Very Good
#43 of 157 private schools in IA
Top 27% of private schools
Shelby County Catholic School
Elementary School
2005 COLLEGE PL, Harlan, IA 51537
Enrollment
77
Student-Teacher
7.5:1
Score
7.0
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
77
Student-Teacher
7.5:1
Score
7.0
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Data vintage
2021-22
Data vintage2021-22
How this school compares
Iowa private schools
#43 of 157
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Shelby County Catholic School
Elementary School in Harlan · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Harlan Intermediate School
0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Harlan Primary
0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Shelby County Catholic School
Shelby County Catholic School is a private elementary school in Harlan, IA. Shelby County Catholic School serves approximately 77 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 7.5:1 student-teacher ratio. Shelby County Catholic School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10 and ranks #43 of 157 private schools in IA.
Structured state assessment records for Shelby County Catholic School show 92% math proficiency (2025 ISASP) and 92% reading/ELA proficiency (2025 ISASP).
- This school 7.0 · Very Good
- IA avg 6.5
What Parents Should Know
At 77 students, Shelby County Catholic School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.
At 7.5:1 students to teachers, Shelby County Catholic School sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.
Shelby County Catholic School is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.
Compare to Public Schools
BetaHow Shelby County Catholic School compares to the 4 public schools in Harlan, IA
Student Demographics
All Schools in Harlan
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Shelby County Catholic School (this school) | 7.0 |
| Harlan Intermediate School | 4.5 |
| Harlan Primary | 5.7 |
| Harlan High School | 5.9 |
| Harlan Community Middle School | 7.5 |
Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.
Score Breakdown
PreliminaryWhat This Rating Measures
This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in IA.
Data Unavailable
View data sources
Score basis: Private school model
Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data
Components scored: 4 of 5
Ranking pool: Private schools in IA
Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)
Based on 7 test records from IA state assessments. About our data
Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)
Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)
Location
2005 COLLEGE PL, Harlan, IA 51537
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Shelby County Catholic School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. AHSTW Primary School (rated 8.6/10, 12.4 miles away, in nearby Avoca), which scores notably higher. Another option is Boyer Valley Elementary School (rated 8.6/10, 20.9 miles away, in nearby Dow City), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Tri-Center Elementary School (rated 8.4/10, 16.9 miles away, in nearby Neola), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Harlan, see our Harlan schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 25.5 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Harlan Intermediate School Harlan | 0.4 mi | 4.5 |
| Harlan Primary Harlan | 0.5 mi | 5.7 |
| Harlan High School Harlan | 0.7 mi | 5.9 |
| Harlan Community Middle School Harlan | 0.7 mi | 7.5 |
| AHSTW Primary School Avoca | 12.4 mi | 8.6 |
| AHSTW High School Avoca | 12.4 mi | 8.1 |
| AHSTW Intermediate School Avoca | 12.4 mi | 8.2 |
| Irwin Elementary School Irwin | 12.0 mi | 8.1 |
| ExiraElk Horn-Kimballton High School Elk Horn | 14.8 mi | 6.7 |
| Tri-Center Middle School Neola | 16.9 mi | 5.8 |
| Tri-Center Elementary School Neola | 16.9 mi | 8.4 |
| Tri-Center High School Neola | 16.9 mi | 4.8 |
| Boyer Valley Elementary School Dow City | 20.9 mi | 8.6 |
| Boyer Valley Middle/High School Dunlap | 19.6 mi | 7.7 |
| Oakland Elementary Oakland | 24.1 mi | 3.8 |
| ST ROSE OF LIMA SCHOOL Denison | 25.3 mi | 5.0 |
| Broadway Elementary School Denison | 25.4 mi | 7.7 |
| ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL Denison | 25.4 mi | 6.5 |
| Riverside Middle/Senior High School Oakland | 25.2 mi | 6.5 |
| Denison Elementary School Denison | 25.5 mi | 4.8 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 51537 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$62,353
Median Home Value
$161,800
Median Rent
$854/mo
Population
6,480
College Educated
23.9%
Homeownership
73.3%
Avg Commute
14.6 min
Poverty Rate
8.6%
Median Age
44.2
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| KEOKUK CATHOLIC SCHOOLS Keokuk, IA | 7.0 |
| Paton-Churdan Elementary Churdan, IA | 7.0 |
| SHELDON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Sheldon, IA | 7.0 |
| Blakesburg Elementary Blakesburg, IA | 6.9 |
| Earlville Elementary School Earlville, IA | 7.1 |
| IRETON CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS Ireton, IA | 7.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Shelby County Catholic School
What grades does Shelby County Catholic School serve?
Shelby County Catholic School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Shelby County Catholic School?
Shelby County Catholic School has an enrollment of approximately 77 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Shelby County Catholic School?
The student-teacher ratio at Shelby County Catholic School is 7.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.
How does Shelby County Catholic School rank in IA?
Shelby County Catholic School ranks #43 of 157 private schools in IA.
What is Shelby County Catholic School's MySchoolScout rating?
Shelby County Catholic School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Shelby County Catholic School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Shelby County Catholic School has 92% math proficiency (2025 ISASP) and 92% reading/ELA proficiency (2025 ISASP).
Is Shelby County Catholic School a private school?
Yes, Shelby County Catholic School is a private coeducational school with a Roman Catholic affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.
Is Shelby County Catholic School a religious school?
Shelby County Catholic School has a Roman Catholic religious affiliation.
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Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 77
- Gender Split
- 49% M / 51% F
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 7.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 10
- Type
- private
- Coed Status
- coed
- Affiliation
- Roman Catholic
- School Day
- 7.1 hours
- Days Per Year
- 177 days
- Setting
- Distant Town
- County
- Shelby County
- Phone
- (712) 755-5634
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