Needs Improvement
#1272 of 1,280 schools in IA
Alternative School
High School · Mason City Comm School District · Mason City, IA
A Mason City Comm School District high school where students score 13 points below what's typical for similar communities.
19 N. Illinois Ave., Mason City, IA 50401
- Math 31% vs IA 68% (2025)
- Reading 65% vs IA 73% (2025)
- 54.5% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Alternative School score 48% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 61%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 13 points since 2020, reaching 48% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 62% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 33 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
63%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Alternative School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 19Car-Dependent
- Transit 19Minimal Transit
- Bike 46Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,561/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Mason City), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$63,807
Median home value
$134,100
Median rent
$868/mo
College educated
21.9%
Homeownership
68.2%
Poverty rate
10%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 50401; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason City High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.7 | 9–12 | 0.1 mi | 967 | Compare → |
| North Iowa Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.6private | PK–12 | 1.1 mi | 71 | Compare → |
| Mason City Virtual AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 2.4 | 7–12 | 1.9 mi | 82 | Compare → |
| Newman CatholicPrivate · tuition | 5.4private | PK–12 | 3.8 mi | 554 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Mason City Comm School District
- Schools in district
- 9
- Rank in district
- #9 of 9
- District spending per student
- $15,155NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 14.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Alternative School is listed in Mason City Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Alternative School
Alternative School is a public high school in Mason City, IA, part of Mason City Comm School District, serving approximately 92 students in grades 9th-12th with a 18.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 2.2 out of 10 and ranks #1,272 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 62% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Alternative School
What grades does Alternative School serve?
Alternative School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Alternative School?
Alternative School has an enrollment of approximately 92 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Alternative School?
The student-teacher ratio at Alternative School is 18.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Alternative School rank in IA?
Alternative School ranks #1,272 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Alternative School's MySchoolScout rating?
Alternative School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 2.2 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Alternative School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Alternative School has 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 62% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Alternative School a charter school?
No, Alternative School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Alternative School a Title I school?
No, Alternative School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Alternative School?
63.0% of students at Alternative School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 92
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 18.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 5
- Type
- alternative
- Setting
- Remote Town
- County
- Cerro Gordo County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 85.9%
- Phone
- (641) 421-4426
- 4-Year Graduation
- 54.5%
- Area population (ZIP 50401)
- 28,818
- Area average commute
- 13.9 min
- Area median age
- 42.5
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 50401; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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