Summary:
The 51458 zip code area is home to two schools - Odebolt Elementary-Odebolt, an elementary school, and Odebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove Middle School, a middle school. While the elementary school is a standout performer, ranking 70th out of 576 Iowa elementary schools and earning a 4-star rating, the middle school has seen a significant decline in its statewide ranking, dropping from 58th out of 318 Iowa middle schools in 2017-2018 to 248th out of 344 in 2024-2025, with a current 1-star rating.
The elementary school boasts particularly strong test scores, with 95.2% of 3rd graders proficient or better in English Language Arts and 100% of 3rd graders proficient or better in Mathematics, as well as above-state-average scores across most grade levels. In contrast, the middle school's academic performance has declined, suggesting the Odebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove Community School District may need to focus on addressing the challenges facing its middle school to ensure consistent high-quality education across all grade levels.
Both schools have similar student-teacher ratios of 13.6, and the elementary school has a higher free/reduced lunch rate of 51.24% compared to 44.28% at the middle school. The elementary school also spends slightly more per student at $11,880, compared to $11,124 per student at the middle school. These factors suggest that factors beyond just funding and staffing levels may be contributing to the differences in academic performance between the two schools.
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