Is Spencer High School a good school?

Spencer High School ranks 87 th of 338 Iowa high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Spencer High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 718 students attended Spencer High School.

What is the racial makeup of Spencer High School?

Students at Spencer High School are 87% White, 9% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 1% African American.

What schools feed into Spencer High School?

Spencer High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Fairview Park Elementary Elementary : Johnson Elementary Elementary : Lincoln Elementary School Middle : Spencer Middle School

Spencer High School in Spencer IA

Performance Trends

Compare Details Spencer High School ranks better than 74.3% of high schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 71.04. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Spencer 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 (86.9%), Hispanic (9.2%), two or more races (1.8%). (See more...)

Compare Details 37.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Spencer High School is 17.9. (See more...)

Compare Spencer High School employs 40 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Spencer High School is $13,801.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Spencer High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Spencer High School 87^th of 338 Iowa public high schools. (See Spencer High School in the ranking list.)

Spencer Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Spencer Community School District 130^th of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Your rating for Spencer High School?

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Rank History for Spencer High School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	61.16	158^th	351	55.0%
2013	73.18	68^th	351	80.6%
2014	71.74	89^th	322	72.4%
2015	52.57	181^st	324	44.1%
2016	45.93	202^nd	320	36.9%
2017	62.25	136^th	325	58.2%
2018	31.63	260^th	320	18.8%
2019	67.24	109^th	327	66.7%
2021	62.40	117^th	327	64.2%
2022	72.23	77^th	332	76.8%
2023	74.43	60^th	336	82.1%
2024	71.04	87^th	338	74.3%

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 Spencer High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	603	0	11	6	1	n/a	n/a	621
1989	581	0	11	1	1	n/a	n/a	594
1990	619	0	7	1	0	n/a	n/a	627
1991	637	0	6	3	1	n/a	n/a	647
1992	708	0	5	5	0	n/a	n/a	718
1993	752	0	5	5	0	n/a	n/a	762
1994	803	0	7	3	0	n/a	n/a	813
1995	804	0	6	1	1	n/a	n/a	812
1996	804	0	6	1	1	n/a	n/a	812
1997	776	0	10	2	1	n/a	n/a	789
1998	808	2	15	3	0	n/a	n/a	828
1999	780	1	14	6	0	n/a	n/a	801
2000	767	3	18	3	0	n/a	n/a	791
2001	747	2	16	3	0	n/a	n/a	768
2002	703	4	17	11	1	n/a	n/a	736
2003	703	4	17	11	1	n/a	n/a	736
2004	674	2	20	11	1	n/a	n/a	708
2005	696	4	19	16	1	n/a	n/a	736
2006	700	5	17	13	2	n/a	n/a	737
2007	690	8	17	8	1	n/a	n/a	724
2008	681	7	16	12	0	n/a	n/a	716
2009	640	14	15	16	0	n/a	n/a	685
2010	613	8	8	21	1	1	2	654
2011	609	8	9	22	2	0	4	654
2012	570	8	7	24	2	1	4	616
2013	559	6	9	21	2	1	8	606
2014	540	5	12	34	3	0	6	600
2015	542	3	8	31	2	0	11	597
2016	541	6	7	43	1	0	7	605
2017	512	5	5	48	2	0	7	579
2018	513	8	4	58	1	0	5	589
2019	539	12	5	62	0	0	5	623
2020	577	12	2	66	0	0	10	667
2021	608	15	1	74	2	0	9	709
2022	646	12	2	75	1	0	10	746
2023	625	11	3	63	1	0	9	712
2024	624	9	5	66	1	0	13	718

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 Spencer High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	621	39.1	15.8	17.1
1989	594	39.8	14.9	17.2
1990	627	41.3	15.1	12
1991	647	41.8	15.4	10.5
1992	718	44.0	16.3	9.1
1993	762	46.0	16.6	11.4
1994	813	46.8	17.4	10.3
1995	812	49.9	16.3	8.4
1996	812	49.9	16.3	8.4
1997	789	51.1	15.4	6
1998	828	51.9	16.0	6.4
1999	801	51.9	15.4	12
2000	791	52.6	15.0	12.3
2001	768	56.1	13.7	10.4
2002	736	49.4	14.9	18.6
2003	736	49.4	14.9	18.6
2004	708	49.4	14.3	16.8
2005	736	48.2	15.3	21.6
2006	737	42.5	17.3	17.4
2007	724	45.0	16.1	19.6
2008	716	54.7	13.1	18.6
2009	685	39.8	17.2	22.9
2010	654	44.5	14.7	26.1
2011	654	40.0	16.3	27.4
2012	616	41.5	14.8	26.6
2013	606	41.2	14.6	30
2014	600	40.8	14.7	30.5
2015	597	40.0	14.9	34
2016	605	39.0	15.5	35.7
2017	579	38.7	14.9	30.2
2018	589	39.3	14.9	32.3
2019	623	39.6	15.7	36.9
2020	667	40.0	16.6	36.4
2021	709	41.5	17.0	37.8
2022	746	39.5	18.8	39
2023	712	40.7	17.4	40
2024	718	40.0	17.9	37.5

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 Spencer High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	621	39.1	15.8	17.1
1989	594	39.8	14.9	17.2
1990	627	41.3	15.1	12
1991	647	41.8	15.4	10.5
1992	718	44.0	16.3	9.1
1993	762	46.0	16.6	11.4
1994	813	46.8	17.4	10.3
1995	812	49.9	16.3	8.4
1996	812	49.9	16.3	8.4
1997	789	51.1	15.4	6
1998	828	51.9	16.0	6.4
1999	801	51.9	15.4	12
2000	791	52.6	15.0	12.3
2001	768	56.1	13.7	10.4
2002	736	49.4	14.9	18.6
2003	736	49.4	14.9	18.6
2004	708	49.4	14.3	16.8
2005	736	48.2	15.3	21.6
2006	737	42.5	17.3	17.4
2007	724	45.0	16.1	19.6
2008	716	54.7	13.1	18.6
2009	685	39.8	17.2	22.9
2010	654	44.5	14.7	26.1
2011	654	40.0	16.3	27.4
2012	616	41.5	14.8	26.6
2013	606	41.2	14.6	30
2014	600	40.8	14.7	30.5
2015	597	40.0	14.9	34
2016	605	39.0	15.5	35.7
2017	579	38.7	14.9	30.2
2018	589	39.3	14.9	32.3
2019	623	39.6	15.7	36.9
2020	667	40.0	16.6	36.4
2021	709	41.5	17.0	37.8
2022	746	39.5	18.8	39
2023	712	40.7	17.4	40
2024	718	40.0	17.9	37.5

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 Spencer High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$242 (1.8%)	$13,560 (98.3%)	$13,801

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Spencer 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 109^th of 327 High schools	Ranks 60^th of 336 High schools	15.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
10th Grade English Language Arts (Spencer High School)	77.1	87.1	10%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Spencer Community School District)	77.1	87.1	10%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	74.3	72.9	1.4%
10th Grade Mathematics (Spencer High School)	72.1	78.7	6.6%
10th Grade Mathematics (Spencer Community School District)	72.1	78.7	6.6%
10th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	67.1	67	0.1%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Spencer High School)	81.8	79.5	2.3%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Spencer Community School District)	81.8	79.5	2.3%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	71.4	68.7	2.7%
11th Grade Mathematics (Spencer High School)	74.2	76.6	2.4%
11th Grade Mathematics (Spencer Community School District)	74.2	76.6	2.4%
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	623	712	14.3%
African American	12	11	8.3%
American Indian	0	1
Asian	5	3	40%
Hispanic	62	63	1.6%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	539	625	16%
Two or More Races	5	9	80%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	36.9%	40%	3.1%

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 8th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 9th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 10th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 11th 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
Spencer High School	Public	9-12	800 E 3rd St	Spencer	51301	Clay County	Spencer Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 262-1700	718	40	17.9	37.5%	624 (86.9%)	9 (1.3%)	66 (9.2%)	5 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (1.8%)	71	87^th of 338 public high schools	74.3%		74.4	60^th of 336 public high schools	82.1%	27		83.4	83.9	88.1		80.4	70.8	78.0		60.5	$13,801	$242	$13,560
Ruthven-Ayrshire High School	Public	7-12	1505 Washington St	Ruthven	51358	Palo Alto County	Ruthven-Ayrshire Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(712) 837-5212	70	5	13.2	31.4%	60 (85.7%)	1 (1.4%)	5 (7.1%)	1 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.9%)	61.3	140^th of 338 public high schools	58.6%		36	247^th of 336 public high schools	26.5%	107	63.6		100.0		54.5		69.2		72.7	53.8	$17,561	$361	$17,200
Okoboji High School	Public	9-12	901 H. Ave.	Milford	51351	Dickinson County	Okoboji Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 338-2446	373	23	16.0	31.4%	336 (90.1%)	2 (0.5%)	19 (5.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	15 (4.0%)	66.4	110^th of 338 public high schools	67.5%		63.4	117^th of 336 public high schools	65.2%	7		82.0	75.3	84.3		70.8	72.2	77.5		67.8	$15,835	$188	$15,648
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
Sioux Central High School	Public	9-12	4440 U.S. Hwy 71	Sioux Rapids	50585	Buena Vista County	Sioux Central Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 283-2571	260	19	13.5	29.6%	215 (82.7%)	4 (1.5%)	33 (12.7%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	6 (2.3%)	49.5	196^th of 338 public high schools	42.0%		52.6	174^th of 336 public high schools	48.2%	22		80.8	67.7	75.0		76.9	69.4	60.0		54.1	$13,555	$289	$13,265
Spirit Lake High School	Public	9-12	2701 Hill Ave	Spirit Lake	51360	Dickinson County	Spirit Lake Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 336-3707	396	25	16.0	21.5%	350 (88.4%)	5 (1.3%)	18 (4.5%)	5 (1.3%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	14 (3.5%)	48.5	204^th of 338 public high schools	39.6%		59.2	137^th of 336 public high schools	59.2%	67		78.0	68.9	70.2		72.5	67.8	69.5		52.2	$14,475	$248	$14,227

Spencer High School

Spencer Community School District:

What do you think?

Rank History for Spencer High School

Enrollment information for Spencer High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Spencer High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Spencer High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Spencer High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Spencer High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Spencer High School