Davis County Community School District

The Davis County Community School District in Iowa consists of 4 schools, including 1 elementary school, 1 middle school, 2 high schools (one traditional and one virtual), and no alternative schools. The district serves a population with significant economic challenges, as evidenced by the high rates of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch across all schools.

Among the schools, Davis County Community High School stands out as the strongest performer, with the highest test scores across various subjects and grade levels compared to the district and state averages. The school also has a relatively high 4-year graduation rate of 88.3%. In contrast, the Davis County Elementary appears to be the weakest performer, with test scores below the district and state averages across most grade levels and subjects.

A concerning issue across the district is the high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 21.6% to 21.6%, which are significantly higher than the state average. This, along with the significant performance gaps between the schools, suggests a need for the district to address attendance and engagement, as well as better align curriculum and instructional practices across all grade levels. Additionally, the wide variation in spending per student and student-teacher ratios indicates that the district may not be equitably distributing resources across its schools, which could be an area for further investigation.