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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

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

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress5.3Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data4
Annual Change+0.1 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendStable
Academics8.9Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency67%
Reading/ELA Proficiency87%
Math vs. State Avg-5.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+13.3 pts
Overall Proficiency77%
Expected (poverty-adj.)60%
vs. Expected+17.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile83th
College Readiness7.6Very Good30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment9.7Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,535

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%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

55.3%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 56.9%
School
State
70.4%
ELA Proficiency 74.9%
School
State
75.5%

Based on 19 test records from IA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2019
Math
64.5%
ELA
64.5%
2021*
Math
47%
ELA
82%
2022
Math
67%
ELA
87%
2025
Math
55.6%
ELA
73.4%

* 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.

Overall Score
7.8/10
87th percentile in IA
Academic
8.9/10
8.9/10
Growth
5.3/10
Above average
Environment
9.7/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
55%
Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
9 teachers

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
10 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
37 Somewhat Bikeable
County Safety
Low (145/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

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
Data Year
2023–2024

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 methodology

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