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Very Good

#231 of 1,280 schools in IA

Top 18% in state

Lake Mills Senior High School

High School · Lake Mills Comm School District

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

Enrollment

213

Student-Teacher

11.2:1

Score

7.6

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Lake Mills

#2 of 3

public schools

Iowa high schools

#32 of 334

In district

#2 of 3

Lake Mills Comm School District

School environment

8.3 / 10

Very strong

About Lake Mills Senior High School

Lake Mills Senior High School serves 213 students in grades 9-12 in the rural community of Lake Mills, Iowa. This small high school maintains an intimate learning environment with a student-teacher ratio of 11.2:1 and 19 full-time equivalent teachers, allowing for personalized attention and strong student-teacher relationships. Academically, the school performs well above average, earning a 7.6 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking #135 out of 1,288 Iowa high schools, placing it in the 90th percentile statewide.

Students demonstrate strong literacy skills with 82% achieving proficiency or above in ELA/Reading, while 72% reach proficiency in mathematics. These results reflect the school's commitment to academic excellence despite its rural setting. The school draws from a stable community where the median household income is $73,142 and the poverty rate is relatively low at 8.8%.

While only 18% of local residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, the community's median home value of $139,800 suggests a solid economic foundation. Lake Mills Senior High School is situated in Winnebago County's remote rural landscape, providing students with a close-knit educational experience where everyone knows each other and teachers can focus on individual student growth and development.

What Parents Should Know

Located in a rural area, Lake Mills Senior High 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 · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress6.7Above Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data4
Annual Change+0.7 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendStable
Academics8.1Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency72%
Reading/ELA Proficiency82%
Math vs. State Avg+5.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+4.9 pts
Overall Proficiency77%
Expected (poverty-adj.)73%
vs. Expected+4.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile71th
College Readiness7.6Very Good30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment8.3Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,137

Lake Mills Senior High School — Students at Lake Mills Senior High School score 77% 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

31.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 71.8%
School
State
67.3%
ELA Proficiency 82.1%
School
State
74.2%

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

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2019
Math
64.5%
ELA
84.5%
2021*
Math
72%
ELA
77%
2022
Math
72%
ELA
82%
2025
Math
74%
ELA
83%

* 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: 6.7/10.

How Lake Mills Senior High School Compares

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

Overall Score
7.6/10
82th percentile in IA
Academic
8.1/10
8.1/10
Growth
6.7/10
Above average
Environment
8.3/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
32%
Teaching Staff
11:1 student-teacher ratio
19 teachers

Location

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

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Lake Mills Senior High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Forest City High School (rated 8.2/10, 11.9 miles away, in nearby Forest City), which scores slightly higher. Another option is GLENVILLE-EMMONS SECONDARY (rated 6.0/10, 16.6 miles away, in nearby Glenville), a more accessible option. Additionally, ALDEN-CONGER SECONDARY (rated 5.6/10, 17.9 miles away, in nearby Alden), 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 8.4
Lake Mills Middle School Lake Mills 0.0 mi 5.8
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 Senior High 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
Lenox High School Lenox, IA 7.6
Sigourney Jr-Sr High Sch Sigourney, IA 7.6
Alta-Aurelia High School Alta, IA 7.5
Sidney High School Sidney, IA 7.5
BCLUW High School Conrad, IA 7.7
Collins-Maxwell Middle/High School Maxwell, IA 7.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Lake Mills Senior High School

What grades does Lake Mills Senior High School serve?

Lake Mills Senior High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Lake Mills Senior High School?

Lake Mills Senior High School has an enrollment of approximately 213 students.

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

The student-teacher ratio at Lake Mills Senior High School is 11.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Lake Mills Senior High School rank in IA?

Lake Mills Senior High School is ranked #231 out of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is Lake Mills Senior High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Lake Mills Senior High School has a composite rating of 7.6 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 Senior High School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Lake Mills Senior High School has 71.8% math proficiency and 82.1% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Lake Mills Senior High School a charter school?

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

Is Lake Mills Senior High School a Title I school?

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

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

31.9% of students at Lake Mills Senior High 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
9th – 12th
Enrollment
213
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
19
Free/Reduced Lunch
31.9%
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
#2 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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