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North Central Middle School

Q: Is North Central Middle School a good school?

North Central Middle School ranks 162 nd of 344 Iowa middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

162^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 344 Iowa Middle Schools

Better than 53% of Iowa middle schools

Summary

North Central Junior High School is a public middle school located in North Liberty, Iowa, serving grades 7-8 with a total enrollment of 643 students. The school is part of the Iowa City Community School District, which is ranked 241 out of 313 districts in Iowa and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

North Central Junior High School consistently outperforms the Iowa City Community School District and the state of Iowa in standardized test scores across various subjects and grade levels. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, the school had 82.9% of 8th-grade students proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 81% for the district and 80.2% for the state. Similarly, in 8th-grade Mathematics, North Central Junior High School had 82.2% proficiency, compared to 76% for the district and 74.4% for the state. The school has also maintained a strong statewide ranking, placing in the top 20% of Iowa middle schools for several years.

While North Central Junior High School has seen an increase in chronic absenteeism over the past few years, the rates are still lower than the state average. Additionally, the school has a relatively low percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, at 25.97% in the 2023-2024 school year, which is lower than the state average. These factors may contribute to the school's consistent academic success, which is evident when compared to other nearby schools in the Iowa City Community School District.

925

Students ?

14.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,555

Per pupil spending ?

27.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

180 E. Forevergreen Rd
North Liberty, IA 52317

(319) 688-1210

District: Iowa City Community School District

Students who attend North Central Middle School usually attend:

High:

Liberty High School

Feeder schools for North Central Middle School:

Elementary:	Buford Garner Elementary
	Christine Grant Elementary
	James Van Allen Elementary School
	Kirkwood Elementary School
	More...
	Penn Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

69.8%

African American:

12.0%

Hispanic:

8.5%

See top rated Iowa middle schools

Compare North Central Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 84th percentile in 2015 → 53rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the Iowa median (53rd percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 31 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school77%

District avg73%

Iowa avg74%

162^nd of 344

Iowa public middle schools ?

Top 47%▼ down 31 pts since 2015

From top 16% (2015) to top 47% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Iowa Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 3Middle Schools in the Iowa City Community School District

241^st of 313Iowa City Community School District among Iowa districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Iowa percentile	Rating
2025	56.7	162 of 344	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.3	145 of 337	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	73.6	69 of 334	79.3%	★★★★☆
2022	77.0	57 of 337	83.1%	★★★★☆
2021	72.4	67 of 324	79.3%	★★★★☆
2019	71.9	69 of 342	79.8%	★★★★☆
2018	74.8	53 of 318	83.3%	★★★★☆
2017	77.4	42 of 327	87.2%	★★★★☆
2016	82.7	30 of 343	91.3%	★★★★★
2015	74.5	55 of 349	84.2%	★★★★☆
2014	78.4	34 of 337	89.9%	★★★★★
2013	80.8	22 of 350	93.7%	★★★★★
2012	73.0	60 of 349	82.8%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Iowa (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts80%+4 vs state

Mathematics77%+4 vs state

Science70%~ state avg

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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1★1

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What people are saying

by a teacher
Thursday, August 14, 2025

North Central Junior High (NCJH) was once a flagship of academic excellence in Iowa, ranking in the 91st percentile statewide and holding the 30th spot out of 343 junior highs in 2016. That same year, Colby Miller assumed leadership. In the years since, NCJH’s trajectory has been nothing short of catastrophic:

Statewide Rank: Fell from 30th to 145th — a drop of 115 places in eight years.

Average Standard Score: Plunged from 82.66 to 60.31 — a 27 decline.

Percentile Rank: Collapsed from 91 to 57 — the lowest in school history.

This decline cannot be dismissed as a statewide trend Iowa’s middle-grade academic performance has generally improved or held steady during the same period. Nor can it be blamed on demographics — NCJH has the lowest poverty rate in the district (~26 FRL), smaller class sizes, and exponentially more staff than in 2016. By every logical measure, NCJH should be thriving. Instead, it is sinking.

NCJH Leadership Harms Students and Public Education
The current administration does not simply fail to meet its responsibilities — it actively works against the interests of our school district, our students, our teachers, and public education as a whole. The climate under Miller’s leadership is toxic and deeply inequitable, with undercurrents of white supremacy that erode the trust and safety of the school community.

Hiring decisions are driven not by credentials, experience, or merit, but by blind loyalty. Sycophants are elevated, regardless of their qualifications, while dissenting or competent voices are sidelined. Underqualified and even sub-literate staff have been promoted into leadership positions, a move that undermines professional standards and student learning alike.

This governance style mirrors the most chaotic, self-serving patterns of the Trump administration: loyalty over competence, personal power over public service, and a corrosive disregard for the truth. It is a style that rewards obedience and punishes integrity — with students paying the ultimate price.

ICCSD Pays the Price
The harm is not theoretical. Each percentage point lost in ranking represents real students denied the quality education they deserve. Each poor hiring choice robs classrooms of effective teaching. Each year this administration remains in place further erodes NCJH’s reputation, damages teacher morale, and diminishes community trust.

North Central Junior High’s collapse from top-tier excellence to mid-pack mediocrity is not an accident. It is the predictable outcome of eight years of leadership that has prioritized personal control over educational outcomes. This is a tragedy — and a warning — for anyone who values strong public education. Close Quote

Schools Near North Central Middle School

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Ranking:

E = Elementary, M = Middle, H = High, A = Alternative, P = Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ISASP English Language Arts (2025)				ISASP Mathematics (2025)				ISASP Science (2025)		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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISASP English Language Arts 5th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 6th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 7th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 8th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 5th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 6th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 7th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 8th Grade	ISASP Science 5th Grade	ISASP Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
North Central Middle School	Public	6-8	180 E. Forevergreen Rd	North Liberty	52317	Johnson County	Iowa City Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 688-1210	925	63	14.5	27.7%	646 (69.8%)	111 (12.0%)	79 (8.5%)	23 (2.5%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	64 (6.9%)	56.7	162^nd of 344 public middle schools	52.9%		60.3	145^th of 337 public middle schools	57.0%	17		76.9	80.0	82.9		77.6	71.5	82.2		70.2	$13,555	$302	$13,252
Northwest Middle School	Public	6-8	1507 8th St	Coralville	52241	Johnson County	Iowa City Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 688-1060	1,113	78	14.3	45.2%	469 (42.1%)	343 (30.8%)	137 (12.3%)	100 (9.0%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	58 (5.2%)	45.5	223^rd of 344 public middle schools	35.2%		52.6	186^th of 337 public middle schools	44.8%	37		74.9	72.5	82.4		68.0	63.8	77.9		75.2	$14,464	$430	$14,034
Clear Creek Amana Middle School	Public	6-8	311 W Marengo Rd	Tiffin	52340	Johnson County	Clear Creek Amana Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 545-4490	702	46	15.2	27.6%	524 (74.6%)	60 (8.5%)	58 (8.3%)	13 (1.9%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (6.4%)	66.2	109^th of 344 public middle schools	68.3%		59.3	151^st of 337 public middle schools	55.2%	42		74.7	80.3	89.7		75.6	78.6	84.5		82.2	$27,866	$261	$27,605
Solon Middle School	Public	6-8	1775 Racine Ave.	Solon	52333	Johnson County	Solon Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 624-2381	320	25	12.7	11.3%	304 (95.0%)	2 (0.6%)	5 (1.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	7 (2.2%)	84.4	18^th of 344 public middle schools	94.8%		86.8	14^th of 337 public middle schools	95.8%	4		86.9	91.6	96.1		81.3	80.4	96.1		94.2	$12,824	$214	$12,609
Southeast Middle School	Public	6-8	2501 Bradford Dr	Iowa City	52240	Johnson County	Iowa City Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 688-1070	1,269	83	15.3	47.4%	631 (49.7%)	282 (22.2%)	240 (18.9%)	27 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.2%)	81 (6.4%)	36.4	260^th of 344 public middle schools	24.4%		36.9	248^th of 337 public middle schools	26.4%	12		70.1	68.8	80.1		70.1	64.4	71.4		67.1	$13,848	$402	$13,446
Prairie Creek	Public	5-6	8451 Kirkwood Blvd SW	Cedar Rapids	52404	Linn County	College Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 848-5310	846	59	14.2	34.2%	582 (68.8%)	120 (14.2%)	61 (7.2%)	14 (1.7%)	3 (0.4%)	8 (0.9%)	58 (6.9%)								(n/a)	74.9	72.5			69.5	69.1			63.2		$12,382	$358	$12,023
West Branch Middle School	Public	5-8	900 W. Main St.	West Branch	52358	Cedar County	West Branch Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 643-5324	239	17	14.2	21.8%	202 (84.5%)	5 (2.1%)	23 (9.6%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	6 (2.5%)	43.6	235^th of 344 public middle schools	31.7%		50.3	194^th of 337 public middle schools	42.4%	41	82.3	79.5	75.4	82.8	85.5	79.5	66.2	67.2	80.6	62.5	$14,753	$580	$14,171
Prairie Point	Public	7-8	8015 Kirkwood Blvd	Cedar Rapids	52404	Linn County	College Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 848-5500	868	55	15.8	37.6%	586 (67.5%)	145 (16.7%)	40 (4.6%)	23 (2.6%)	2 (0.2%)	6 (0.7%)	66 (7.6%)	35.6	264^th of 344 public middle schools	23.3%		47.1	208^th of 337 public middle schools	38.3%	56			68.2	81.0			66.7	76.1		58.0	$11,981	$180	$11,800
Mount Vernon Middle School	Public	5-8	525 Palisades Road SW	Mount Vernon	52314	Linn County	Mount Vernon Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 895-6254	425	25	17.1	15.8%	381 (89.6%)	2 (0.5%)	18 (4.2%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.7%)	90.2	4^th of 344 public middle schools	98.8%		89.6	9^th of 337 public middle schools	97.3%	5	92.7	90.7	90.8	95.2	86.2	90.7	89.8	95.2	89.0	94.3	$12,017	$516	$11,501
Wilson Middle School	Public	6-8	2301 J St SW	Cedar Rapids	52404	Linn County	Cedar Rapids Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 558-3387	422	31	13.6	78.0%	151 (35.8%)	135 (32.0%)	78 (18.5%)	5 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	10 (2.4%)	42 (10.0%)	0.7	339^th of 344 public middle schools	1.5%		3.2	326^th of 337 public middle schools	3.3%	13		41.1	47.6	53.2		36.3	39.7	40.5		36.0	$17,810	$271	$17,539

Frequently Asked Questions about North Central Middle School

Is North Central Middle School a good school?

North Central Middle School ranks 162^nd of 344 Iowa middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is North Central Middle School in?

Iowa City Community School District

How many students attend North Central Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 925 students attended North Central Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of North Central Middle School?

Students at North Central Middle School are 70% White, 12% African American, 9% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What high school do graduates of North Central Middle School attend?

Students who attend North Central Middle School usually go on to attend Liberty High 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.