South O'Brien Secondary School

Q: Is South O'Brien Secondary School a good school?

South O'Brien Secondary School ranks 96 th of 338 Iowa high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

South O'Brien Secondary School is a public high school in Paullina, Iowa, serving grades 7-12 with a total enrollment of 252 students. The school is part of the South O'Brien Community School District, which is ranked 79 out of 309 districts in Iowa and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

South O'Brien Secondary School consistently performs above the state average in ISASP (Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress) test scores across various grade levels and subject areas. In the 2023-2024 school year, the school had an impressive 95.5% proficiency rate in 10th grade English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 73.8%. In mathematics, the school's 8th grade students achieved a 100% proficiency rate, significantly higher than the state average of 73.2%. The school's science proficiency rates are also noteworthy, with 88.6% of 8th graders and 70.5% of 10th graders scoring proficient or better, compared to the state averages of 65.5% and 59.5%, respectively.

When compared to nearby schools, such as Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School and MOC-Floyd Valley High School, South O'Brien Secondary School stands out with its consistently high academic performance. However, the school's student population is less diverse, with 90.08% of students identifying as White in the 2022-2023 school year, compared to the nearby schools that have more diverse student populations. Additionally, South O'Brien Secondary School has a lower percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, at 30.16% in the 2022-2023 school year, suggesting it serves a relatively more affluent student population.

Detail:

Public 7-12

307 W Groesbeck
Paullina, IA 51046-0638

(712) 949-3454

District: South O'Brien Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
96^th of 338 Iowa High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $15,447

Feeder schools for South O'Brien Secondary School:

Elementary:

South O'Brien Elementary School Primghar Center

Student/teacher ratio: 11.3

Number of students: 242

Racial breakdown:

White:

90.5%

Hispanic:

6.2%

Two or more races:

2.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 30.6%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details South O'Brien Secondary School ranks better than 96.7% of middle schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 88.49. (See more...)

Compare Details South O'Brien Secondary School ranks better than 71.6% of high schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 69.35. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at South O'Brien Secondary School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (90.5%), Hispanic (6.2%), two or more races (2.9%). (See more...)

Compare Details 30.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at South O'Brien Secondary School is 11.3. (See more...)

Compare South O'Brien Secondary School employs 21.3 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at South O'Brien Secondary School is $15,447.

Schooldigger Rankings:

South O'Brien Secondary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks South O'Brien Secondary School 11^th of 337 Iowa public middle schools. (See South O'Brien Secondary School in the ranking list.)

SchoolDigger ranks South O'Brien Secondary School 96^th of 338 Iowa public high schools. (See South O'Brien Secondary School in the ranking list.)

South O'Brien Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks South O'Brien Community School District 79^th of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Rating:

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Rank History for South O'Brien Secondary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	69.38	85^th	349	75.6%
2013	67.02	91^st	350	74.0%
2014	70.47	82^nd	337	75.7%
2015	70.41	81^st	349	76.8%
2016	85.36	17^th	343	95.0%
2017	60.69	125^th	327	61.8%
2018	64.83	104^th	318	67.3%
2019	39.89	225^th	342	34.2%
2021	44.43	205^th	324	36.7%
2022	29.31	264^th	337	21.7%
2023	43.00	218^th	334	34.7%
2024	88.49	11^th	337	96.7%

See the entire list of Iowa High School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Iowa Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for South O'Brien Secondary School

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	70.00	97^th	351	72.4%
2013	70.67	82^nd	351	76.6%
2015	75.46	67^th	324	79.3%
2016	92.46	5^th	320	98.4%
2017	58.70	156^th	325	52.0%
2018	79.97	27^th	320	91.6%
2019	80.76	36^th	327	89.0%
2021	36.14	247^th	327	24.5%
2022	79.66	45^th	332	86.4%
2023	75.70	52^nd	336	84.5%
2024	69.35	96^th	338	71.6%

See the entire list of Iowa High School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Iowa Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)

100%

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for South O'Brien Secondary School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1994	288	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	288
1995	315	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	315
1996	315	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	315
1997	326	1	1	2	3	n/a	n/a	333
1998	334	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	334
1999	292	2	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	296
2000	299	1	2	3	1	n/a	n/a	306
2001	269	1	6	3	1	n/a	n/a	280
2002	253	2	5	0	2	n/a	n/a	262
2003	253	2	5	0	2	n/a	n/a	262
2004	240	2	2	0	3	n/a	n/a	247
2005	378	3	1	3	4	n/a	n/a	389
2006	370	2	0	6	2	n/a	n/a	380
2007	328	3	2	4	2	n/a	n/a	339
2008	318	5	3	3	0	n/a	n/a	329
2009	309	5	3	3	0	n/a	n/a	320
2010	303	1	2	0	0	1	5	312
2011	293	1	1	3	0	1	3	302
2012	294	2	3	11	0	1	3	314
2013	294	3	1	10	0	0	4	312
2014	276	3	1	13	0	0	1	294
2015	262	3	1	12	0	0	1	279
2016	261	7	3	15	0	0	4	290
2017	251	8	3	17	0	0	5	284
2018	254	6	3	14	0	0	6	283
2019	266	5	4	15	0	0	8	298
2020	255	5	3	15	0	0	9	287
2021	240	5	0	15	0	0	13	273
2022	229	1	0	18	0	0	9	257
2023	227	0	0	15	0	0	10	252
2024	219	1	0	15	0	0	7	242

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at South O'Brien Secondary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1994	288	24.8	11.6	14.2
1995	315	24.4	12.9	16.5
1996	315	24.4	12.9	16.5
1997	333	24.3	13.7	15.6
1998	334	24.3	13.7	14.7
1999	296	24.3	12.2	19.9
2000	306	17.7	17.3	17.6
2001	280	16.4	17.1	18.2
2002	262	21.9	12.0	21.4
2003	262	21.9	12.0	21.4
2004	247	21.3	11.6	25.5
2005	389	30.6	12.7	27.8
2006	380	29.2	13.0	22.4
2007	339	28.7	11.8	25.4
2008	329	28.4	11.6	24.6
2009	320	27.9	11.5	28.1
2010	312	27.9	11.1	25.3
2011	302	24.0	12.5	25.5
2012	314	23.7	13.2	25.5
2013	312	23.4	13.2	23.1
2014	294	23.3	12.5	26.5
2015	279	25.0	11.1	25.4
2016	290	23.0	12.6	26.2
2017	284	22.1	12.8	25.4
2018	283	24.9	11.3	23
2019	298	24.9	11.9	34.6
2020	287	24.8	11.5	27.9
2021	273	22.8	11.9	32.6
2022	257	21.2	12.0	33.1
2023	252	20.2	12.4	30.2
2024	242	21.3	11.3	30.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio South O'Brien Secondary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1994	288	24.8	11.6	14.2
1995	315	24.4	12.9	16.5
1996	315	24.4	12.9	16.5
1997	333	24.3	13.7	15.6
1998	334	24.3	13.7	14.7
1999	296	24.3	12.2	19.9
2000	306	17.7	17.3	17.6
2001	280	16.4	17.1	18.2
2002	262	21.9	12.0	21.4
2003	262	21.9	12.0	21.4
2004	247	21.3	11.6	25.5
2005	389	30.6	12.7	27.8
2006	380	29.2	13.0	22.4
2007	339	28.7	11.8	25.4
2008	329	28.4	11.6	24.6
2009	320	27.9	11.5	28.1
2010	312	27.9	11.1	25.3
2011	302	24.0	12.5	25.5
2012	314	23.7	13.2	25.5
2013	312	23.4	13.2	23.1
2014	294	23.3	12.5	26.5
2015	279	25.0	11.1	25.4
2016	290	23.0	12.6	26.2
2017	284	22.1	12.8	25.4
2018	283	24.9	11.3	23
2019	298	24.9	11.9	34.6
2020	287	24.8	11.5	27.9
2021	273	22.8	11.9	32.6
2022	257	21.2	12.0	33.1
2023	252	20.2	12.4	30.2
2024	242	21.3	11.3	30.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for South O'Brien Secondary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$108 (0.7%)	$15,339 (99.3%)	$15,447

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on South O'Brien Secondary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 225^th of 342 Middle schools	Ranks 218^th of 334 Middle schools	0.5%
Ranks 36^th of 327 High schools	Ranks 52^nd of 336 High schools	4.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
7th Grade English Language Arts (South O'Brien Secondary School)	65.9	91.4	25.5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (South O'Brien Community School District)	65.9	91.4	25.5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	69.9	74.2	4.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (South O'Brien Secondary School)	77.3	85.7	8.4%
7th Grade Mathematics (South O'Brien Community School District)	77.3	85.7	8.4%
7th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	70.1	68.9	1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (South O'Brien Secondary School)	64.2	64.7	0.5%
8th Grade English Language Arts (South O'Brien Community School District)	64.2	64.7	0.5%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	69.5	76	6.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (South O'Brien Secondary School)	60.4	55.9	4.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (South O'Brien Community School District)	60.4	55.9	4.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	71.8	72	0.2%
10th Grade English Language Arts (South O'Brien Secondary School)	77.6	93	15.4%
10th Grade English Language Arts (South O'Brien Community School District)	77.6	93	15.4%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	74.3	72.9	1.4%
10th Grade Mathematics (South O'Brien Secondary School)	77.6	74.4	3.2%
10th Grade Mathematics (South O'Brien Community School District)	77.6	74.4	3.2%
10th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	67.1	67	0.1%
11th Grade English Language Arts (South O'Brien Secondary School)	88	73.7	14.3%
11th Grade English Language Arts (South O'Brien Community School District)	88	73.7	14.3%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	71.4	68.7	2.7%
11th Grade Mathematics (South O'Brien Secondary School)	92	76.3	15.7%
11th Grade Mathematics (South O'Brien Community School District)	92	76.3	15.7%
11th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	66.9	67.3	0.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	298	252	15.4%
African American	5	0	100%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	4	0	100%
Hispanic	15	15
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	266	227	14.7%
Two or More Races	8	10	25%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	34.6%	30.2%	4.4%

Schools Near South O'Brien Secondary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				ISASP English Language Arts (2024)					ISASP Mathematics (2024)					ISASP Science (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISASP English Language Arts 7th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 8th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 9th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 10th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 11th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 7th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 8th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 9th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 10th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 11th Grade	ISASP Science 8th Grade	ISASP Science 10th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
South O'Brien Secondary School	Public	7-12	307 W Groesbeck	Paullina	51046	O'Brien County	South O'Brien Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 949-3454	242	21	11.3	30.6%	219 (90.5%)	1 (0.4%)	15 (6.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.9%)	69.4	96^th of 338 public high schools	71.6%		75.7	52^nd of 336 public high schools	84.5%	44	88.6	100.0	65.7	95.5	95.2	80.0	100.0	57.1	75.0	85.7	88.6	70.5	$15,447	$108	$15,339
MMCRU High School	Public	9-12	400 Highland Drive	Marcus	51035	Cherokee County	Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 376-4172	208	16	13.0	38.5%	190 (91.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	6 (2.9%)	71.8	80^th of 338 public high schools	76.3%		39	235^th of 336 public high schools	30.1%	155			83.3	82.4	80.0			70.4	76.5	81.6		72.0	$19,052	$284	$18,767
Sheldon High School	Public	9-12	1700 East Fourth Street	Sheldon	51201	O'Brien County	Sheldon Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 324-2501	345	27	12.6	38.6%	226 (65.5%)	7 (2.0%)	104 (30.1%)	4 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (0.9%)	68.5	99^th of 338 public high schools	70.7%		62.6	122^nd of 336 public high schools	63.7%	23			74.7	88.1	84.4			62.1	79.1	79.2		80.6	$16,589	$199	$16,390
Washington High School	Public	9-12	600 W Bluff St	Cherokee	51012	Cherokee County	Cherokee Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 225-6755	377	27	13.8	35.3%	310 (82.2%)	4 (1.1%)	35 (9.3%)	6 (1.6%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.1%)	17 (4.5%)	58.3	156^th of 338 public high schools	53.8%		74.2	61^st of 336 public high schools	81.8%	95			71.3	73.6	83.3			62.4	74.7	74.4		72.4	$14,371	$120	$14,251
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School	Public	9-12	300 N 8th Ave W	Hartley	51346	O'Brien County	Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 928-3406	208	19	10.9	52.4%	164 (78.8%)	2 (1.0%)	35 (16.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.9%)	54.2	174^th of 338 public high schools	48.5%		80.9	34^th of 336 public high schools	89.9%	140			70.0	83.7	82.9			56.7	74.4	65.9		69.0	$33,752	$177	$33,576
MOC-Floyd Valley High School	Public	9-12	615 8th St SE	Orange City	51041	Sioux County	MOC-Floyd Valley Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 737-4871	496	34	14.3	23.6%	361 (72.8%)	10 (2.0%)	108 (21.8%)	6 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	9 (1.8%)	77.8	44^th of 338 public high schools	87.0%		85.9	19^th of 336 public high schools	94.3%	25			84.9	87.5	82.9			69.7	84.4	86.7		71.9	$15,439	$397	$15,042

Frequently Asked Questions about South O'Brien Secondary School

Is South O'Brien Secondary School a good school?

South O'Brien Secondary School ranks 96^th of 338 Iowa high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into South O'Brien Secondary School?

South O'Brien Secondary School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : South O'Brien Elementary School Primghar Center

How many students attend South O'Brien Secondary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 242 students attended South O'Brien Secondary School.

What district is South O'Brien Secondary School in?

South O'Brien Community School District

What is the racial makeup of South O'Brien Secondary School?

Students at South O'Brien Secondary School are 90% White, 6% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Iowa Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.