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Excellent

#51 of 1,280 schools in IA

Top 4% 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

8.4

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Lake Mills

#1 of 3

public schools

Iowa elementary schools

#44 of 662

In district

#1 of 3

Lake Mills Comm School District

Equity

9.4 / 10

Exceptional

About Lake Mills Elementary School

Lake Mills Elementary School is a public elementary school in Lake Mills, IA, part of the Lake Mills Comm School District. The school serves approximately 316 students in grades Pre-K – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 15:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.4/10, placing it in the 96.1th percentile among IA schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 83% proficiency in math, 8 points above the state average and 84% in reading/language arts, 12 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.1/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $76,522, where 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a remote rural setting.

What Parents Should Know

Located in a rural area, Lake Mills Elementary 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 · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.1Exceptional50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data4
Annual Change+2.18 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendImproving
Academics9.2Exceptional30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency77%
Reading/ELA Proficiency87%
Math vs. State Avg+0.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+17.9 pts
Overall Proficiency82%
Expected (poverty-adj.)73%
vs. Expected+9.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile87th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment5.3Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,137

Lake Mills Elementary School — Students at Lake Mills Elementary School score 82% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 73%).

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 82.8%
School
State
74.6%
ELA Proficiency 84.3%
School
State
72.3%

Based on 13 test records from IA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

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

2019
Math
77%
ELA
77%
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: 9.1/10.

How Lake Mills Elementary School Compares

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

Overall Score
8.4/10
96th percentile in IA
Academic
9.2/10
9.2/10
Growth
9.1/10
Above average
Environment
5.3/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
32%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
21 teachers

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. HALVERSON ELEMENTARY (rated 8.8/10, 17.3 miles away, in nearby Albert Lea), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Forest City Elementary School (rated 8.3/10, 12.1 miles away, in nearby Forest City), with a very similar rating. Additionally, ST THEODORE'S EL (rated 7.9/10, 18.3 miles away, in nearby Albert Lea), with a comparable rating. 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 5.8
Lake Mills Senior High School Lake Mills 0.0 mi 7.6
SCARVILLE LUTHERAN SCHOOL Scarville 5.9 mi
Forest City Middle School Forest City 11.9 mi 7.0
Forest City High School Forest City 11.9 mi 8.2
Forest City Elementary School Forest City 12.1 mi 8.3
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 5.9
ALDEN-CONGER SECONDARY Alden 17.9 mi 5.6
SOUTHWEST MIDDLE Albert Lea 17.2 mi 5.8
SIBLEY ELEMENTARY Albert Lea 17.2 mi 6.7
HALVERSON ELEMENTARY Albert Lea 17.3 mi 8.8
LAKEVIEW ELEMENTARY Albert Lea 18.2 mi 6.8
ST THEODORE'S EL Albert Lea 18.3 mi 7.9
GLENVILLE EMMONS ELEMENTARY Glenville 16.5 mi 5.7
Success East Austin 16.5 mi
Brookside Early Childhood Sp Ed Albert Lea 18.9 mi 7.2
GLENVILLE-EMMONS SECONDARY Glenville 16.6 mi 6.0

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

Community Profile

The community surrounding Lake Mills Elementary School has a median household income of $76,522. It is a community where 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $157,500, with a median rent of $640/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.8%. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Dunkerton Elementary Dunkerton, IA 8.4
Durant Elementary School Sumner, IA 8.4
East Campus Elementary School Waukon, IA 8.4
HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL Des Moines, IA 8.4
Roosevelt Elementary School Mason City, IA 8.4
West Union Elementary School West Union, IA 8.4

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 is ranked #51 out of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is Lake Mills Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Lake Mills Elementary School has a composite rating of 8.4 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 Lake Mills Elementary School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Lake Mills Elementary School has 82.8% math proficiency and 84.3% reading/ELA proficiency.

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

FBI UCR. County-level only.

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
Data Year
2023–2024

District

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

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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