Skip to main content

Excellent

#78 of 1,280 schools in IA

Top 6% in state

Decorah Middle School

Middle School · Decorah Community School District

405 Winnebago St., Decorah, IA 52101

Enrollment

436

Student-Teacher

12.5:1

Score

8.6

Grades

5th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Iowa schools

#78 of 1,280

In Decorah

#1 of 4

public schools

In district

#1 of 4

Decorah Community School District

School environment

9.7 / 10

Excellent

School shortlistprofile + nearby

Shortlisting around Decorah Middle School?

Use this profile as one decision point, then compare nearby options, source confidence, and commute fit before picking a neighborhood around it.

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Decorah Middle School

8.6/10

Middle School in Decorah · grades 5th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Carrie Lee Elementary

7.3/10

0.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Crossroads Academy

Nearby

0.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Decorah Middle School

Decorah Middle School is a public middle school in Decorah, IA, part of Decorah Community School District. Decorah Middle School serves approximately 436 students, and covers grades 5th-8th, and has a 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio. Decorah Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 out of 10 and ranks #78 of 1,280 schools in IA.

Structured state assessment records for Decorah Middle School show 86% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 86% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.9 pts above IA schools
  • This school 8.6 · Excellent
  • IA avg 6.7

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.5Very Good40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.42 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.0Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency83.7% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency88% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg+11.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+17.2 pts
Overall Proficiency86% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)79% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected+6.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile85th
Resources & Environment9.7Excellent25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,870
Chronic Absenteeism9.6%

Decorah Middle School — Students at Decorah Middle School score 86% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 79%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

28.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 85.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
73.1% (2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency 85.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
75.3% (2025 ISASP)

Based on 38 test records from IA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
90%
ELA
86%
2010
Math
93%
ELA
88%
2011
Math
93%
ELA
79%
2012
Math
92%
ELA
83%
2013
Math
93%
ELA
86%
2014
Math
91%
ELA
90%
2015
Math
87%
ELA
87%
2016
Math
88%
ELA
87%
2017
Math
87%
ELA
86%
2018
Math
82%
ELA
85%
2019
Math
82%
ELA
85%
2020*
Math
77%
ELA
83%
2021*
Math
77%
ELA
83%
2022
Math
80%
ELA
87%
2025
Math
83.7%
ELA
88%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.5/10.

How Decorah Middle School Compares

See how Decorah Middle School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.6/10
94th percentile in IA
Academic
9.0/10
Excellent
Growth
7.5/10
Very Good
Environment
9.7/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
28%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
35 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
9.6%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

405 Winnebago St., Decorah, IA 52101

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Decorah Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. South Winneshiek Middle School (rated 8.7/10, 11.0 miles away, in nearby Ossian), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Waukon Middle School (rated 8.0/10, 15.1 miles away, in nearby Waukon), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Decorah, see our Decorah schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 18.5 mi
School Distance Rating
Carrie Lee Elementary Decorah 0.1 mi 7.3
CROSSROADS ACADEMY Decorah 0.1 mi
NE IOWA MONTESSORI SCHOOL Decorah 0.3 mi 6.6
John Cline Elementary School Decorah 0.3 mi 8.1
Decorah High School Decorah 0.4 mi 7.6
ST BENEDICT SCHOOL Decorah 0.4 mi 6.0
KINDERHAUS Decorah 0.9 mi
South Winneshiek High School Calmar 9.2 mi 8.2
South Winneshiek Elementary School Ossian 11.0 mi 8.4
South Winneshiek Middle School Ossian 11.0 mi 8.7
MABEL-CANTON SECONDARY Mabel 15.1 mi 8.6
MABEL-CANTON ELEMENTARY Mabel 15.1 mi 7.3
VALLEY VIEW Mabel 16.3 mi
Waukon High School Waukon 15.0 mi 8.0
Waukon Middle School Waukon 15.1 mi 8.0
SPRING GROVE ELEMENTARY Spring Grove 19.4 mi 8.5
SPRING GROVE SECONDARY Spring Grove 19.4 mi 7.9
West Campus Elementary School Waukon 15.1 mi 8.0
Postville Early Childhood/Ogden St Postville 18.5 mi
Postville Early Childhood Preschool/Post St/REC Center Postville 18.5 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 52101 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$70,046

Median Home Value

$249,500

Median Rent

$813/mo

Population

12,539

College Educated

39%

Homeownership

74.3%

Avg Commute

16.7 min

Poverty Rate

8.9%

Median Age

42.6

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Center Point-Urbana Middle School Center Point, IA 8.6
Central DeWitt Intermediate School Dewitt, IA 8.6
New Hampton Middle School New Hampton, IA 8.6
Denison Middle School Denison, IA 8.5
Hazel Point Intermediate School Marion, IA 8.7
Nevada Middle School Nevada, IA 8.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Decorah Middle School

What grades does Decorah Middle School serve?

Decorah Middle School serves students in grades 5th through 8th.

How many students attend Decorah Middle School?

Decorah Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 436 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Decorah Middle School?

The student-teacher ratio at Decorah Middle School is 12.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Decorah Middle School rank in IA?

Decorah Middle School ranks #78 of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is Decorah Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

Decorah Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 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 Decorah Middle School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Decorah Middle School has 86% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 86% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Decorah Middle School a charter school?

No, Decorah Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Decorah Middle School a Title I school?

No, Decorah Middle School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Decorah Middle School?

28.4% of students at Decorah Middle 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
83 Very Walkable
Bike Score
69 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
5th – 8th
Enrollment
436
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
35
Free/Reduced Lunch
28.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Town
County
Winneshiek County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
9.6%

District

Decorah Community School District
District Enrollment
1,640
Schools in District
5
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,870
District Rank
#1 of 4

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 rate

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.