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
Enrollment
213
Student-Teacher
11.2:1
Score
7.6
Grades
9th – 12th
Updated
2022-23
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
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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%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
31.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)
Based on 13 test records from IA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 64.5% (2019) to 72% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 84.5% (2019) to 82% (2022).
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.
Neighborhood Context
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
- Phone
- (641) 592-0893
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Lake Mills Comm School District- District Enrollment
- 670
- Schools in District
- 3
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,708
- District Rank
- #2 of 3
Other Schools in This District
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 methodologyRelated reading
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