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Southwest Valley Middle School

Summary:

Southwest Valley Middle School is a public middle school in Villisca, Iowa, serving 149 students in grades 6-8 and part of the Villisca Community School District. The school consistently outperforms the state average in academic assessments, with proficiency rates ranging from 70.8% to 93.9% in English Language Arts and Mathematics, significantly higher than the state averages.

While the student population is predominantly White, the school has seen a slight decline in the percentage of White students over the past few years. The school serves a significant portion of economically disadvantaged students, with 39.62% to 48.32% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Despite these socioeconomic challenges, Southwest Valley Middle School maintains a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 10.5 to 11.6 students per teacher, which may contribute to its academic success.

The school's strong academic performance, particularly in Mathematics and English Language Arts, is noteworthy, as it serves a diverse student population with varying socioeconomic backgrounds. This academic excellence suggests that the school is effectively supporting its students and providing a high-quality education, despite the potential challenges it may face.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 406 East Third Street
       Villisca, IA  50864

(712) 826-2552

District: Villisca Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
165th of 337 Iowa Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $13,094 Help


Feeder schools for Southwest Valley Middle School:

Elementary:    Sylvia Enarson Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio:  10.6 Help
Number of students:  135

Racial breakdown:

White:
95.6%
African American:
1.5%
Hispanic:
1.5%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  43.7% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Southwest Valley Middle School ranks better than 51% of middle schools in Iowa. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 56.21. (See more...)
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 (95.6%), African American (1.5%), Hispanic (1.5%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 43.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Southwest Valley Middle School is 10.6. (See more...)
Help
Compare Southwest Valley Middle School employs 12.7 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Southwest Valley Middle School is $13,094.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Southwest Valley Middle School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks Southwest Valley Middle School 165th of 337 Iowa public middle schools. (See Southwest Valley Middle School in the ranking list.)

Villisca Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Villisca Community School District 142nd of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Southwest Valley Middle School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools IA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2015 37.71 254th 349 27.2%
2016 33.28 260th 343 24.2%
2017 21.11 289th 327 11.6%
2018 52.79 170th 318 46.5%
2019 26.25 275th 342 19.6%
2021 31.42 253rd 324 21.9%
2022 41.90 222nd 337 34.1%
2023 41.52 224th 334 32.9%
2024 56.21 165th 337 51.0%
See the entire list of Iowa Middle School Rankings!

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

Southwest Valley Middle 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 Southwest Valley Middle School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2014 150 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 152
2015 140 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 144
2016 142 0 1 2 3 0 0 0 148
2017 146 0 1 2 1 0 1 0 151
2018 141 0 0 4 0 0 2 0 147
2019 167 0 1 3 1 0 5 0 177
2020 160 0 1 3 0 0 5 0 169
2021 158 0 1 1 0 0 4 0 164
2022 151 1 0 1 0 0 6 0 159
2023 139 1 0 2 0 0 7 0 149
2024 129 2 0 2 1 0 1 0 135

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 Southwest Valley Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2014 152 13.0 11.6 55.9
2015 144 11.0 13.0 52.8
2016 148 10.0 14.8 48.6
2017 151 9.9 15.1 43
2018 147 11.7 12.5 38.1
2019 177 12.6 14.0 57.6
2020 169 14.1 11.9 49.7
2021 164 14.1 11.6 45.1
2022 159 15.0 10.5 39.6
2023 149 14.1 10.5 48.3
2024 135 12.7 10.6 43.7

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 Southwest Valley Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2014 152 13.0 11.6 55.9
2015 144 11.0 13.0 52.8
2016 148 10.0 14.8 48.6
2017 151 9.9 15.1 43
2018 147 11.7 12.5 38.1
2019 177 12.6 14.0 57.6
2020 169 14.1 11.9 49.7
2021 164 14.1 11.6 45.1
2022 159 15.0 10.5 39.6
2023 149 14.1 10.5 48.3
2024 135 12.7 10.6 43.7

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 Southwest Valley Middle School

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $285 (2.2%) $12,809 (97.8%) $13,094

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Southwest Valley Middle 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 275th of 342 Middle schoolsRanks 224th of 334 Middle schools
 13.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Southwest Valley Middle School)34.869.4
 34.6%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Villisca Community School District)34.869.4
 34.6%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)67.572.7
 5.2%
6th Grade Mathematics (Southwest Valley Middle School)5379.6
 26.6%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Villisca Community School District)5379.6
 26.6%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)69.469.9
 0.5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Southwest Valley Middle School)70.668
 2.6%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Villisca Community School District)70.668
 2.6%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)69.974.2
 4.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (Southwest Valley Middle School)86.362
 24.3%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Villisca Community School District)86.362
 24.3%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)70.168.9
 1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Southwest Valley Middle School)49.161.4
 12.3%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Villisca Community School District)49.161.4
 12.3%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)69.576
 6.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Southwest Valley Middle School)56.479.5
 23.1%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Villisca Community School District)56.479.5
 23.1%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)71.872
 0.2%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students177149
 15.8%
African American01
American Indian10
 100%
Asian10
 100%
Hispanic32
 33.3%
Pacific Islander00
White167139
 16.8%
Two or More Races57
 40%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients57.6%48.3%
 9.3%

Schools Near Southwest Valley Middle School








Frequently Asked Questions about Southwest Valley Middle School

Students at Southwest Valley Middle School are 96% White, 1% African American, 1% Hispanic.

Southwest Valley Middle School ranks 165th of 337 Iowa middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

In the 2023-24 school year, 135 students attended Southwest Valley Middle School.


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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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