Best Public Schools in Marshalltown, IA

The Marshalltown Community School District in Iowa consists of 10 schools, including 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 2 high schools, and no alternative schools. The district as a whole is ranked 294 out of 313 in Iowa and is rated 0 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger, indicating significant challenges in academic performance.

Within the district, a few schools stand out. Franklin Elementary School has the highest statewide ranking among the elementary schools, ranked 295 out of 557 Iowa elementary schools, and is rated 2 out of 5 stars. It also has strong test scores, with 80% or more of 3rd and 4th graders proficient in math. J.C. Hoglan Elementary School also has a relatively high statewide ranking and consistently strong test scores, with 70% or more of 3rd and 4th graders proficient in both English Language Arts and Math. While ranked lower overall, Anson Elementary School stands out for having the highest percentage of free/reduced lunch recipients at 88.19%, yet still maintains strong test scores, with 78% of 3rd graders proficient in English Language Arts.

The data reveals significant disparities in academic performance across the district, with wide gaps in test score proficiency between the highest and lowest performing schools. Many of the schools also have very high percentages of free/reduced lunch recipients, indicating high levels of poverty in the district, which likely contributes to the overall low performance. Additionally, the district faces challenges with chronic absenteeism, with a consistently high 21.6% rate across all schools. While the district as a whole is struggling, the success of schools like Franklin, J.C. Hoglan, and Anson Elementary suggests that high-quality education is possible, and understanding their practices could provide valuable insights for improving the district.