Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Middle School

Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Middle School is a public middle school serving grades 6-8 in Clarion, Iowa, with 195 students. The school is part of the Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Community School District, which is ranked 244 out of 313 districts in Iowa and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Academically, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Middle School generally performs above the state average in ISASP (Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress) test scores across English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science, with proficiency rates ranging from 63.5% to 86.2% in 2024-2025, compared to the state averages of 64.2% to 80.2%. However, the school has seen fluctuations in chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 13.6% to 23.4% in recent years, which is higher than the state's target of 10% or less. Additionally, a significant portion of the student population, ranging from 45.64% to 57.62% in recent years, qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a higher level of economic disadvantage compared to the state.

When compared to the nearby middle schools, such as Webster City Middle School, West Hancock Middle School, and Robert Blue School, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Middle School generally outperforms them in test scores, particularly in Mathematics. However, the school's chronic absenteeism rates are on the higher end, which may be an area for improvement. Despite these challenges, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Middle School has maintained a consistent level of academic performance, with proficiency rates in the 70-80% range for English Language Arts and Mathematics over the past few years, which is a notable achievement considering the school's higher rates of economic disadvantage.