Maquoketa Community School District

The Maquoketa Community School District in Iowa consists of 4 schools: 2 elementary schools (Cardinal Elementary and Briggs Elementary), 1 middle school (Maquoketa Middle School), and 1 high school (Maquoketa Community High School). The district appears to be facing significant challenges, with all schools performing well below state averages on key metrics like test scores and graduation rates.

None of the schools in the Maquoketa Community School District stand out as clear performers. The high school had an 88.3% four-year graduation rate in 2023-2024, which is below the state average. Across all grade levels and subjects, the Maquoketa schools consistently scored below the state averages on the ISASP assessments, with proficiency rates ranging from 41.7% to 63.6% in ELA, 43.2% to 57.3% in Math, and 41.7% in Science. Additionally, all schools in the district had a chronic absenteeism rate of 21.6% in 2023-2024, significantly higher than the state average.

The high percentages of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 47.07% at the high school to over 65% at the elementary schools, indicate that the district serves a predominantly low-income population. This, coupled with the relatively high spending per student and low performance, suggests that the district may need to re-evaluate how resources are being allocated and utilized to better support student learning and address the systemic challenges facing the schools.