Best Public Schools in Fort Dodge, IA

The city of Fort Dodge, Iowa is home to 7 schools in the Fort Dodge Community School District, which includes 5 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school. The district as a whole is ranked 307 out of 313 districts in Iowa and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Among the schools, Feelhaver Elementary School stands out as the top performer, ranking 431 out of 576 Iowa elementary schools and earning a 2-star rating. Feelhaver has the highest proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics across grades 3-5, often exceeding the state averages. In contrast, the other elementary schools in the district lag behind, with some, like Butler Elementary and Cooper Elementary, performing significantly below the state averages. The district also faces high chronic absenteeism rates across all schools, a significant concern that likely impacts student learning and achievement.

At the high school level, Fort Dodge High School has a higher 4-year graduation rate of 88.3% compared to the state average, and its English Language Arts proficiency rates are higher than the district and state averages. However, the high school is ranked relatively low at 295 out of 340 Iowa high schools. The wide range in per-student spending across the schools, from $14,693 to $18,249, may indicate unequal distribution of resources, which could contribute to the performance gaps observed between the schools.