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Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 50261

Coming soon: We're expecting this year's test scores from the Iowa Department of Education any day now — new rankings will be posted the moment they're released!

Coming soon: This year's test scores are expected from the Iowa Department of Education any day now — new rankings will follow the moment they're released!

At a glance

School

252

Students

5-star school

Top rankedVan Meter Middle School6^th of 344 Iowa middle schools

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Summary:

The 50261 zip code is home to a single standout middle school, Van Meter Middle School, which consistently ranks among the top middle schools in Iowa. This school's exceptional academic performance, excellent district ranking, and low chronic absenteeism rates make it a shining example of educational excellence in the area.

Van Meter Community School District, which Van Meter Middle School is a part of, is ranked 3rd out of 313 districts in Iowa and is rated 5 out of 5 stars by SchoolDigger. The middle school itself boasts impressive proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science, significantly exceeding state averages. With a chronic absenteeism rate of just 21.6%, Van Meter Middle School demonstrates a strong commitment to student engagement and attendance.

While the school's high academic performance and low absenteeism rates are commendable, the relatively low percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (7.05%) may suggest that the school serves a more affluent population. This could raise questions about equity and access for students from lower-income backgrounds. Additionally, the school's student-teacher ratio of 36.4 is higher than the state average, which may impact the level of individual attention and support available to students. Nevertheless, Van Meter Middle School's consistent top-ranking status and dedication to educational excellence make it a standout institution in the 50261 zip code.

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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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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 6th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 7th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 8th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 6th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 7th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 8th Grade	ISASP Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Van Meter Middle School	Public	6-8	520 1st Ave	Van Meter	50261	Dallas County	Van Meter Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 996-2221	252	8	33.1	6.7%	237 (94.0%)	1 (0.4%)	7 (2.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.4%)	90.1	6^th of 344 public middle schools	98.3%		90.1	6^th of 337 public middle schools	98.2%		91.0	95.3	94.7	88.8	91.9	94.7	89.5	$7,390	$259	$7,131

Cities Near Zip Code 50261

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Van Meter	0.24 mi	3	5^th
De Soto	2.86 mi	1
Waukee	4.79 mi	13	111^th
West Des Moines	6.23 mi	13	226^th
Adel	6.54 mi	4	24^th

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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.