Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 52742

The zip code 52742 is home to two middle schools, Central DeWitt Intermediate School and Central DeWitt Middle School, both part of the Central DeWitt School District. While the district is ranked 142 out of 313 in Iowa and rated 3 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger, the data suggests that Central DeWitt Intermediate School is the standout performer of the two.

Central DeWitt Intermediate School consistently outperforms the state average in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science on the ISASP assessments, and has a lower chronic absenteeism rate compared to the state average. Additionally, the school serves a higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating it serves a more economically disadvantaged population. In contrast, Central DeWitt Middle School has seen a decline in its statewide ranking, dropping from 93rd out of 334 Iowa middle schools in 2022-2023 to 224th out of 344 in 2024-2025.

The data also reveals differences in key metrics between the two schools. Central DeWitt Intermediate School has a higher enrollment of 323 students, compared to 232 students at the middle school. The intermediate school also has a slightly higher student-teacher ratio of 12.9, while the middle school has an 11.9 ratio. Interestingly, the middle school spends more per student ($14,297) than the intermediate school ($12,429), raising questions about the allocation of resources and their impact on student outcomes.