size K-3 is 16.6 students per classes, plus offer instructors in music, art, physical education, media, reading, and gifted and talented education.
Each year 79 – 95% of its seniors go on to college or some other post-secondary education.
The six-year average composite ACT score is 23.25, which is higher than either state or national averages.
Nearly a half million dollars has been invested in district technology over the past five years and the ratio of students to computers is fewer than 3 to 1.
Curriculum includes such college credit courses as College Biology, College Chemistry, College English, Calculus and Child Development.
In a recent poll, 96% of AHST parents rated it’s schools as good to excellent.
Elk Horn-Kimballton School District:
(www.elk-horn.k12.ia.us)
Over 80% of the graduates pursue advanced education.
Talented & Gifted, art and guidance programs.
Scholarship Foundation funded with interest from a $87,000 gift.
Work Study and Career Pathways programs.
Iowa Communications Network (ICN) fiber optic classroom for college courses.
Fully networked, PC and Mac computers and a student to computer ratio of 4 to 1.
Sports and music programs consistently perform well at state competition events.
Active learning is encouraged; block scheduling grades 5-12.
Technology uses include offerings such as computer aided drafting class, video editing experiences in art, and the Middle School Accelerated Reader program.
A 2001 building project that added two modern science rooms which include a lab setup, a large art room to serve K-12 students, one regular classroom, a physical education/competition gym and locker rooms.
Harlan Community School District:
(www.harlan.k12.ia.us)
Home to a tremendous high school academic and athletic tradition with locally initiated students scholarships totaling over $175,000 and local scholarship endowments in excess of $500,000. In 2001 the school had two national merit finalists, semifinalists and commended students and placed three students on all Southwest Iowa academic teams.
Academic prowess spilled over to athletics as their football program has gone to the state championships over 20 times in football since 1972. They also have championships in girls golf (1), boys baseball (1) and wrestling (1).
Its arts and music program includes one of the finest Jazz and Marching Band programs in the state, consistently ranking in the top two in their class. The Marching Band has 32 consecutive Division I ratings and the Jazz Band has qualified for state 26 years in a row and has twice won the State Championship.
Other highlights
Over 92% of its graduates pursue advanced education.
$5.89 million, 64,500 sq. ft. new Harlan Community Middle School.
Flexible Education Center for nontraditional students.
Talented and Gifted Programs.
ACT average 22.4 exceed both Iowa and national standards.
Work Study Program.
College preparatory courses (27 hours of college credit available).
IBM computer labs in all buildings and 280 computers.
Iowa Communications Network (ICN) fiber optic classroom for college courses.
One of Iowa’s most recognized extracurricular athletic, music and arts programs.
Irwin-Kirkman-Manilla School District:
Over 80% of graduates pursue advanced education.
Talented and Gifted Programs as well as Alternative Education Programs.
Excellent technology resources for all K-12 students.
Preschool Programs for four-year-olds.
High staff morale with a dedicated teaching staff.
Clean and well cared for facilities that make a friendly educational environment.
Shelby County Catholic Schools District:
St. Michael’s (Harlan), St. Joseph’s (Earling) and St. Mary’s (Panama)
The mission of the Shelby County Catholic Schools (preK-8th grade) is to provide excellent educational experiences for students in an environment that nurtures faith development, community, prayer and service. The school’s provide an option for parents who want their children’s formal education to include a focus on spiritual formation as well as intellectual, social, physical, psychological and emotional development