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Very Good

#340 of 1,280 schools in IA

Top 27% in state

Forest City High School

High School · Forest City Comm School District · Forest City, IA

A Forest City Comm School District high school where students score 5 points above what's typical for similar communities.

206 W School St, Forest City, IA 50436

  • Math 80% vs IA 67% (2025)
  • Reading 80% vs IA 74% (2025)
  • 92.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress6.2Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.71 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics8.0Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency80.1% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency80% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg+13.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+2.9 pts
Overall Proficiency80% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)75% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected+5.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile70th
College Readiness8.5Excellent30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate92%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment7.6Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.8:1
District spending per student$12,578
Chronic Absenteeism20.4%

Students at Forest City High School score 80% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 75%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 ISASP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.

Math Proficiency80%(2025 ISASP)
School
State
67%(2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency80%(2025 ISASP)
School
State
74%(2025 ISASP)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 10 points since 2020, reaching 80% in 2025.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
87%
ELA
77%
2010
Math
82%
ELA
72%
2011
Math
87%
ELA
82%
2012
Math
98%
ELA
87%
2013
Math
87%
ELA
77%
2014
Math
92%
ELA
82%
2015
Math
87%
ELA
77%
2016
Math
87%
ELA
87%
2017
Math
87%
ELA
87%
2018
Math
67%
ELA
67%
2019
Math
67%
ELA
67%
2020*
Math
66%
ELA
75%
2021*
Math
66%
ELA
75%
2022
Math
75%
ELA
79%
2025
Math
80%
ELA
80%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 81% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 78% (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 35 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

36.3%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Forest City High 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 43Car-Dependent
  • Bike 39Somewhat Bikeable

Powered byWalk Score

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$68,600

Median home value

$164,300

Median rent

$761/mo

College educated

25%

Homeownership

75%

Poverty rate

9.4%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 50436; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Athletics15sports offered
8 boys'·7 girls'·30 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

0 from verified nearby records

No verified same-level alternatives

The available nearby set has no same-level school with a verified grade span.

Forest City Comm School District

Schools in district
3
Rank in district
#2 of 3
District spending per student
$12,578NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
11.8%Census SAIPE · 2024

Forest City High School is listed in Forest City Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Forest City High School

Forest City High School is a public high school in Forest City, IA, part of Forest City Comm School District, serving approximately 333 students in grades 9th-12th with a 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10 and ranks #340 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 81% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 78% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Forest City High School

What grades does Forest City High School serve?

Forest City High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Forest City High School?

Forest City High School has an enrollment of approximately 333 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Forest City High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Forest City High School is 12.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Forest City High School rank in IA?

Forest City High School ranks #340 of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is Forest City High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Forest City High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 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 Forest City High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Forest City High School has 81% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 78% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Forest City High School a charter school?

No, Forest City High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Forest City High School a Title I school?

No, Forest City High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Forest City High School?

36.3% of students at Forest City 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.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
333
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
26
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Winnebago County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
20.4%
4-Year Graduation
92.0%
Area population (ZIP 50436)
5,760
Area average commute
13.8 min
Area median age
35.9
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 50436; 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

About our data · How we calculate scores

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