High Schools in Council Bluffs Community School District

The Council Bluffs Community School District operates two high schools: Abraham Lincoln High School and Thomas Jefferson High School. Both schools are struggling academically, with low statewide rankings, poor test scores, and high chronic absenteeism rates.

Neither school appears to be a standout performer, with both ranked in the bottom quarter of Iowa high schools. Graduation rates are similar at 88.3%, but test scores in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science are significantly below the state average. For example, only 57.4% of 10th graders at Abraham Lincoln High School were proficient or better in ELA, compared to the state average of 74.7%. The math proficiency rates were also low, with only 54.6% of 10th graders at Abraham Lincoln High School and 51% of 10th graders at Thomas Jefferson High School being proficient or better, compared to the state average of 68%.

Both schools serve a relatively high proportion of economically disadvantaged students, with free/reduced lunch rates ranging from 48.9% to 57.05%. Despite the higher per-student spending at Abraham Lincoln High School, the academic performance of both schools is similar, suggesting that factors beyond just funding may be contributing to the schools' challenges. The lower student-teacher ratio at Abraham Lincoln High School does not seem to be translating into better academic outcomes compared to Thomas Jefferson High School, which has a higher ratio.