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Central Middle School/High School

Q: Is Central Middle School/High School a good school?

Central Middle School/High School ranks 224 th of 340 Iowa high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 7-12

224^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 340 Iowa High Schools

Better than 34% of Iowa high schools

Summary

Central Middle School/High School is a public school located in Elkader, Iowa, serving grades 7-12 with a total enrollment of 202 students. The school is part of the Central Community School District, which is ranked 222 out of 313 school districts in Iowa and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

The school has had a relatively stable four-year graduation rate, ranging from 87.5% to 95.1% over the past few years, which is generally on par with or slightly higher than the nearby schools. However, Central Middle School/High School has experienced higher chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 14.6% to 23.4% in recent years, notably higher than the nearby schools, which have rates around 21.6%. The school's test scores in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science show a mixed performance compared to the state and nearby schools, with some grade levels and subjects performing well and others struggling, particularly in Mathematics.

When compared to the nearby schools, such as Clayton Ridge High School, Starmont High School, and Edgewood-Colesburg High School, Central Middle School/High School generally performs on par or slightly below in terms of test scores and graduation rates. However, it stands out with its higher chronic absenteeism rates and lower spending per student of $13,348, compared to schools like Starmont High School ($18,632) and Clayton Ridge High School ($28,257). Addressing the higher chronic absenteeism rates and improving academic performance in weaker areas, such as Mathematics and Science, could be key focus areas for the school to enhance its overall educational outcomes.

182

Students ?

11.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,348

Per pupil spending ?

38.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

400 1st Street NW
Elkader, IA 52043-0070

(563) 245-1750

District: Central Community School District

Feeder schools for Central Middle School/High School:

Elementary:

Central Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.0%

Two or more races:

3.8%

Hispanic:

1.1%

See top rated Iowa high schools

Compare Central Middle School/High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 4th percentile in 2016 → 34th in 2025

Strengths

✓95% graduate in 4 years — above the Iowa average (88%)

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 34th (2025) from a 4th-percentile low (2016)

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Iowa average (63% vs 71% meeting standards)

!Science scores 19 pts below the Iowa average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school63%

District avg63%

Iowa avg71%

Middle school

315^th of 344

Iowa public middle schools ?

Bottom 8%▼ down 61 pts since 2015

From top 30% (2015) to bottom 8% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Iowa Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

224^th of 340

Iowa public high schools ?

Bottom 34%▼ down 8 pts since 2015

From bottom 42% (2015) to bottom 34% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Iowa High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

222^nd of 313Central 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)

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Iowa percentile	Rating
2025	11.8	315 of 344	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	55.9	167 of 337	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.2	204 of 334	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.4	221 of 337	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	39.5	230 of 324	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	17.4	303 of 342	11.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	42.4	211 of 318	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2017	55.5	152 of 327	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2016	70.7	80 of 343	76.7%	★★★★☆
2015	67.4	105 of 349	69.9%	★★★★☆
2014	58.9	146 of 337	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2013	39.4	255 of 350	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	44.7	221 of 349	36.7%	★★☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Iowa percentile	Rating
2025	43.7	224 of 340	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.1	215 of 338	36.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	28.6	270 of 336	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	27.6	263 of 332	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	33.3	251 of 327	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	75.0	58 of 327	82.3%	★★★★☆
2018	31.4	262 of 320	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	35.5	248 of 325	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	6.6	307 of 320	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	51.2	188 of 324	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2014	42.1	224 of 322	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2013	66.8	107 of 351	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2012	40.5	255 of 351	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Iowa (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts72%-4 vs state

Mathematics59%-10 vs state

Science50%-19 vs state

★

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Schools Near Central Middle School/High 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 7th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 8th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 9th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 10th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 11th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 7th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 8th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 9th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 10th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 11th Grade	ISASP Science 8th Grade	ISASP Science 10th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Central Middle School/High School	Public	7-12	400 1st Street NW	Elkader	52043	Clayton County	Central Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(563) 245-1750	182	16	11.5	38.5%	171 (94.0%)	1 (0.5%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.8%)	43.7	224^th of 340 public high schools	34.1%		46.1	215^th of 338 public high schools	36.4%	9	70.8	61.5	87.5	75.0	63.2	54.2	53.8	78.1	41.7	60.5	50.0	50.0	$13,348	$326	$13,022
MFL MarMac High School	Public	9-12	700 S Page St	Monona	52159	Clayton County	MFL MarMac Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(563) 539-2031	263	17	15.4	30.8%	249 (94.7%)	1 (0.4%)	4 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.0%)	59.5	158^th of 340 public high schools	53.5%		28.2	274^th of 338 public high schools	18.9%	116			87.1	88.7	71.6			69.4	66.1	58.8		74.2	$16,880	$310	$16,571
Edgewood-Colesburg High School	Public	7-12	403 W Union	Edgewood	52042	Clayton County	Edgewood-Colesburg Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(563) 928-6412	206	20	10.1	33.5%	196 (95.1%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.5%)	68.1	102^nd of 340 public high schools	70.0%		61	142^nd of 338 public high schools	58.0%	40	83.3	71.4	88.9	74.2	76.5	76.2	89.3	77.8	67.7	91.2	71.4	71.0	$14,269	$167	$14,102
Clayton Ridge High School	Public	9-12	131 S River Park Dr	Guttenberg	52052	Clayton County	Clayton Ridge Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(563) 252-2342	176	18	9.6	32.4%	160 (90.9%)	1 (0.6%)	11 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.3%)	85.2	14^th of 340 public high schools	95.9%		73.7	68^th of 338 public high schools	79.9%	54			95.7	90.6	79.5			95.7	84.4	75.0		90.6	$28,257	$757	$27,500
Starmont High School	Public	9-12	3202 40th St	Arlington	50606	Fayette County	Starmont Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(563) 933-4598	174	17	10.2	49.4%	165 (94.8%)	1 (0.6%)	7 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	52.4	190^th of 340 public high schools	44.1%		62.9	128^th of 338 public high schools	62.1%	62			76.2	75.0	63.6			61.9	77.1	72.7		70.8	$18,632	$658	$17,974
John R Mott Junior/High School	Public	7-12	314 W Post	Postville	52162	Allamakee County	Postville Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(563) 864-7652	342	31	11.1	78.9%	77 (22.5%)	15 (4.4%)	247 (72.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.9%)	12.8	307^th of 340 public high schools	9.7%		27.6	276^th of 338 public high schools	18.3%	31	51.7	73.2	59.1	68.9	53.1	41.4	63.4	20.5	60.0	32.7	63.4	44.4	$14,210	$413	$13,796

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Middle School/High School

What district is Central Middle School/High School in?

Central Community School District

Is Central Middle School/High School a good school?

Central Middle School/High School ranks 224^th of 340 Iowa high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Central Middle School/High School?

Students at Central Middle School/High School are 94% White, 4% Two or more races, 1% Hispanic.

How many students attend Central Middle School/High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 182 students attended Central Middle School/High School.

What schools feed into Central Middle School/High School?

Central Middle School/High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Central Elementary

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IAIowa High School Rankings

IAIowa District Rankings

Schools in Elkader, IA

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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.