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South Tama County High School

Public Grades 9-12

285^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 340 Iowa High Schools

Better than 16% of Iowa high schools

Summary

South Tama County High School is a public high school in Tama, Iowa, serving 448 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the South Tama County School District, which is ranked 289 out of 313 districts in the state and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While South Tama County High School has a four-year graduation rate slightly below the state average, ranging from 87.5% to 91.4%, the school faces several challenges. It has experienced high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 19.3% to 25.6%, which is significantly higher than the state average. The school's test scores on the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) are generally below the state averages in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. For example, in 2024-2025, the school's 10th-grade proficiency rates were 75% in ELA, 57.6% in Math, and 53.3% in Science, compared to the state averages of 74.7%, 68%, and 66.8%, respectively.

When compared to nearby high schools, such as Grinnell Community Senior High School, which is 17.52 miles away, South Tama County High School generally performs below average. Grinnell Community Senior High School has significantly higher test scores, with 10th-grade proficiency rates of 90.2% in ELA, 83.5% in Math, and 77.4% in Science in 2024-2025. Additionally, South Tama County High School's spending per student of $16,283 in 2018-2019 is higher than the state average, but it is unclear how this spending is translating into student outcomes.

421

Students ?

17.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,283

Per pupil spending ?

55.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1715 Harding St
Tama, IA 52339

(641) 484-4345

District: South Tama County

Feeder schools for South Tama County High School:

Elementary:	South Tama County Elementary School
Middle:	South Tama County Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

46.6%

Hispanic:

36.8%

American Indian:

7.8%

See top rated Iowa high schools

Compare South Tama County High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 18th percentile in 2015 → 16th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Iowa average (59% vs 69% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (16th percentile)

!Science scores 14 pts below the Iowa average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school59%

District avg59%

Iowa avg69%

285^th of 340

Iowa public high schools ?

Bottom 16%▼ down 2 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Iowa High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

289^th of 313South Tama County 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	24.5	285 of 340	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.1	297 of 338	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	11.9	307 of 336	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	7.7	317 of 332	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	16.1	293 of 327	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	16.7	299 of 327	8.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	37.1	250 of 320	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	24.3	278 of 325	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	8.9	300 of 320	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	27.1	265 of 324	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	20.7	283 of 322	12.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	29.7	301 of 351	14.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	27.4	300 of 351	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Iowa (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts65%-8 vs state

Mathematics54%-13 vs state

Science53%-14 vs state

★

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Schools Near South Tama County High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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
South Tama County High School	Public	9-12	1715 Harding St	Tama	52339	Tama County	South Tama County	No	(n/a)	No	No	(641) 484-4345	421	25	17.0	55.8%	196 (46.6%)	5 (1.2%)	155 (36.8%)	5 (1.2%)	33 (7.8%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (6.2%)	24.5	285^th of 340 public high schools	16.2%		18.1	297^th of 338 public high schools	12.1%	12			71.7	75.0	50.9			54.0	57.6	50.0		53.3	$16,283	$413	$15,869
GMG Secondary School	Public	7-12	306 Park Street	Garwin	50632	Tama County	GMG Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(641) 499-2005	205	19	10.9	51.2%	180 (87.8%)	7 (3.4%)	10 (4.9%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.9%)	43.7	223^rd of 340 public high schools	34.4%		48.5	203^rd of 338 public high schools	39.9%	20	58.8	82.9	78.6	81.3	78.6	57.6	48.6	39.3	50.0	64.3	48.6	68.8	$14,599	$177	$14,421
East Marshall Senior High School	Public	9-12	201 N Franklin	Le Grand	50142	Marshall County	East Marshall Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(641) 479-2785	217	18	12.1	33.6%	193 (88.9%)	5 (2.3%)	12 (5.5%)	2 (0.9%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.8%)	64.3	124^th of 340 public high schools	63.5%		47.8	209^th of 338 public high schools	38.2%	85			89.1	77.1	75.9			73.9	72.9	63.0		79.2	$15,810	$216	$15,593
North Tama High School	Public	7-12	605 Walnut	Traer	50675	Tama County	North Tama County Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 478-2265	203	16	12.7	42.9%	185 (91.1%)	2 (1.0%)	9 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.4%)	39.2	245^th of 340 public high schools	27.9%		48.4	205^th of 338 public high schools	39.3%	40	62.8	80.0	74.2	56.3	82.8	69.8	56.7	45.2	65.6	75.9	46.7	58.1	$15,071	$555	$14,517
Marshalltown High School	Public	9-12	1602 S 2nd Ave	Marshalltown	50158	Marshall County	Marshalltown Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(641) 754-1130	1,629	102	16.0	72.6%	496 (30.4%)	51 (3.1%)	936 (57.5%)	85 (5.2%)	15 (0.9%)	6 (0.4%)	39 (2.4%)	16.5	300^th of 340 public high schools	11.8%		17.6	299^th of 338 public high schools	11.5%	1			59.6	61.0	54.9			45.3	51.5	52.6		59.7	$14,964	$447	$14,517
Marshalltown Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual	7-12	1002 South 3rd Avenue	Marshalltown	50158	Marshall County	Marshalltown Community School District	No	(n/a)	Yes	No	(641) 754-1000	90	1	166.6	67.8%	38 (42.2%)	1 (1.1%)	41 (45.6%)	2 (2.2%)	2 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (6.7%)	0.7	333^rd of 340 public high schools	2.1%		0.6	330^th of 338 public high schools	2.4%	3				45.5	33.3				33.3	8.3		25.0
Belle Plaine Junior/Senior High School	Public	7-12	610 13th Ave South	Belle Plaine	52208	Benton County	Belle Plaine Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 444-3720	205	20	10.4	39.0%	192 (93.7%)	3 (1.5%)	3 (1.5%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.9%)	43.2	225^th of 340 public high schools	33.8%		52.5	179^th of 338 public high schools	47.0%	46	92.1	71.8	65.6	74.2	80.0	81.6	69.2	56.3	71.0	64.0	66.7	64.5	$15,770	$267	$15,504
Grinnell Community Senior High School	Public	9-12	1333 Sunset St	Grinnell	50112	Poweshiek County	Grinnell-Newburg Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(641) 236-2700	512	30	16.8	31.6%	449 (87.7%)	14 (2.7%)	29 (5.7%)	5 (1.0%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.5%)	77.7	45^th of 340 public high schools	86.8%		78.4	39^th of 338 public high schools	88.5%	6			83.8	90.2	84.7			73.8	83.5	80.2		77.4	$14,271	$399	$13,871
Brooklyn-Guernsey-Malcom Junior-Senior High School	Public	7-12	1090 Jackson St	Brooklyn	52211	Poweshiek County	Brooklyn-Guernsey-Malcom Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 522-7058	268	18	14.7	35.1%	246 (91.8%)	3 (1.1%)	13 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	4 (1.5%)	71.4	78^th of 340 public high schools	77.1%		51.6	185^th of 338 public high schools	45.3%	107	86.4	89.5	91.5	85.0	83.7	88.6	84.2	74.5	72.5	69.8	78.9	72.5	$15,368	$55	$15,313

Frequently Asked Questions about South Tama County High School

What is the racial makeup of South Tama County High School?

Students at South Tama County High School are 47% White, 37% Hispanic, 8% American Indian, 6% Two or more races, 1% African American, 1% Asian.

What district is South Tama County High School in?

South Tama County

Is South Tama County High School a good school?

South Tama County High School ranks in the bottom 16.2% of Iowa high schools.

What schools feed into South Tama County High School?

South Tama County High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : South Tama County Elementary School
Middle : South Tama County Middle School

How many students attend South Tama County High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 421 students attended South Tama County High School.

Rate South Tama County High School!

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Latest Iowa data All new data »

2024–25 graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 ISASP test scoresAug 20, 2025

2023–24 graduation ratesApr 1, 2025

2017–18 through 2023–24 attendance dataNov 15, 2024

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.