Essex Junior-Senior High School

Q: Is Essex Junior-Senior High School a good school?

Essex Junior-Senior High School ranks 248 th of 338 Iowa high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Summary:

Essex Junior-Senior High School is a public school serving grades 6-12 in Essex, Iowa, with a total enrollment of 97 students. The school is part of the Essex Community School District, which is ranked 260 out of 309 districts in the state.

While Essex Junior-Senior High School has a higher percentage of white students (90.72%) compared to the state average (73.8%), it has mixed performance on standardized tests. The school outperformed the state average in English Language Arts for grades 6-9, but fell behind in grade 10. In Mathematics, the school did better than the state in grade 8 but worse in grades 7, 9, and 10. In Science, the school performed better than the state in grade 8 but worse in grade 10. The school also has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 42.71% to 56.7% over the past three years, indicating a higher proportion of students from low-income families.

Compared to nearby schools, Essex Junior-Senior High School generally performs better than South Page Senior High School, which has lower test scores and a higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch. However, the school lags behind higher-performing schools like Fremont-Mills Middle And Senior High School and Shenandoah High School in terms of test scores and overall school rankings. The school's inconsistent ranking over the years suggests a need for more consistent and sustained improvement efforts.

Detail:

Public 6-12

111 Forbes St
Essex, IA 51638

(712) 379-3115

District: Essex Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
248^th of 338 Iowa High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $19,949

Feeder schools for Essex Junior-Senior High School:

Elementary:

Essex Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 9.6

Number of students: 94

Racial breakdown:

White:

89.4%

Hispanic:

8.5%

Two or more races:

2.1%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 55.3%

See top rated Iowa high schools

Compare Essex Junior-Senior High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Essex Junior-Senior High School ranks worse than 54% of middle schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 53.26. (See more...)

Compare Details Essex Junior-Senior High School ranks worse than 73.4% of high schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 37.15. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Essex Junior-Senior 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 (89.4%), Hispanic (8.5%), two or more races (2.1%). (See more...)

Compare Details 55.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Essex Junior-Senior High School is 9.6. (See more...)

Compare Essex Junior-Senior High School employs 9.7 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Essex Junior-Senior High School is $19,949.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Essex Junior-Senior High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Essex Junior-Senior High School 182^nd of 337 Iowa public middle schools. (See Essex Junior-Senior High School in the ranking list.)

SchoolDigger ranks Essex Junior-Senior High School 248^th of 338 Iowa public high schools. (See Essex Junior-Senior High School in the ranking list.)

Essex Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Essex Community School District 260^th of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Essex Junior-Senior High School

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	87.99	5^th	349	98.6%
2013	69.00	75^th	350	78.6%
2015	58.79	157^th	349	55.0%
2016	36.03	249^th	343	27.4%
2017	43.97	213^th	327	34.9%
2018	36.98	232^nd	318	27.0%
2019	57.85	147^th	342	57.0%
2021	42.35	218^th	324	32.7%
2022	55.66	154^th	337	54.3%
2023	82.23	25^th	334	92.5%
2024	53.26	182^nd	337	46.0%

See the entire list of Iowa High School Rankings!

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

Rank History for Essex Junior-Senior High School

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	71.83	83^rd	351	76.4%
2013	58.26	167^th	351	52.4%
2014	8.35	303^rd	322	5.9%
2016	50.67	173^rd	320	45.9%
2017	50.00	197^th	325	39.4%
2018	70.98	88^th	320	72.5%
2019	17.78	296^th	327	9.5%
2021	48.34	188^th	327	42.5%
2022	75.01	61^st	332	81.6%
2023	72.25	73^rd	336	78.3%
2024	37.15	248^th	338	26.6%

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

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Enrollment information for Essex Junior-Senior High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	178	0	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	180
1989	183	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	183
1990	188	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	188
1991	177	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	177
1992	171	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	171
1993	164	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	164
1994	147	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	147
1995	139	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	139
1996	139	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	139
1997	134	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	134
1998	142	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	142
1999	142	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	142
2000	128	1	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	129
2001	135	1	3	0	0	n/a	n/a	139
2002	121	1	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	122
2003	121	1	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	122
2004	134	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	134
2005	132	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	132
2006	133	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	133
2007	120	2	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	123
2008	112	2	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	116
2009	118	3	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	124
2010	106	1	0	2	1	0	1	111
2011	106	0	0	3	1	0	2	112
2012	122	2	0	3	3	0	1	131
2013	111	1	0	2	3	0	1	118
2014	118	3	0	1	1	0	2	125
2015	124	2	0	0	1	0	2	129
2016	124	2	0	0	1	0	4	131
2017	117	2	0	2	1	0	5	127
2018	106	2	0	2	0	0	4	114
2019	94	1	0	1	0	0	3	99
2020	80	0	0	1	0	0	0	81
2021	90	1	0	4	0	0	2	97
2022	87	1	0	6	0	0	2	96
2023	88	0	0	7	0	0	2	97
2024	84	0	0	8	0	0	2	94

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 Essex Junior-Senior High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	180	14.1	12.7	22.8
1989	183	13.8	13.2	1.6
1990	188	13.8	13.6	18.1
1991	177	13.8	12.8	19.2
1992	171	14.0	12.2	18.1
1993	164	13.3	12.3	20.1
1994	147	12.8	11.5	17.7
1995	139	13.2	10.5	16.5
1996	139	13.2	10.5	16.5
1997	134	13.2	10.2	17.9
1998	142	16.0	8.9	14.8
1999	142	12.8	11.1	30.3
2000	129	15.2	8.5	24
2001	139	12.7	10.9	18.7
2002	122	13.0	9.4	20.5
2003	122	13.0	9.4	20.5
2004	134	12.3	10.9	25.4
2005	132	12.9	10.2	21.2
2006	133	12.8	10.4	30.8
2007	123	14.0	8.8	37.4
2008	116	14.0	8.3	40.5
2009	124	10.0	12.4	31.5
2010	111	12.5	8.8	33.3
2011	112	10.5	10.6	27.7
2012	131	10.2	12.8	32.8
2013	118	10.7	11.0	24.6
2014	125	11.7	10.6	28.8
2015	129	11.0	11.7	33.3
2016	131	12.0	10.9	32.8
2017	127	11.2	11.2	37.8
2018	114	11.7	9.7	36.8
2019	99	11.0	8.9	41.4
2020	81	9.7	8.3	53.1
2021	97	9.4	10.2	56.7
2022	96	8.7	10.9	42.7
2023	97	8.8	11.0	48.5
2024	94	9.7	9.6	55.3

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 Essex Junior-Senior High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	180	14.1	12.7	22.8
1989	183	13.8	13.2	1.6
1990	188	13.8	13.6	18.1
1991	177	13.8	12.8	19.2
1992	171	14.0	12.2	18.1
1993	164	13.3	12.3	20.1
1994	147	12.8	11.5	17.7
1995	139	13.2	10.5	16.5
1996	139	13.2	10.5	16.5
1997	134	13.2	10.2	17.9
1998	142	16.0	8.9	14.8
1999	142	12.8	11.1	30.3
2000	129	15.2	8.5	24
2001	139	12.7	10.9	18.7
2002	122	13.0	9.4	20.5
2003	122	13.0	9.4	20.5
2004	134	12.3	10.9	25.4
2005	132	12.9	10.2	21.2
2006	133	12.8	10.4	30.8
2007	123	14.0	8.8	37.4
2008	116	14.0	8.3	40.5
2009	124	10.0	12.4	31.5
2010	111	12.5	8.8	33.3
2011	112	10.5	10.6	27.7
2012	131	10.2	12.8	32.8
2013	118	10.7	11.0	24.6
2014	125	11.7	10.6	28.8
2015	129	11.0	11.7	33.3
2016	131	12.0	10.9	32.8
2017	127	11.2	11.2	37.8
2018	114	11.7	9.7	36.8
2019	99	11.0	8.9	41.4
2020	81	9.7	8.3	53.1
2021	97	9.4	10.2	56.7
2022	96	8.7	10.9	42.7
2023	97	8.8	11.0	48.5
2024	94	9.7	9.6	55.3

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 Essex Junior-Senior High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$371 (1.9%)	$19,579 (98.1%)	$19,949

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Essex Junior-Senior 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 147^th of 342 Middle schools	Ranks 25^th of 334 Middle schools	35.5%
Ranks 296^th of 327 High schools	Ranks 73^rd of 336 High schools	68.8%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
7th Grade English Language Arts (Essex Junior-Senior High School)	73.3	100	26.7%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Essex Community School District)	73.3	100	26.7%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	69.9	74.2	4.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (Essex Junior-Senior High School)	80	100	20%
7th Grade Mathematics (Essex Community School District)	80	100	20%
7th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	70.1	68.9	1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Essex Junior-Senior High School)	70.6	100	29.4%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Essex Community School District)	70.6	100	29.4%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	69.5	76	6.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Essex Junior-Senior High School)	68.8	83.3	14.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Essex Community School District)	68.8	83.3	14.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	71.8	72	0.2%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Essex Junior-Senior High School)	60	90.9	30.9%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Essex Community School District)	60	90.9	30.9%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	74.3	72.9	1.4%
10th Grade Mathematics (Essex Junior-Senior High School)	53.3	63.6	10.3%
10th Grade Mathematics (Essex Community School District)	53.3	63.6	10.3%
10th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	67.1	67	0.1%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Essex Junior-Senior High School)	58.3	100	41.7%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Essex Community School District)	58.3	100	41.7%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	71.4	68.7	2.7%
11th Grade Mathematics (Essex Junior-Senior High School)	58.3	91.7	33.4%
11th Grade Mathematics (Essex Community School District)	58.3	91.7	33.4%
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	99	97	2%
African American	1	0	100%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	1	7	600%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	94	88	6.4%
Two or More Races	3	2	33.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	41.4%	48.5%	7%

Schools Near Essex Junior-Senior 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 6th Grade	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 6th 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
Essex Junior-Senior High School	Public	6-12	111 Forbes St	Essex	51638	Page County	Essex Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 379-3115	94	10	9.6	55.3%	84 (89.4%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (8.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.1%)	37.1	248^th of 338 public high schools	26.6%		72.2	73^rd of 336 public high schools	78.3%	175	81.3	78.6	80.0	91.7	58.3		68.8	50.0	90.0	58.3	58.3		80.0	50.0	$19,949	$371	$19,579
Shenandoah High School	Public	9-12	1000 Mustang Dr	Shenandoah	51601	Page County	Shenandoah Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 246-4727	290	22	13.1	50.3%	257 (88.6%)	3 (1.0%)	18 (6.2%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.4%)	77	48^th of 338 public high schools	85.8%		75.2	54^th of 336 public high schools	83.9%	6				86.4	85.1	83.9				67.9	85.1	88.7		71.6	$15,504	$473	$15,031
Red Oak Junior/Senior High School	Public	7-12	2011 N 8th St	Red Oak	51566	Montgomery County	Red Oak Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 623-6610	446	30	14.9	52.9%	392 (87.9%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (10.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.6%)	48	208^th of 338 public high schools	38.5%		39.3	231^st of 336 public high schools	31.3%	23		64.8	72.1	78.3	71.2	70.7		63.0	76.5	62.7	72.7	66.7	45.6	54.5	$14,722	$215	$14,507
Clarinda High School	Public	7-12	100 N. Cardinal Drive	Clarinda	51632	Page County	Clarinda Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 542-5167	481	38	12.7	41.2%	435 (90.4%)	2 (0.4%)	14 (2.9%)	4 (0.8%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (5.0%)	71.7	82^nd of 338 public high schools	75.7%		64.5	111^th of 336 public high schools	67.0%	29		76.3	78.8	81.5	82.6	81.9		73.8	75.8	72.8	77.9	72.2	61.2	75.6	$14,767	$357	$14,410
Stanton High School	Public	6-12	605 Elliott Street	Stanton	51573	Montgomery County	Stanton Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 829-2162	148	11	14.0	34.5%	141 (95.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.4%)	51.8	184^th of 338 public high schools	45.6%		83.1	28^th of 336 public high schools	91.7%	156	84.8	81.3	91.3	69.2	86.7	72.0	93.9	68.8	73.9	76.9	66.7	72.0	73.9	40.0	$13,107	$259	$12,850
South Page Senior High School	Public	9-12	606 Iowa Ave	College Springs	51637	Page County	South Page Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(712) 582-3211	22	3	6.8	86.4%	21 (95.5%)	1 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)															$23,719	$809	$22,910
East Mills Junior/Senior High School	Public	7-12	1505 E 15th Street	Malvern	51551	Mills County	East Mills Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 624-8645	204	17	11.8	33.3%	182 (89.2%)	3 (1.5%)	8 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.9%)	60.6	144^th of 338 public high schools	57.4%		64.7	110^th of 336 public high schools	67.3%	34		66.7	83.3	80.8	81.3	88.9		66.7	83.3	69.2	65.6	69.4	75.0	57.6	$17,336	$249	$17,088
Fremont-Mills Middle And Senior High School	Public	7-12	1114 US Hwy 275	Tabor	51653	Fremont County	Fremont-Mills Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 629-2325	220	15	14.4	39.1%	202 (91.8%)	3 (1.4%)	8 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	6 (2.7%)	71.4	84^th of 338 public high schools	75.1%		70.5	81^st of 336 public high schools	75.9%	3		88.2	81.6	87.9	85.7	78.9		79.4	84.2	78.8	71.4	76.3	73.7	65.7	$16,858	$164	$16,694
Sidney High School	Public	7-12	2754 Knox Road	Sidney	51652	Fremont County	Sidney Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 374-2731	204	18	11.5	48.0%	184 (90.2%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.4%)	76.6	49^th of 338 public high schools	85.5%		68.8	92^nd of 336 public high schools	72.6%	43		73.0	70.0	82.1	92.3	83.3		81.1	83.3	71.8	76.9	76.7	63.3	92.3	$14,259	$200	$14,060

Frequently Asked Questions about Essex Junior-Senior High School

Is Essex Junior-Senior High School a good school?

Essex Junior-Senior High School ranks 248^th of 338 Iowa high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

How many students attend Essex Junior-Senior High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 94 students attended Essex Junior-Senior High School.

What schools feed into Essex Junior-Senior High School?

Essex Junior-Senior High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Essex Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Essex Junior-Senior High School?

Students at Essex Junior-Senior High School are 89% White, 9% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

What district is Essex Junior-Senior High School in?

Essex Community School District

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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.