Very Good
#168 of 1,280 schools in IA
Top 13% in state
Essex Junior-senior High School
High School · Essex Comm School District
111 Forbes St, Essex, IA 51638
Enrollment
94
Student-Teacher
10.4:1
Score
7.8
Grades
6th – 12th
Enrollment
94
Student-Teacher
10.4:1
Score
7.8
Grades
6th – 12th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Essex
#1 of 2
public schools
Iowa high schools
#19 of 334
In district
#1 of 2
Essex Comm School District
School environment
9.7 / 10
Exceptional
About Essex Junior-senior High School
Essex Junior-Senior High School serves 94 students in grades 6-12 in the small rural community of Essex, Iowa. This public school stands out academically, earning a 7.6 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking #130 out of 1,288 schools statewide, placing it in the 90th percentile among Iowa schools. The school's academic performance is particularly strong in English Language Arts, where 87% of students achieve proficiency or above across grade levels.
Math performance shows 67% of students meeting proficiency standards. With just 9 full-time equivalent teachers serving the student body, Essex maintains an exceptionally low 10.4:1 student-teacher ratio, allowing for personalized attention and close teacher-student relationships. Located at 111 Forbes Street in Page County, the school serves a community where the median household income is $61,319 and median home value is $100,200.
About 16% of area residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, while the poverty rate remains relatively low at 8.6%. Essex Junior-Senior High School operates in Iowa's rural heartland, where the surrounding ZIP code area has a population of approximately 1,350 residents, creating a close-knit educational environment.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 94 students, Essex Junior-senior High School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
Located in a rural area, Essex Junior-senior High School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.
Score Breakdown
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Essex Junior-senior High School — Students at Essex Junior-senior High School score 77% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 60%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
55.3%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)
Based on 19 test records from IA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 5.3/10.
How Essex Junior-senior High School Compares
See how Essex Junior-senior High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 64.5% (2019) to 67% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 64.5% (2019) to 87% (2022).
Location
111 Forbes St, Essex, IA 51638
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Essex Junior-senior High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. East Mills Jr/Sr High School (rated 8.0/10, 19.2 miles away, in nearby Hastings), with a very similar rating. Another option is Shenandoah High School (rated 6.9/10, 6.0 miles away, in nearby Shenandoah), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Red Oak Junior/Senior High School (rated 6.7/10, 14.1 miles away, in nearby Red Oak), a more accessible option. For more schools in Essex, see our Essex schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 18.5 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Essex Elementary School Essex | 0.0 mi | 4.2 |
| Shenandoah High School Shenandoah | 6.0 mi | 6.9 |
| IGNITE Online & Personalized Learning Shenandoah | 6.0 mi | 3.6 |
| Logan Preschool Shenandoah | 5.9 mi | 5.3 |
| Shenandoah Elementary School Shenandoah | 6.1 mi | 6.1 |
| Shenandoah Middle School Shenandoah | 6.1 mi | 6.2 |
| Red Oak Early Childhood Center Red Oak | 13.0 mi | 6.3 |
| Inman Elementary School Red Oak | 13.9 mi | 6.3 |
| Red Oak Junior/Senior High School Red Oak | 14.1 mi | 6.7 |
| East Mills Elementary School Hastings | 16.2 mi | 4.8 |
| Stanton Elementary School Stanton | 15.3 mi | 7.3 |
| Stanton High School Stanton | 15.3 mi | 6.1 |
| Clarinda High School Clarinda | 14.9 mi | 6.1 |
| CLARINDA LUTHERAN SCHOOL Clarinda | 14.9 mi | 5.5 |
| South Page Elementary School College Springs | 17.5 mi | 10.0 |
| South Page Senior High School College Springs | 17.5 mi | — |
| Garfield Elementary School Clarinda | 15.9 mi | 7.5 |
| East Mills Jr/Sr High School Hastings | 19.2 mi | 8.0 |
| Sylvia Enarson Elementary School Villisca | 18.5 mi | 8.0 |
| Sidney Elementary School Sidney | 18.5 mi | 7.6 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 51638 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$61,154
Median Home Value
$115,700
Median Rent
$688/mo
Population
1,278
College Educated
16.2%
Homeownership
79.7%
Poverty Rate
9.4%
Median Age
50.5
Community Profile
The community surrounding Essex Junior-senior High School has a median household income of $61,154. It is a community where 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $115,700, with a median rent of $688/month. The local poverty rate of 9.4% is relatively low. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Whiting Senior High School Whiting, IA | 7.8 |
| HILLCREST ACADEMY Kalona, IA | 7.9 |
| Graettinger-Terril High School Graettinger, IA | 7.5 |
| Kee High School Lansing, IA | 7.4 |
| Westside Junior-Senior High School Westside, IA | 7.2 |
| WOODWARD ACADEMY Woodward, IA | 8.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Essex Junior-senior High School
What grades does Essex Junior-senior High School serve?
Essex Junior-senior High School serves students in grades 6th through 12th.
How many students attend Essex Junior-senior High School?
Essex Junior-senior High School has an enrollment of approximately 94 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Essex Junior-senior High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Essex Junior-senior High School is 10.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Essex Junior-senior High School rank in IA?
Essex Junior-senior High School is ranked #168 out of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Essex Junior-senior High School's MySchoolScout rating?
Essex Junior-senior High School has a composite rating of 7.8 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Essex Junior-senior High School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Essex Junior-senior High School has 56.9% math proficiency and 74.9% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Essex Junior-senior High School a charter school?
No, Essex Junior-senior High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Essex Junior-senior High School a Title I school?
No, Essex Junior-senior High School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Essex Junior-senior High School?
55.3% of students at Essex Junior-senior High 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 6th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 94
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 10.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 9
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 55.3%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Page County
- Phone
- (712) 379-3115
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Essex Comm School District- District Enrollment
- 215
- Schools in District
- 2
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $14,141
- District Rank
- #1 of 2
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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