Summary:
The 52342 zip code area is home to a single middle school, South Tama County Middle School, which serves grades 5-8 with a total enrollment of 431 students. While the school has a relatively low student-teacher ratio and above-average spending per student, it faces significant challenges in terms of academic performance and student engagement.
South Tama County Middle School has seen a decline in its statewide ranking, dropping from 231 out of 334 Iowa middle schools in 2022-2023 to 298 out of 344 in 2024-2025, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's test scores in English Language Arts, math, and science are all below the state averages, and it has a high chronic absenteeism rate of 21.6%. Additionally, the school serves a high percentage of students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, with 68.91% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.
Despite the challenges faced by South Tama County Middle School, the data suggests that the school may have the resources to address these issues, with a relatively low student-teacher ratio and above-average spending per student. However, the lack of school choice and competition in the 52342 zip code area may be a contributing factor to the school's underperformance. Further investigation and targeted interventions may be necessary to improve outcomes for the students at South Tama County Middle School.
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