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Very Good

#432 of 1,280 schools in IA

Top 34% in state

Lake Mills Middle School

Middle School · Lake Mills Comm School District

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

Enrollment

141

Student-Teacher

28.2:1

Score

7.3

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Iowa schools

#432 of 1,280

In Lake Mills

#3 of 3

public schools

In district

#3 of 3

Lake Mills Comm School District

Equity

9.4 / 10

Excellent

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Lake Mills Middle School

7.3/10

Middle School in Lake Mills · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Lake Mills Elementary School

9.0/10

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 Middle School

Lake Mills Middle School is a public middle school in Lake Mills, IA, part of Lake Mills Comm School District. Lake Mills Middle School serves approximately 141 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 28.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Lake Mills Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10 and ranks #432 of 1,280 schools in IA.

Structured state assessment records for Lake Mills Middle School show 73% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 75% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.6 pts above IA schools
  • This school 7.3 · Very Good
  • IA avg 6.7

What Parents Should Know

At 141 students, Lake Mills Middle School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

Lake Mills Middle School runs 28.2:1 students to teachers, above the national average. That often means bigger classes. Ask how the school supports kids who need extra help, and whether there are teaching assistants or small-group time.

Lake Mills 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 Progress9.2Excellent40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change+0.12 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.2Excellent35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency81.3% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency88.8% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg+8.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+15.1 pts
Overall Proficiency85% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)75% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected+9.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile87th
Resources & Environment1.7Needs Improvement25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio28.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,708
Chronic Absenteeism18.4%

Lake Mills Middle School — Students at Lake Mills Middle School score 85% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 75%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

35.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 73.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
73.4% (2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency 74.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
76.8% (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
77%
ELA
72%
2010
Math
77%
ELA
72%
2011
Math
67%
ELA
57%
2012
Math
77%
ELA
62%
2013
Math
82%
ELA
72%
2014
Math
87%
ELA
77%
2015
Math
72%
ELA
77%
2016
Math
72%
ELA
77%
2017
Math
77%
ELA
72%
2018
Math
72%
ELA
72%
2019
Math
72%
ELA
72%
2020*
Math
57%
ELA
72%
2021*
Math
57%
ELA
72%
2022
Math
52%
ELA
77%
2025
Math
81.3%
ELA
88.8%

* 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: 9.2/10.

How Lake Mills Middle School Compares

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

Overall Score
7.3/10
66th percentile in IA
Academic
9.2/10
Excellent
Growth
9.2/10
Excellent
Environment
1.7/10
Needs Improvement
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
36%
Teaching Staff
28:1 student-teacher ratio
5 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
18.4%

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 Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Forest City Middle School (rated 8.8/10, 11.9 miles away, in nearby Forest City), which scores notably higher. Additionally, SOUTHWEST MIDDLE (rated 5.4/10, 17.2 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 Elementary School Lake Mills 0.0 mi 9.0
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
MATER DEI SCHOOL NATIVITY CENTER Sioux City, IA 7.3
Albia Middle School Albia, IA 7.2
Hinton Intermediate School Hinton, IA 7.2
MVAO Middle School Anthon, IA 7.2
Missouri Valley Middle School Missouri Valley, IA 7.2
Lynnville-Sully Middle School Sully, IA 7.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Lake Mills Middle School

What grades does Lake Mills Middle School serve?

Lake Mills Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Lake Mills Middle School?

Lake Mills Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 141 students.

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

The student-teacher ratio at Lake Mills Middle School is 28.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Lake Mills Middle School rank in IA?

Lake Mills Middle School ranks #432 of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is Lake Mills Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

Lake Mills Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 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 Middle School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Lake Mills Middle School has 73% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 75% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Lake Mills Middle School a charter school?

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

Is Lake Mills Middle School a Title I school?

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

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

35.5% of students at Lake Mills 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
49 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
48 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
141
Student-Teacher Ratio
28.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
5
Free/Reduced Lunch
35.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Winnebago County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
18.4%

District

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

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