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Ballard Middle School

Q: Is Ballard Middle School a good school?

Ballard Middle School ranks 35 th of 344 Iowa middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 5 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

35^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 344 Iowa Middle Schools

Better than 90% of Iowa middle schools

Summary

Ballard Middle School is a public middle school located in Huxley, Iowa, serving 409 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Ballard Community School District, which is ranked 57th out of 313 districts in Iowa and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Ballard Middle School consistently outperforms the state average in academic assessments, with 88.5% of 6th graders, 88.2% of 7th graders, and 82.6% of 8th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the state averages of 72.8%, 74.9%, and 80.2%, respectively. The school also excels in mathematics, with 89.9% of 6th graders, 90.6% of 7th graders, and 83.3% of 8th graders proficient or better, compared to the state averages of 71.8%, 71.9%, and 74.4%. Additionally, Ballard Middle School has a relatively low chronic absenteeism rate of 16.1%, compared to the state average of 21.6%.

When compared to nearby middle schools, such as Bondurant-Farrar Intermediate School and Woodside Middle School, Ballard Middle School generally outperforms its peers in academic performance and attendance. Additionally, Ballard Middle School has a lower percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (16.14%) compared to the state average, suggesting the school serves a more affluent community.

418

Students ?

15.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,142

Per pupil spending ?

17.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

509 N Main Ave
Huxley, IA 50124-9416

(515) 597-2815

District: Ballard Community School District

Students who attend Ballard Middle School usually attend:

High:

Ballard High School

Feeder schools for Ballard Middle School:

Elementary:	Ballard East Elementary
	Ballard West Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

92.6%

Hispanic:

3.3%

Two or more races:

2.6%

See top rated Iowa middle schools

Compare Ballard Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 65th percentile in 2015 → 90th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Iowa average (87% vs 74% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 10% of Iowa middle schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 25 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school87%

District avg87%

Iowa avg74%

35^th of 344

Iowa public middle schools ?

Top 10%▲ up 24 pts since 2015

From top 35% (2015) to top 10% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Iowa Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

57^th of 313Ballard Community School District among Iowa districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Iowa percentile	Rating
2025	79.0	35 of 344	89.8%	★★★★★
2024	71.0	80 of 337	76.3%	★★★★☆
2023	76.5	53 of 334	84.1%	★★★★☆
2022	80.9	33 of 337	90.2%	★★★★★
2021	81.5	35 of 324	89.2%	★★★★☆
2019	82.7	28 of 342	91.8%	★★★★★
2018	59.1	134 of 318	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2017	59.2	135 of 327	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2016	67.3	97 of 343	71.7%	★★★★☆
2015	64.2	121 of 349	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2014	66.5	109 of 337	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	59.7	142 of 350	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2012	69.1	87 of 349	75.1%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Iowa (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics88%+15 vs state

English Language Arts86%+10 vs state

Science83%+12 vs state

★

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Schools Near Ballard Middle School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ISASP English Language Arts (2025)				ISASP Mathematics (2025)				ISASP Science (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISASP English Language Arts 5th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 6th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 7th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 8th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 5th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 6th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 7th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 8th Grade	ISASP Science 5th Grade	ISASP Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Ballard Middle School	Public	6-8	509 N Main Ave	Huxley	50124	Story County	Ballard Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 597-2815	418	28	15.1	17.7%	387 (92.6%)	4 (1.0%)	14 (3.3%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.6%)	79	35^th of 344 public middle schools	89.8%		71	80^th of 337 public middle schools	76.3%	45		88.5	88.2	82.6		89.9	90.6	83.3		82.6	$13,142	$46	$13,096
North Polk Middle School	Public	6-8	315 NE 141st Ave.	Alleman	50007	Polk County	North Polk Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 984-3400	504	31	16.4	8.5%	471 (93.5%)	7 (1.4%)	13 (2.6%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.0%)	83.8	19^th of 344 public middle schools	94.5%		78.5	42^nd of 337 public middle schools	87.5%	23		90.3	85.7	95.8		90.3	77.1	92.8		91.4	$11,145	$144	$11,001
Ames Middle School	Public	6-8	3915 Mortensen Road	Ames	50014	Story County	Ames Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 268-2400	1,033	70	14.7	31.2%	642 (62.1%)	103 (10.0%)	129 (12.5%)	77 (7.5%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	79 (7.6%)	59.1	147^th of 344 public middle schools	57.3%		55.5	169^th of 337 public middle schools	49.9%	22		81.0	70.5	87.6		82.0	73.4	77.6		74.4	$11,412	$258	$11,154
Madrid Junior High School	Public	6-8	599 N Kennedy	Madrid	50156	Boone County	Madrid Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 795-3240	151	7	22.1	22.5%	140 (92.7%)	1 (0.7%)	5 (3.3%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.6%)	62.4	127^th of 344 public middle schools	63.1%		63.6	125^th of 337 public middle schools	62.9%	2		80.0	84.0	88.6		67.3	72.0	79.5		88.6	$11,710	$73	$11,637
Prairie Ridge Middle School	Public	6-7	1010 NW Prairie Ridge Dr	Ankeny	50023	Polk County	Ankeny Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 965-9705	1,004	67	14.8	17.6%	814 (81.1%)	39 (3.9%)	77 (7.7%)	20 (2.0%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	51 (5.1%)	75.6	49^th of 344 public middle schools	85.8%		75.7	61^st of 337 public middle schools	81.9%	12		85.9	83.9			85.7	78.3				$12,721	$191	$12,529
Parkview Middle School	Public	6-7	105 NW Pleasant St	Ankeny	50023	Polk County	Ankeny Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 965-9640	865	60	14.3	27.3%	624 (72.1%)	42 (4.9%)	91 (10.5%)	32 (3.7%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	74 (8.6%)	80.7	31^st of 344 public middle schools	91.0%		80.4	34^th of 337 public middle schools	89.9%	3		89.4	86.7			80.5	86.7				$13,100	$296	$12,804
Nevada Middle School	Public	5-8	1035 15th St	Nevada	50201	Story County	Nevada Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 382-2751	442	30	14.7	42.1%	359 (81.2%)	1 (0.2%)	58 (13.1%)	4 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.6%)	75.5	52^nd of 344 public middle schools	84.9%		67.9	104^th of 337 public middle schools	69.1%	52	84.8	84.5	77.7	89.6	88.4	83.3	86.0	86.7	81.3	84.0	$12,308	$518	$11,790
Gilbert Middle School	Public	6-8	201 E. Mathews	Gilbert	50105	Story County	Gilbert Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 232-0540	408	26	15.4	9.3%	347 (85.0%)	7 (1.7%)	20 (4.9%)	17 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.2%)	91.8	2^nd of 344 public middle schools	99.4%		92.3	2^nd of 337 public middle schools	99.4%			92.0	98.4	97.1		90.5	92.9	92.9		92.9	$12,292	$237	$12,056
Bondurant - Farrar Intermediate School	Public	5-6	300 Garfield St. SW	Bondurant	50035	Polk County	Bondurant-Farrar Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 967-3711	445	33	13.4	16.4%	358 (80.4%)	16 (3.6%)	38 (8.5%)	6 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	26 (5.8%)								(n/a)	76.3	75.7			68.4	75.2			75.8		$11,425	$241	$11,184
Woodside Middle School	Public	5-8	5810 NE 14th St	Des Moines	50313	Polk County	Saydel Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 265-3451	396	28	14.3	56.6%	262 (66.2%)	6 (1.5%)	84 (21.2%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (10.6%)	35.4	265^th of 344 public middle schools	23.0%		19.5	296^th of 337 public middle schools	12.2%	31	66.3	77.0	72.6	75.0	57.8	69.3	63.7	61.7	44.6	68.8	$14,080	$452	$13,628

Frequently Asked Questions about Ballard Middle School

What district is Ballard Middle School in?

Ballard Community School District

How many students attend Ballard Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 418 students attended Ballard Middle School.

What high school do graduates of Ballard Middle School attend?

Students who attend Ballard Middle School usually go on to attend Ballard High School

What is the racial makeup of Ballard Middle School?

Students at Ballard Middle School are 93% White, 3% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

Is Ballard Middle School a good school?

Ballard Middle School ranks 35^th of 344 Iowa middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 5 stars out of 5.

Rate Ballard Middle School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Iowa Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.