Best Public Schools in Ackley, IA

The city of Ackley, Iowa is home to 3 schools, including 2 elementary schools and 1 high school, all part of the AGWSR Community School District. The data reveals that AGWSR Elementary School has shown consistent improvement in its statewide ranking, moving from 195th out of 565 Iowa elementary schools in 2022-2023 to 357th out of 576 in 2024-2025. The school's test scores in English Language Arts and Mathematics are generally on par with or above the district and state averages, indicating strong academic performance.

While AGWSR High School's statewide ranking has declined in recent years, it still maintains a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's graduation rate of 88.3% is commendable, exceeding the state average. However, the school's test scores in English Language Arts and Mathematics are mixed, with some grades performing above the state average and others below. The third school, The Cougars Den, has a relatively low rate of free and reduced-price lunch recipients at 20%.

Overall, the data suggests that the AGWSR school district has some strong-performing schools, particularly AGWSR Elementary School, but also faces challenges in areas like chronic absenteeism and resource allocation that may require further attention and strategic planning. The differences in per-student spending between the elementary and high school may indicate a need to examine the district's resource allocation and ensure equitable distribution of funds to support student learning across all grade levels.