South Middle School

Summary:

South Middle School is a public middle school located in Waukee, Iowa, serving grades 6-7 with a student population of 909. It is part of the Waukee Community School District, which is ranked 44 out of 309 school districts in Iowa and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

South Middle School consistently ranks among the top middle schools in Iowa, with a statewide ranking between 46 and 123 over the past 5 years. The school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics are significantly higher than the state averages, with 6th and 7th-grade students outperforming the district and state in both subjects. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, 83% of 6th-grade students and 86% of 7th-grade students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 74.5% and 77.3%, respectively.

While Waukee Middle School and ADM Middle School also demonstrate strong academic performance, South Middle School stands out for its consistent academic excellence, racial diversity, and socioeconomic diversity. The school's high test scores, statewide rankings, and comparisons to nearby schools highlight its commitment to providing a quality education for all students.


Detail:

Public 6-7

 2350 SE LA Grant Parkway
       Waukee, IA  50263


(515) 987-3222

District: Waukee Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
88th of 337 Iowa Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $12,239 Help


Students who attend South Middle School usually attend:

High:    Waukee High School

Feeder schools for South Middle School:

Elementary:    Brookview Elementary School
    Eason Elementary School
    Maple Grove Elementary School
    Woodland Hills Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio:  14.9 Help
Number of students:  909

Racial breakdown:

White:
62.8%
Asian:
11.6%
African American:
8.7%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  25.6% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details South Middle School ranks better than 73.9% of middle schools in Iowa. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 69.67. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (62.8%), Asian (11.6%), African American (8.7%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 25.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at South Middle School is 14.9. (See more...)
Help
Compare South Middle School employs 60.9 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at South Middle School is $12,239.
Schooldigger Rankings:

South Middle School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks South Middle School 88th of 337 Iowa public middle schools. (See South Middle School in the ranking list.)

Waukee Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Waukee Community School District 44th of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for South Middle School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools IA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2012 87.90 7th 349 98.0%
2013 86.46 7th 350 98.0%
2014 83.49 20th 337 94.1%
2015 83.84 18th 349 94.8%
2016 86.89 7th 343 98.0%
2017 83.74 15th 327 95.4%
2018 78.08 40th 318 87.4%
2019 84.48 21st 342 93.9%
2021 79.02 46th 324 85.8%
2022 73.09 76th 337 77.4%
2023 62.99 123rd 334 63.2%
2024 69.67 88th 337 73.9%
See the entire list of Iowa Middle School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Iowa Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

South Middle School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    




Data source: Iowa Department of Education

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Enrollment information for South Middle School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2011 641 35 24 25 4 1 18 0 748
2012 688 37 32 28 4 1 21 0 811
2013 715 45 46 45 1 1 22 0 875
2014 741 51 61 39 1 1 29 0 923
2015 797 59 65 41 1 2 32 0 997
2016 550 32 54 32 1 1 28 0 698
2017 541 44 73 49 3 0 24 0 734
2018 574 45 68 54 3 0 46 0 790
2019 593 56 67 60 2 1 53 0 832
2020 554 69 83 64 1 2 58 0 831
2021 556 65 86 67 4 2 65 0 845
2022 582 81 90 62 3 2 72 0 892
2023 571 79 105 76 1 1 76 0 909

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at South Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2011 748 57.0 13.1 14.4
2012 811 61.5 13.1 13.8
2013 875 65.0 13.4 15.1
2014 923 67.0 13.7 18
2015 997 68.0 14.6 17.8
2016 698 50.0 13.9 19.3
2017 734 52.4 14.0 22.2
2018 790 54.4 14.5 22.9
2019 832 58.4 14.2 23.4
2020 831 58.6 14.1 25
2021 845 59.1 14.2 21.3
2022 892 63.5 14.0 22
2023 909 60.9 14.9 25.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio South Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2011 748 57.0 13.1 14.4
2012 811 61.5 13.1 13.8
2013 875 65.0 13.4 15.1
2014 923 67.0 13.7 18
2015 997 68.0 14.6 17.8
2016 698 50.0 13.9 19.3
2017 734 52.4 14.0 22.2
2018 790 54.4 14.5 22.9
2019 832 58.4 14.2 23.4
2020 831 58.6 14.1 25
2021 845 59.1 14.2 21.3
2022 892 63.5 14.0 22
2023 909 60.9 14.9 25.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for South Middle School

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $285 (2.3%) $11,954 (97.7%) $12,239

Data source: Iowa Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on South Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 21st of 342 Middle schoolsRanks 123rd of 334 Middle schools
 30.7%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (South Middle School)82.179.8
 2.3%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Waukee Community School District)84.583
 1.5%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)67.572.7
 5.2%
6th Grade Mathematics (South Middle School)82.680.5
 2.1%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Waukee Community School District)87.683.1
 4.5%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)69.469.9
 0.5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (South Middle School)86.477.7
 8.7%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Waukee Community School District)87.184.1
 3%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)69.974.2
 4.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (South Middle School)86.470.4
 16%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Waukee Community School District)86.378.1
 8.2%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)70.168.9
 1.2%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students832909
 9.3%
African American5679
 41.1%
American Indian21
 50%
Asian67105
 56.7%
Hispanic6076
 26.7%
Pacific Islander11
White593571
 3.7%
Two or More Races5376
 43.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients23.4%25.6%
 2.2%


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Frequently Asked Questions about South Middle School

South Middle School ranks 88th of 337 Iowa middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

In the 2022-23 school year, 909 students attended South Middle School.

Students who attend South Middle School usually go on to attend Waukee High School

Students at South Middle School are 63% White, 12% Asian, 9% African American, 8% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races.


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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.





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