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Average

#49 of 157 private schools in IA

Top 31% of private schools

Gehlen Catholic School

School

709 PLYMOUTH ST NE, Le Mars, IA 51031

Private

Enrollment

488

Student-Teacher

11.6:1

Score

6.8

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Data vintage2021-22

How this school compares

Iowa private schools

#49 of 157

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Gehlen Catholic School

6.8/10

School in Le Mars · grades Pre-K – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Franklin Elementary School

7.8/10

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

Clark Elementary School

6.6/10

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

About Gehlen Catholic School

Gehlen Catholic School is a private school in Le Mars, IA. Gehlen Catholic School serves approximately 488 students, and covers grades Pre-K-12th, and has a 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio. Gehlen Catholic School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 out of 10 and ranks #49 of 157 private schools in IA.

Structured state assessment records for Gehlen Catholic School show 84% math proficiency (2025 ISASP) and 86% reading/ELA proficiency (2025 ISASP).

How it compares0.5 pts above IA schools
  • This school 6.8 · Average
  • IA avg 6.3

What Parents Should Know

Gehlen Catholic School is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Gehlen Catholic School compares to 6 public schools serving similar grades in Le Mars, IA

Student-Teacher Ratio
11.6:1
This School
vs
19.7:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
488
This School
vs
366
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
6.8
This School
vs
6.4
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 84% vs 0%
Hispanic 5.5% vs 0%
Black 2% vs 0%
Asian 0.8% vs 0%
Gehlen Catholic School Le Mars Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
Gehlen Catholic School (this school) 6.8
Franklin Elementary School 7.8
Clark Elementary School 6.6
Le Mars High School 6.6
Le Mars Middle School 7.8
Kluckhohn Elementary School 6.5
Individualized Learning Center 3.0

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

Preliminary

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in IA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
B 5.7 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 11.6:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B+ 6.9 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.9 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,242
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B+ 7.4 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 28%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.1 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 488
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in IA

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 83.7% (2025 ISASP)
School
State
69.9% (2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency 86.1% (2025 ISASP)
School
State
75.9% (2025 ISASP)

Based on 12 test records from IA state assessments. About our data

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 84.0%
Pacific Islander 5.9%
Hispanic 5.5%
Black 2.0%
Two or More 1.4%
Asian 0.8%
Native American 0.2%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

709 PLYMOUTH ST NE, Le Mars, IA 51031

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Gehlen Catholic School may also want to explore other schools in the area. Remsen-Union Elementary School (rated 9.4/10, 9.7 miles away, in nearby Remsen), which scores notably higher. Another option is MOC-Floyd Valley Elementary School (rated 9.3/10, 15.0 miles away, in nearby Orange City), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Hinton Elementary School (rated 8.9/10, 13.6 miles away, in nearby Hinton), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Le Mars, see our Le Mars schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 14.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Franklin Elementary School Le Mars 0.5 mi 7.8
Clark Elementary School Le Mars 0.7 mi 6.6
Kluckhohn Elementary School Le Mars 1.3 mi 6.5
Le Mars High School Le Mars 1.1 mi 6.6
Le Mars Middle School Le Mars 1.2 mi 7.8
Individualized Learning Center Le Mars 1.5 mi 3.0
ST MARY'S SCHOOL Remsen 9.6 mi 7.1
Remsen-Union Elementary School Remsen 9.7 mi 9.4
Remsen-Union Middle School Remsen 9.7 mi 6.9
Hinton Elementary School Hinton 13.6 mi 8.9
Hinton High School Hinton 13.6 mi 6.4
Hinton Intermediate School Hinton 13.6 mi 7.2
UNITY CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL Orange City 15.1 mi 5.2
ORANGE CITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Orange City 15.2 mi 5.5
MOC-Floyd Valley High School Orange City 15.1 mi 7.1
MOC-Floyd Valley Elementary School Orange City 15.0 mi 9.3
IRETON CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS Ireton 14.8 mi 7.1
SPALDING CATHOLIC SCHOOL Alton 15.2 mi 7.9
SPAULDING CATHOLIC SCHOOL Alton 15.2 mi 6.7
Ireton Elementary School Ireton 14.9 mi 7.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 51031 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$74,978

Median Home Value

$208,900

Median Rent

$903/mo

Population

12,785

College Educated

24.8%

Homeownership

65.8%

Avg Commute

16.2 min

Poverty Rate

8%

Median Age

39

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
BISHOP GARRIGAN CAMPUS Algona, IA 6.7
ANKENY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Ankeny, IA 6.6
HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC SCHOOLS Fort Madison, IA 6.6
ST ALBERT CATHOLIC Council Bluffs, IA 5.9
BURLINGTON NOTRE DAME Burlington, IA 5.7
NEWMAN CATHOLIC Mason City, IA 5.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Gehlen Catholic School

What grades does Gehlen Catholic School serve?

Gehlen Catholic School serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend Gehlen Catholic School?

Gehlen Catholic School has an enrollment of approximately 488 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Gehlen Catholic School?

The student-teacher ratio at Gehlen Catholic School is 11.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Gehlen Catholic School rank in IA?

Gehlen Catholic School ranks #49 of 157 private schools in IA.

What is Gehlen Catholic School's MySchoolScout rating?

Gehlen Catholic School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 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 Gehlen Catholic School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Gehlen Catholic School has 84% math proficiency (2025 ISASP) and 86% reading/ELA proficiency (2025 ISASP).

Is Gehlen Catholic School a private school?

Yes, Gehlen Catholic School is a private coeducational school with a Roman Catholic affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Gehlen Catholic School a religious school?

Gehlen Catholic School has a Roman Catholic religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
52 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
40 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
488
Gender Split
52% M / 48% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
42
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Roman Catholic
School Day
6.9 hours
Days Per Year
180 days
Setting
Distant Town
County
Plymouth County

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