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Excellent

#39 of 1,280 schools in IA

Top 3% in state

Lake Mills Elementary School

Elementary School · Lake Mills Comm School District

102 S 4th Ave E, Lake Mills, IA 50450

Enrollment

316

Student-Teacher

15:1

Score

9.0

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Iowa schools

#39 of 1,280

In Lake Mills

#1 of 3

public schools

In district

#1 of 3

Lake Mills Comm School District

Equity

9.8 / 10

Excellent

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Lake Mills Elementary School

9.0/10

Elementary School in Lake Mills · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Lake Mills Middle School

7.3/10

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

Lake Mills Senior High School

7.5/10

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

About Lake Mills Elementary School

Lake Mills Elementary School is a public elementary school in Lake Mills, IA, part of Lake Mills Comm School District. Lake Mills Elementary School serves approximately 316 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 15:1 student-teacher ratio. Lake Mills Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.0 out of 10 and ranks #39 of 1,280 schools in IA.

Structured state assessment records for Lake Mills Elementary School show 81% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 81% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares2.5 pts above IA schools
  • This school 9.0 · Excellent
  • IA avg 6.5

What Parents Should Know

Lake Mills Elementary 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 Progress9.4Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change+0.22 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.6Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency88.5% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency89.9% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg+11.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+20.8 pts
Overall Proficiency89% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)77% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected+12.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile94th
Resources & Environment7.0Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,708
Chronic Absenteeism11.1%

Lake Mills Elementary School — Students at Lake Mills Elementary School score 89% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 77%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

32.3%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 81.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
74.6% (2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency 81.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
72.3% (2025 ISASP)

Based on 35 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
72%
2010
Math
82%
ELA
82%
2011
Math
77%
ELA
77%
2012
Math
82%
ELA
77%
2013
Math
82%
ELA
82%
2014
Math
82%
ELA
82%
2015
Math
87%
ELA
87%
2016
Math
82%
ELA
82%
2017
Math
77%
ELA
82%
2018
Math
77%
ELA
77%
2019
Math
77%
ELA
77%
2020*
Math
77%
ELA
72%
2021*
Math
77%
ELA
72%
2022
Math
77%
ELA
87%
2025
Math
88.5%
ELA
89.9%

* 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: 9.4/10.

How Lake Mills Elementary School Compares

See how Lake Mills Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
9.0/10
97th percentile in IA
Academic
9.6/10
Excellent
Growth
9.4/10
Excellent
Environment
7.0/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
32%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
21 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
11.1%

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

102 S 4th Ave E, Lake Mills, IA 50450

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Lake Mills Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. ST THEODORE'S EL (rated 7.9/10, 18.3 miles away, in nearby Albert Lea), a more accessible option. Another option is HALVERSON ELEMENTARY (rated 7.4/10, 17.3 miles away, in nearby Albert Lea), a more accessible option. Additionally, LAKEVIEW ELEMENTARY (rated 7.4/10, 18.2 miles away, in nearby Albert Lea), a more accessible option. For more schools in Lake Mills, see our Lake Mills schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 16.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Lake Mills Middle School Lake Mills 0.0 mi 7.3
Lake Mills Senior High School Lake Mills 0.0 mi 7.5
SCARVILLE LUTHERAN SCHOOL Scarville 5.9 mi
Forest City Middle School Forest City 11.9 mi 8.8
Forest City High School Forest City 11.9 mi 7.6
Forest City Elementary School Forest City 12.1 mi 6.9
Next Step West (Alden) Alden 17.7 mi
First Step Alden Austin 17.9 mi
Enrich Alden Austin 17.9 mi
ALDEN-CONGER ELEMENTARY Alden 17.9 mi 6.9
ALDEN-CONGER SECONDARY Alden 17.9 mi 7.1
SOUTHWEST MIDDLE Albert Lea 17.2 mi 5.4
SIBLEY ELEMENTARY Albert Lea 17.2 mi 5.4
HALVERSON ELEMENTARY Albert Lea 17.3 mi 7.4
LAKEVIEW ELEMENTARY Albert Lea 18.2 mi 7.4
ST THEODORE'S EL Albert Lea 18.3 mi 7.9
GLENVILLE EMMONS ELEMENTARY Glenville 16.5 mi 4.8
Success East Austin 16.5 mi
Brookside Early Childhood Sp Ed Albert Lea 18.9 mi 5.9
GLENVILLE-EMMONS SECONDARY Glenville 16.6 mi 6.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 50450 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$76,522

Median Home Value

$157,500

Median Rent

$640/mo

Population

3,001

College Educated

18.5%

Homeownership

74.1%

Poverty Rate

10.8%

Median Age

45.5

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Danville Elementary School Danville, IA 9.0
Ogden Elementary School Ogden, IA 9.0
SACRED HEART SCHOOL Sioux City, IA 9.0
Taft Elementary School Humboldt, IA 9.0
Alta Elementary School Alta, IA 8.9
Bridgeview Elementary School Leclaire, IA 8.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Lake Mills Elementary School

What grades does Lake Mills Elementary School serve?

Lake Mills Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Lake Mills Elementary School?

Lake Mills Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 316 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Lake Mills Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Lake Mills Elementary School is 15:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Lake Mills Elementary School rank in IA?

Lake Mills Elementary School ranks #39 of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is Lake Mills Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Lake Mills Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.0 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 Lake Mills Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Lake Mills Elementary School has 81% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 81% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Lake Mills Elementary School a charter school?

No, Lake Mills Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Lake Mills Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Lake Mills Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Lake Mills Elementary School?

32.3% of students at Lake Mills Elementary 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
49 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
48 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
316
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
Teachers (FTE)
21
Free/Reduced Lunch
32.3%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Winnebago County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
11.1%

District

Lake Mills Comm School District
District Enrollment
670
Schools in District
3
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,708
District Rank
#1 of 3

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