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Excellent

#55 of 1,280 schools in IA

Top 4% in state

Forest City Middle School

Middle School · Forest City Comm School District

216 W School St, Forest City, IA 50436

Enrollment

319

Student-Teacher

13.3:1

Score

8.8

Grades

5th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Iowa schools

#55 of 1,280

In Forest City

#1 of 3

public schools

In district

#1 of 3

Forest City Comm School District

Academic growth

9.3 / 10

Excellent

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Forest City Middle School

8.8/10

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

Forest City High School

7.6/10

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

Forest City Elementary School

6.9/10

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

About Forest City Middle School

Forest City Middle School is a public middle school in Forest City, IA, part of Forest City Comm School District. Forest City Middle School serves approximately 319 students, and covers grades 5th-8th, and has a 13.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Forest City Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.8 out of 10 and ranks #55 of 1,280 schools in IA.

Structured state assessment records for Forest City Middle School show 79% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 81% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares2.1 pts above IA schools
  • This school 8.8 · Excellent
  • IA avg 6.7

What Parents Should Know

Forest City Middle School sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.3Excellent40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change+0.19 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics8.8Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency80.3% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency84% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg+8.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+13.3 pts
Overall Proficiency82% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)72% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected+9.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile82th
Resources & Environment8.1Excellent25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,578
Chronic Absenteeism15%

Forest City Middle School — Students at Forest City Middle School score 82% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 72%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

41.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 79.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
73.1% (2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency 81.1% (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
82%
ELA
78%
2010
Math
82%
ELA
75%
2011
Math
81%
ELA
75%
2012
Math
71%
ELA
73%
2013
Math
85%
ELA
85%
2014
Math
80%
ELA
80%
2015
Math
80%
ELA
83%
2016
Math
81%
ELA
77%
2017
Math
80%
ELA
86%
2018
Math
83%
ELA
84%
2019
Math
83%
ELA
84%
2020*
Math
69%
ELA
83%
2021*
Math
69%
ELA
83%
2022
Math
82%
ELA
78%
2025
Math
80.3%
ELA
84%

* 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: 9.3/10.

How Forest City Middle School Compares

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

Overall Score
8.8/10
96th percentile in IA
Academic
8.8/10
Excellent
Growth
9.3/10
Excellent
Environment
8.1/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
41%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
24 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
15.0%

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

216 W School St, Forest City, IA 50436

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Forest City Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. North Iowa Middle School (rated 9.0/10, 17.3 miles away, in nearby Buffalo Center), with a very similar rating. Another option is West Hancock Middle School (rated 8.6/10, 23.8 miles away, in nearby Kanawha), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Middle School (rated 8.2/10, 12.0 miles away, in nearby Garner), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Forest City, see our Forest City schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 28.3 mi
School Distance Rating
Forest City High School Forest City 0.1 mi 7.6
Forest City Elementary School Forest City 0.3 mi 6.9
Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Elementary School Garner 12.0 mi 8.2
Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Middle School Garner 12.0 mi 8.2
Garner-Hayfield-Ventura High School Garner 12.4 mi 8.1
Lake Mills Elementary School Lake Mills 11.9 mi 9.0
Lake Mills Middle School Lake Mills 11.9 mi 7.3
Lake Mills Senior High School Lake Mills 11.9 mi 7.5
SCARVILLE LUTHERAN SCHOOL Scarville 14.4 mi
West Hancock High School Britt 14.5 mi 8.9
West Hancock Elementary School Britt 14.6 mi 8.5
Clear Lake Middle School Clear Lake 16.6 mi 7.4
Clear Creek Elementary School Clear Lake 16.8 mi 7.3
Clear Lake High School Clear Lake 16.6 mi 8.8
North Iowa Elementary Buffalo Center Buffalo Center 17.3 mi 7.9
North Iowa High School Buffalo Center 17.3 mi 5.7
North Iowa Middle School Buffalo Center 17.3 mi 9.0
West Hancock Middle School Kanawha 23.8 mi 8.6
Next Step West (Alden) Alden 28.1 mi
First Step Alden Austin 28.3 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 50436 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$68,600

Median Home Value

$164,300

Median Rent

$761/mo

Population

5,760

College Educated

25%

Homeownership

75%

Avg Commute

13.8 min

Poverty Rate

9.4%

Median Age

35.9

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
MOC-Floyd Valley Middle School Alton, IA 8.8
Alta-Aurelia Middle School Aurelia, IA 9.0
Center Point-Urbana Middle School Center Point, IA 8.6
Central DeWitt Intermediate School Dewitt, IA 8.6
Decorah Middle School Decorah, IA 8.6
New Hampton Middle School New Hampton, IA 8.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Forest City Middle School

What grades does Forest City Middle School serve?

Forest City Middle School serves students in grades 5th through 8th.

How many students attend Forest City Middle School?

Forest City Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 319 students.

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

The student-teacher ratio at Forest City Middle School is 13.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Forest City Middle School rank in IA?

Forest City Middle School ranks #55 of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is Forest City Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

Forest City Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.8 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 Middle School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Forest City Middle School has 79% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 81% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Forest City Middle School a charter school?

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

Is Forest City Middle School a Title I school?

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

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

41.4% of students at Forest City 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
39 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
39 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
5th – 8th
Enrollment
319
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
24
Free/Reduced Lunch
41.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Winnebago County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
15.0%

District

Forest City Comm School District
District Enrollment
1,114
Schools in District
3
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,578
District Rank
#1 of 3

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