Best Public Schools in Belmond, IA

The city of Belmond, Iowa is home to 3 schools in the Belmond-Klemme Community School District, including 1 elementary school, 2 high schools (one of which is an alternative school), and no middle schools. While the district's high schools have shown improvement in academic performance, the elementary school continues to face challenges, with proficiency rates below state averages in several subject areas.

The standout school in the district is the Belmond-Klemme Community Junior-Senior High School, which has improved its statewide ranking and earned a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school boasts strong test scores, with 80.5% of 10th graders and 78.7% of 11th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts, outperforming the state averages. Additionally, the school maintains a relatively high 4-year graduation rate of 88.3%. The Belmond-Klemme Alternative School also stands out, with a 4-year graduation rate on par with the district's main high school, despite the challenges often faced by alternative schools.

However, the Richard O. Jacobson Elementary School has consistently low performance, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics ranging from 30% to 64.3%, generally below the state averages. This suggests a need for targeted interventions and support at the elementary level to improve student outcomes. The district's commitment to alternative education and its recognition of the impact of socioeconomic factors on student success, with a high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, are noteworthy areas for the district to address in order to provide more equitable educational opportunities for all students.