Needs Improvement
#1167 of 1,280 schools in IA
Mason City High School
High School · Mason City Comm School District · Mason City, IA
A Mason City Comm School District high school where students score 5 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1700 4th St. SE, Mason City, IA 50401
- Math 59% vs IA 67% (2025)
- Reading 71% vs IA 74% (2025)
- 92.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Mason City High School score 65% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 70%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 8 points since 2020, reaching 65% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 68% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 72% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 35 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
45.1%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Mason City High School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 56Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 18Minimal Transit
- Bike 51Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,561/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Mason City), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$63,807
Median home value
$134,100
Median rent
$868/mo
College educated
21.9%
Homeownership
68.2%
Poverty rate
10%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 50401; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alternative SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 2.2 | 9–12 | 0.1 mi | 92 | Compare → |
| North Iowa Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.6private | PK–12 | 1.0 mi | 71 | Compare → |
| Mason City Virtual AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 2.4 | 7–12 | 1.8 mi | 82 | Compare → |
| Newman CatholicPrivate · tuition | 5.4private | PK–12 | 3.7 mi | 554 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Mason City Comm School District
- Schools in district
- 9
- Rank in district
- #7 of 9
- District spending per student
- $15,155NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 14.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Mason City High School is listed in Mason City Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Mason City High School
Mason City High School is a public high school in Mason City, IA, part of Mason City Comm School District, serving approximately 967 students in grades 9th-12th with a 18.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.7 out of 10 and ranks #1,167 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Mason City High School
What grades does Mason City High School serve?
Mason City High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Mason City High School?
Mason City High School has an enrollment of approximately 967 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mason City High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Mason City High School is 18.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Mason City High School rank in IA?
Mason City High School ranks #1,167 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Mason City High School's MySchoolScout rating?
Mason City High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.7 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 Mason City High School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Mason City High School has 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Mason City High School a charter school?
No, Mason City High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Mason City High School a Title I school?
No, Mason City High School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Mason City High School?
45.1% of students at Mason City 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 967
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 18.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 53
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Town
- County
- Cerro Gordo County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 46.9%
- Phone
- (641) 421-4431
- 4-Year Graduation
- 92.0%
- Area population (ZIP 50401)
- 28,818
- Area average commute
- 13.9 min
- Area median age
- 42.5
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 50401; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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