Central Middle School/High School

Q: Is Central Middle School/High School a good school?

Central Middle School/High School ranks 215 th of 338 Iowa high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Central Middle School/High School is a public school located in Elkader, Iowa, serving grades 7-12 with a total enrollment of 210 students. The school is part of the Central Community School District, which is ranked 156 out of 309 school districts in Iowa and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Central Middle School/High School generally performs better than the state average in English Language Arts and Science, but lags behind in Mathematics. For example, in 2023-2024, 83.3% of 8th graders were proficient in ELA, compared to the state average of 77.5%, but only 44% of 9th graders were proficient in Math, compared to the state average of 63.3%. The school also has a lower percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (33.33% in 2022-2023) compared to some of the nearby schools, such as John R Mott Junior/High School (75.21%) and Starmont High School (56.54%). Additionally, Central Middle School/High School's spending per student ($13,348 in 2018-2019) is lower than the nearby schools, such as Clayton Ridge High School ($28,257) and Starmont High School ($18,632).

While Central Middle School/High School's statewide ranking has declined over the years, from a high of 58 out of 327 Iowa high schools in 2018-2019 to a low of 215 out of 338 in 2023-2024, the school still demonstrates strengths in certain subject areas and may be able to leverage its relatively low spending per student to achieve positive outcomes for its students. The nearby schools, such as John R Mott Junior/High School, Clayton Ridge High School, and Starmont High School, provide interesting points of comparison for Central Middle School/High School, offering insights into the factors that contribute to a school's success.

Detail:

Public 7-12

400 1st Street NW
Elkader, IA 52043-0070

(563) 245-1750

District: Central Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
215^th of 338 Iowa High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,348

Feeder schools for Central Middle School/High School:

Elementary:

Central Elementary

Student/teacher ratio: 13.2

Number of students: 202

Racial breakdown:

White:

95.0%

Two or more races:

2.5%

Hispanic:

2.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 34.2%

See top rated Iowa high schools

Compare Central Middle School/High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Central Middle School/High School ranks better than 50.4% of middle schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 55.9. (See more...)

Compare Details Central Middle School/High School ranks worse than 63.6% of high schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 46.06. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Central Middle School/High 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 (95%), two or more races (2.5%), Hispanic (2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 34.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Central Middle School/High School is 13.2. (See more...)

Compare Central Middle School/High School employs 15.2 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Central Middle School/High School is $13,348.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Central Middle School/High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Central Middle School/High School 167^th of 337 Iowa public middle schools. (See Central Middle School/High School in the ranking list.)

SchoolDigger ranks Central Middle School/High School 215^th of 338 Iowa public high schools. (See Central Middle School/High School in the ranking list.)

Central Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Central Community School District 156^th of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Central Middle School/High School

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	44.73	221^st	349	36.7%
2013	39.42	255^th	350	27.1%
2014	58.95	146^th	337	56.7%
2015	67.43	105^th	349	69.9%
2016	70.66	80^th	343	76.7%
2017	55.45	152^nd	327	53.5%
2018	42.39	211^th	318	33.6%
2019	17.44	303^rd	342	11.4%
2021	39.53	230^th	324	29.0%
2022	42.41	221^st	337	34.4%
2023	46.23	204^th	334	38.9%
2024	55.90	167^th	337	50.4%

See the entire list of Iowa High School Rankings!

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

Rank History for Central Middle School/High School

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	40.49	255^th	351	27.4%
2013	66.81	107^th	351	69.5%
2014	42.11	224^th	322	30.4%
2015	51.16	188^th	324	42.0%
2016	6.61	307^th	320	4.1%
2017	35.47	248^th	325	23.7%
2018	31.41	262^nd	320	18.1%
2019	75.03	58^th	327	82.3%
2021	33.28	251^st	327	23.2%
2022	27.63	263^rd	332	20.8%
2023	28.62	270^th	336	19.6%
2024	46.06	215^th	338	36.4%

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

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Enrollment information for Central Middle School/High School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	360	1	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	361
1989	362	2	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	365
1990	360	2	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	363
1991	371	2	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	375
1992	366	1	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	368
1993	360	2	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	363
1994	380	2	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	382
1995	382	2	2	1	0	n/a	n/a	387
1996	382	2	2	1	0	n/a	n/a	387
1997	391	2	2	1	1	n/a	n/a	397
1998	382	2	3	2	1	n/a	n/a	390
1999	375	2	4	1	0	n/a	n/a	382
2000	343	1	3	0	0	n/a	n/a	347
2001	327	1	3	0	6	n/a	n/a	337
2002	311	1	3	0	0	n/a	n/a	315
2003	311	1	3	0	0	n/a	n/a	315
2004	303	1	1	2	4	n/a	n/a	311
2005	295	4	0	1	3	n/a	n/a	303
2006	291	6	1	3	3	n/a	n/a	304
2007	286	4	1	2	2	n/a	n/a	295
2008	285	5	1	0	2	n/a	n/a	293
2009	254	3	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	259
2010	242	1	0	0	0	2	0	245
2011	246	1	0	0	0	2	0	249
2012	246	2	1	0	0	2	1	252
2013	251	1	0	0	0	2	1	255
2014	240	1	0	0	0	2	1	244
2015	232	1	0	0	0	2	1	236
2016	226	1	3	1	0	1	1	233
2017	219	1	0	0	0	1	0	221
2018	229	1	1	0	2	1	0	234
2019	266	0	1	6	0	0	1	274
2020	197	0	0	7	0	0	0	204
2021	198	2	0	4	0	0	1	205
2022	193	0	0	4	0	0	5	202
2023	200	1	0	4	0	0	5	210
2024	192	1	0	4	0	0	5	202

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 Central Middle School/High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	361	25.0	14.4	38.2
1989	365	2.9	125.8	29.6
1990	363	29.0	12.5	31.4
1991	375	29.9	12.5	28.5
1992	368	30.0	12.2	26.9
1993	363	24.4	14.9	28.1
1994	382	24.4	15.7	29.3
1995	387	24.7	15.7	22.7
1996	387	24.7	15.7	22.7
1997	397	24.7	16.1	17.4
1998	390	25.2	15.5	18.7
1999	382	24.7	15.5	29.6
2000	347	25.2	13.8	30.8
2001	337	27.5	12.3	25.8
2002	315	23.5	13.4	27
2003	315	23.5	13.4	27
2004	311	23.0	13.5	23.2
2005	303	21.5	14.1	22.1
2006	304	23.4	13.0	26.3
2007	295	21.5	13.7	25.1
2008	293	21.3	13.8	24.2
2009	259	20.5	12.6	22.8
2010	245	20.3	12.0	28.6
2011	249	19.0	13.1	31.7
2012	252	19.0	13.2	31.7
2013	255	15.9	15.9	34.5
2014	244	16.0	15.2	36.1
2015	236	15.0	15.7	27.1
2016	233	15.0	15.5	37.3
2017	221	15.0	14.6	34.4
2018	234	17.5	13.3	30.8
2019	274	14.3	19.1	33.9
2020	204	14.3	14.1	34.3
2021	205	13.7	14.8	33.2
2022	202	14.7	13.6	29.7
2023	210	13.5	15.4	33.3
2024	202	15.2	13.2	34.2

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 Central Middle School/High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	361	25.0	14.4	38.2
1989	365	2.9	125.8	29.6
1990	363	29.0	12.5	31.4
1991	375	29.9	12.5	28.5
1992	368	30.0	12.2	26.9
1993	363	24.4	14.9	28.1
1994	382	24.4	15.7	29.3
1995	387	24.7	15.7	22.7
1996	387	24.7	15.7	22.7
1997	397	24.7	16.1	17.4
1998	390	25.2	15.5	18.7
1999	382	24.7	15.5	29.6
2000	347	25.2	13.8	30.8
2001	337	27.5	12.3	25.8
2002	315	23.5	13.4	27
2003	315	23.5	13.4	27
2004	311	23.0	13.5	23.2
2005	303	21.5	14.1	22.1
2006	304	23.4	13.0	26.3
2007	295	21.5	13.7	25.1
2008	293	21.3	13.8	24.2
2009	259	20.5	12.6	22.8
2010	245	20.3	12.0	28.6
2011	249	19.0	13.1	31.7
2012	252	19.0	13.2	31.7
2013	255	15.9	15.9	34.5
2014	244	16.0	15.2	36.1
2015	236	15.0	15.7	27.1
2016	233	15.0	15.5	37.3
2017	221	15.0	14.6	34.4
2018	234	17.5	13.3	30.8
2019	274	14.3	19.1	33.9
2020	204	14.3	14.1	34.3
2021	205	13.7	14.8	33.2
2022	202	14.7	13.6	29.7
2023	210	13.5	15.4	33.3
2024	202	15.2	13.2	34.2

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 Central Middle School/High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$326 (2.4%)	$13,022 (97.6%)	$13,348

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Central Middle School/High 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 303^rd of 342 Middle schools	Ranks 204^th of 334 Middle schools	27.5%
Ranks 58^th of 327 High schools	Ranks 270^th of 336 High schools	62.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
7th Grade English Language Arts (Central Middle School/High School)	65	79.4	14.4%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Central Community School District)	65	79.4	14.4%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	69.9	74.2	4.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (Central Middle School/High School)	50	76.5	26.5%
7th Grade Mathematics (Central Community School District)	50	76.5	26.5%
7th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	70.1	68.9	1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Central Middle School/High School)	58.3	69.2	10.9%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Central Community School District)	58.3	69.2	10.9%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	69.5	76	6.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Central Middle School/High School)	61.1	53.8	7.3%
8th Grade Mathematics (Central Community School District)	61.1	53.8	7.3%
8th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	71.8	72	0.2%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Central Middle School/High School)	80.6	76.5	4.1%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Central Community School District)	80.6	76.5	4.1%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	74.3	72.9	1.4%
10th Grade Mathematics (Central Middle School/High School)	77.4	50	27.4%
10th Grade Mathematics (Central Community School District)	77.4	50	27.4%
10th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	67.1	67	0.1%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Central Middle School/High School)	84.4	59	25.4%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Central Community School District)	84.4	59	25.4%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	71.4	68.7	2.7%
11th Grade Mathematics (Central Middle School/High School)	75	48.7	26.3%
11th Grade Mathematics (Central Community School District)	75	48.7	26.3%
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	274	210	23.4%
African American	0	1
American Indian	0	0
Asian	1	0	100%
Hispanic	6	4	33.3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	266	200	24.8%
Two or More Races	1	5	400%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	33.9%	33.3%	0.6%

Schools Near Central Middle School/High 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
Central Middle School/High School	Public	7-12	400 1st Street NW	Elkader	52043	Clayton County	Central Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(563) 245-1750	202	15	13.2	34.2%	192 (95.0%)	1 (0.5%)	4 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.5%)	46.1	215^th of 338 public high schools	36.4%		28.6	270^th of 336 public high schools	19.6%	55	64.0	83.3	80.0	75.0	77.8	64.0	75.0	44.0	63.9	52.8	88.9	69.4	$13,348	$326	$13,022
MFL MarMac High School	Public	9-12	700 S Page St	Monona	52159	Clayton County	MFL MarMac Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(563) 539-2031	271	18	15.4	31.0%	262 (96.7%)	1 (0.4%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	4 (1.5%)	28.2	274^th of 338 public high schools	18.9%		38.3	239^th of 336 public high schools	28.9%	35			69.2	72.2	63.3			53.8	58.3	60.0		43.1	$16,880	$310	$16,571
Edgewood-Colesburg High School	Public	7-12	403 W Union	Edgewood	52042	Clayton County	Edgewood-Colesburg Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(563) 928-6412	198	21	9.3	33.3%	188 (94.9%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.5%)	61	142^nd of 338 public high schools	58.0%		50.8	182^nd of 336 public high schools	45.8%	40	78.6	74.4	78.1	88.9	51.6	67.9	79.5	68.8	80.6	61.3	66.7	80.6	$14,269	$167	$14,102
Clayton Ridge High School	Public	9-12	131 S River Park Dr	Guttenberg	52052	Clayton County	Clayton Ridge Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(563) 252-2342	179	18	9.7	39.1%	162 (90.5%)	2 (1.1%)	9 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.8%)	73.7	68^th of 338 public high schools	79.9%		68.3	96^th of 336 public high schools	71.4%	28			90.3	87.2	84.6			87.1	68.1	75.0		68.1	$28,257	$757	$27,500
Starmont High School	Public	9-12	3202 40th St	Arlington	50606	Fayette County	Starmont Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(563) 933-4598	181	18	10.0	57.5%	171 (94.5%)	2 (1.1%)	5 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.7%)	62.9	128^th of 338 public high schools	62.1%		38.1	240^th of 336 public high schools	28.6%	112			87.0	72.7	76.6			71.7	72.7	76.6		57.6	$18,632	$658	$17,974
John R Mott Junior/High School	Public	7-12	314 W Post	Postville	52162	Allamakee County	Postville Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(563) 864-7652	365	29	12.6	77.0%	96 (26.3%)	15 (4.1%)	250 (68.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.1%)	27.6	276^th of 338 public high schools	18.3%		20.3	293^rd of 336 public high schools	12.8%	17	76.7	47.6	71.7	66.7	72.9	62.8	40.5	54.3	44.4	59.3	28.6	31.1	$14,210	$413	$13,796

Central Middle School/High School

Central Community School District:

What do you think?

Rank History for Central Middle School/High School

Rank History for Central Middle School/High School

Enrollment information for Central Middle School/High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Central Middle School/High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Central Middle School/High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Central Middle School/High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Central Middle School/High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Central Middle School/High School

Central Middle School/High School

MFL MarMac High School

Edgewood-Colesburg High School

Clayton Ridge High School

Starmont High School

John R Mott Junior/High School

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