Mount Ayr High School

Summary:

Mount Ayr High School is a public high school serving grades 7-12 with a total enrollment of 294 students in Mount Ayr, Iowa, which is part of the Mount Ayr Community School District. The school consistently outperforms the state average in academic proficiency across various subjects and grade levels, ranking within the top 100 high schools in Iowa for several years.

Mount Ayr High School's academic performance is particularly noteworthy, with 92.9% of 10th-grade students proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 73.8%, and 90.3% of 7th-grade students proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to the state average of 69.9%. This strong academic focus has helped the school maintain a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. However, the school's statewide ranking has declined in recent years, from a high of 13th in 2016-2017 to 94th in 2023-2024, which may warrant further investigation.

While Mount Ayr High School's academic performance is impressive, the school's student population is predominantly White, with over 95% of students identifying as such. This is in contrast to the nearby Lamoni High School, which has a more diverse student body. Additionally, Mount Ayr High School has seen fluctuations in its free and reduced lunch rates, ranging from 34.72% in 2021-2022 to 52.92% in 2020-2021, which may provide insights into the socioeconomic status of the student population.


Detail:

Public 7-12

 1001 E Columbus St
       Mount Ayr, IA  50854-2229


(641) 464-0510

District: Mount Ayr Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
94th of 338 Iowa High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $18,104 Help


Feeder schools for Mount Ayr High School:

Elementary:    Mount Ayr Elementary

Student/teacher ratio:  12.3 Help
Number of students:  273

Racial breakdown:

White:
91.2%
Hispanic:
4.0%
Two or more races:
2.6%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  42.1% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Mount Ayr High School ranks better than 90.2% of middle schools in Iowa. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 80.42. (See more...)
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Compare Details Mount Ayr High School ranks better than 72.2% of high schools in Iowa. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 69.71. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Mount Ayr High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Help
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
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (91.2%), Hispanic (4%), two or more races (2.6%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 42.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Mount Ayr High School is 12.3. (See more...)
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Compare Mount Ayr High School employs 22 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Mount Ayr High School is $18,104.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Mount Ayr High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks Mount Ayr High School 33rd of 337 Iowa public middle schools. (See Mount Ayr High School in the ranking list.)
SchoolDigger ranks Mount Ayr High School 94th of 338 Iowa public high schools. (See Mount Ayr High School in the ranking list.)

Mount Ayr Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Mount Ayr Community School District 82nd of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Mount Ayr High School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools IA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2012 67.22 99th 349 71.6%
2013 58.79 150th 350 57.1%
2014 72.50 69th 337 79.5%
2015 62.94 132nd 349 62.2%
2016 75.30 60th 343 82.5%
2017 55.13 153rd 327 53.2%
2018 75.54 50th 318 84.3%
2019 69.93 79th 342 76.9%
2021 71.12 73rd 324 77.5%
2022 62.73 123rd 337 63.5%
2023 69.63 89th 334 73.4%
2024 80.42 33rd 337 90.2%
See the entire list of Iowa High School Rankings!

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

Rank History for Mount Ayr High School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2012 82.38 16th 351 95.4%
2013 65.63 121st 351 65.5%
2014 70.98 96th 322 70.2%
2015 82.34 22nd 324 93.2%
2017 87.09 13th 325 96.0%
2018 77.53 43rd 320 86.6%
2019 79.88 42nd 327 87.2%
2021 78.33 44th 327 86.5%
2022 78.50 50th 332 84.9%
2023 68.55 94th 336 72.0%
2024 69.71 94th 338 72.2%
See the entire list of Iowa High School Rankings!

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

Mount Ayr High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    







Data source: Iowa Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Mount Ayr High School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 328 1 7 0 0 n/a n/a 0 336
1989 349 2 5 0 0 n/a n/a 0 356
1990 338 2 3 0 0 n/a n/a 0 343
1991 303 1 4 0 0 n/a n/a 0 308
1992 332 0 3 0 1 n/a n/a 0 336
1993 387 1 2 0 0 n/a n/a 0 390
1994 368 1 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 370
1995 432 1 5 0 0 n/a n/a 0 438
1996 432 1 5 0 0 n/a n/a 0 438
1997 430 1 4 0 0 n/a n/a 0 435
1998 444 1 4 0 0 n/a n/a 0 449
1999 438 0 5 1 0 n/a n/a 0 444
2000 429 1 4 1 0 n/a n/a 0 435
2001 464 0 3 2 0 n/a n/a 0 469
2002 351 0 2 1 0 n/a n/a 0 354
2003 351 0 2 1 0 n/a n/a 0 354
2004 338 0 1 1 0 n/a n/a 0 340
2005 336 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 336
2006 329 0 2 1 0 n/a n/a 0 332
2007 309 1 10 1 0 n/a n/a 0 321
2008 293 1 7 1 0 n/a n/a 0 302
2009 282 1 8 1 0 n/a n/a 0 292
2010 283 1 7 2 0 0 0 0 293
2011 265 1 7 2 0 0 0 0 275
2012 247 2 4 1 0 0 0 0 254
2013 257 2 5 1 0 0 0 0 265
2014 267 2 3 1 0 0 0 0 273
2015 273 1 4 2 1 0 0 0 281
2016 273 2 3 3 0 0 0 0 281
2017 284 3 3 3 0 0 0 0 293
2018 296 6 1 8 0 1 0 0 312
2019 284 2 0 8 0 1 0 0 295
2020 288 2 0 9 0 2 0 0 301
2021 278 2 1 8 0 2 0 0 291
2022 276 2 1 8 0 1 0 0 288
2023 282 3 2 7 0 0 0 0 294
2024 249 2 4 11 0 0 7 0 273

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 Mount Ayr High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 336 27.2 12.3 22
1989 356 27.2 13.0 21.3
1990 343 28.3 12.1 58
1991 308 27.6 11.1 22.1
1992 336 33.0 10.1 28.3
1993 390 29.6 13.2 20.5
1994 370 25.6 14.5 23
1995 438 33.0 13.3 26.9
1996 438 33.0 13.3 26.9
1997 435 36.6 11.9 28.7
1998 449 37.0 12.1 28.3
1999 444 40.0 11.1 36.3
2000 435 34.0 12.8 36.8
2001 469 40.7 11.5 34.1
2002 354 35.3 10.0 34.5
2003 354 35.3 10.0 34.5
2004 340 37.2 9.1 35.3
2005 336 38.6 8.7 33.9
2006 332 34.3 9.7 34
2007 321 32.8 9.8 36.4
2008 302 29.6 10.2 39.1
2009 292 30.8 9.5 35.6
2010 293 29.7 9.8 38.6
2011 275 25.9 10.5 39.6
2012 254 24.1 10.5 37.8
2013 265 22.4 11.7 42.3
2014 273 22.3 12.2 46.2
2015 281 22.0 12.7 44.8
2016 281 23.0 12.2 43.1
2017 293 24.2 12.0 44
2018 312 24.4 12.7 42
2019 295 24.3 12.1 43.7
2020 301 24.1 12.4 50.2
2021 291 22.4 12.9 52.9
2022 288 22.9 12.5 34.7
2023 294 20.8 14.1 46.3
2024 273 22.0 12.3 42.1

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 Mount Ayr High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 336 27.2 12.3 22
1989 356 27.2 13.0 21.3
1990 343 28.3 12.1 58
1991 308 27.6 11.1 22.1
1992 336 33.0 10.1 28.3
1993 390 29.6 13.2 20.5
1994 370 25.6 14.5 23
1995 438 33.0 13.3 26.9
1996 438 33.0 13.3 26.9
1997 435 36.6 11.9 28.7
1998 449 37.0 12.1 28.3
1999 444 40.0 11.1 36.3
2000 435 34.0 12.8 36.8
2001 469 40.7 11.5 34.1
2002 354 35.3 10.0 34.5
2003 354 35.3 10.0 34.5
2004 340 37.2 9.1 35.3
2005 336 38.6 8.7 33.9
2006 332 34.3 9.7 34
2007 321 32.8 9.8 36.4
2008 302 29.6 10.2 39.1
2009 292 30.8 9.5 35.6
2010 293 29.7 9.8 38.6
2011 275 25.9 10.5 39.6
2012 254 24.1 10.5 37.8
2013 265 22.4 11.7 42.3
2014 273 22.3 12.2 46.2
2015 281 22.0 12.7 44.8
2016 281 23.0 12.2 43.1
2017 293 24.2 12.0 44
2018 312 24.4 12.7 42
2019 295 24.3 12.1 43.7
2020 301 24.1 12.4 50.2
2021 291 22.4 12.9 52.9
2022 288 22.9 12.5 34.7
2023 294 20.8 14.1 46.3
2024 273 22.0 12.3 42.1

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 Mount Ayr High School

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $424 (2.3%) $17,680 (97.7%) $18,104

Data source: Iowa Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Mount Ayr 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 79th of 342 Middle schoolsRanks 89th of 334 Middle schools
 3.5%
Ranks 42nd of 327 High schoolsRanks 94th of 336 High schools
 15.1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
7th Grade English Language Arts (Mount Ayr High School)63.288.2
 25%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Mount Ayr Community School District)63.288.2
 25%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)69.974.2
 4.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (Mount Ayr High School)81.692.2
 10.6%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Mount Ayr Community School District)81.692.2
 10.6%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)70.168.9
 1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Mount Ayr High School)90.986
 4.9%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Mount Ayr Community School District)90.986
 4.9%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)69.576
 6.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Mount Ayr High School)76.474.4
 2%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Mount Ayr Community School District)76.474.4
 2%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)71.872
 0.2%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Mount Ayr High School)81.681.1
 0.5%
   10th Grade English Language Arts (Mount Ayr Community School District)81.681.1
 0.5%
   10th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)74.372.9
 1.4%
10th Grade Mathematics (Mount Ayr High School)75.579.2
 3.7%
   10th Grade Mathematics (Mount Ayr Community School District)75.579.2
 3.7%
   10th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)67.167
 0.1%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Mount Ayr High School)88.975
 13.9%
   11th Grade English Language Arts (Mount Ayr Community School District)88.975
 13.9%
   11th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)71.468.7
 2.7%
11th Grade Mathematics (Mount Ayr High School)82.280.6
 1.6%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Mount Ayr Community School District)82.280.6
 1.6%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)66.967.3
 0.4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students295294
 0.3%
African American23
 50%
American Indian00
Asian02
Hispanic87
 12.5%
Pacific Islander10
 100%
White284282
 0.7%
Two or More Races00
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients43.7%46.3%
 2.5%


Schools Near Mount Ayr High School









Frequently Asked Questions about Mount Ayr High School

In the 2023-24 school year, 273 students attended Mount Ayr High School.

Mount Ayr High School ranks 94th of 338 Iowa high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Mount Ayr High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Mount Ayr Elementary

Students at Mount Ayr High School are 91% White, 4% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 1% Asian.


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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.





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