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Very Good

#30 of 157 private schools in IA

Top 19% of private schools

Mater Dei School Nativity Center

Middle School

4243 NATALIA WAY, Sioux City, IA 51106

Private

Enrollment

131

Student-Teacher

10.1:1

Score

7.3

Grades

5th – 8th

Data vintage2021-22

How this school compares

Iowa private schools

#30 of 157

In Sioux City

#4 of 7

public schools

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Mater Dei School Nativity Center

7.3/10

Middle School in Sioux City · grades 5th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Nodland Elementary School

5.8/10

0.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

East High School

4.0/10

0.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Mater Dei School Nativity Center

Mater Dei School Nativity Center is a private middle school in Sioux City, IA. Mater Dei School Nativity Center serves approximately 131 students, and covers grades 5th-8th, and has a 10.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Mater Dei School Nativity Center has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10 and ranks #30 of 157 private schools in IA.

Structured state assessment records for Mater Dei School Nativity Center show 85% math proficiency (2025 ISASP) and 92% reading/ELA proficiency (2025 ISASP).

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

What Parents Should Know

At 131 students, Mater Dei School Nativity Center 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.

Mater Dei School Nativity Center is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Mater Dei School Nativity Center compares to 15 public schools serving similar grades in Sioux City, IA

Student-Teacher Ratio
10.1:1
This School
vs
14.1:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
131
This School
vs
631
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.3
This School
vs
6.5
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 87.8% vs 0%
Hispanic 6.9% vs 0%
Asian 1.5% vs 0%
Black 0.8% vs 0%
Mater Dei School Nativity Center Sioux City Public Avg

Nearby Middle Schools

School Rating
Mater Dei School Nativity Center (this school) 7.3
Morningside Elementary 6.4
East Middle School 7.2
Sunnyside Elementary School 8.0
Spalding Park Elementary 6.0
Irving Elementary School 5.2
Unity Elementary School 4.1
Liberty Elementary School 7.2
Bryant Elementary School 5.6
Hunt Elementary School 7.4
Leeds Elementary School 7.4
Loess Hills Elementary 6.3
Perry Creek Elementary School 7.0
West Middle School 6.0
North Middle School 5.8
Riverside Elementary School 7.5

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

Preliminary

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in IA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
B+ 7.0 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 10.1:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A- 7.9 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,260
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B+ 6.6 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 23%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.1 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 131
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in IA

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 85.2% (2025 ISASP)
School
State
74.0% (2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency 91.8% (2025 ISASP)
School
State
74.6% (2025 ISASP)

Based on 14 test records from IA state assessments. About our data

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 87.8%
Hispanic 6.9%
Two or More 3.1%
Asian 1.5%
Black 0.8%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

4243 NATALIA WAY, Sioux City, IA 51106

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Mater Dei School Nativity Center may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Sergeant Bluff-Luton Middle School (rated 7.5/10, 3.9 miles away, in nearby Sergeant Bluff), with a very similar rating. Another option is East Middle School (rated 7.2/10, 1.0 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, SOUTH SIOUX CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL (rated 7.0/10, 2.7 miles away, in nearby So Sioux City), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Sioux City, see our Sioux City schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.8 mi
School Distance Rating
Nodland Elementary School Sioux City 0.7 mi 5.8
East High School Sioux City 0.7 mi 4.0
Morningside Elementary Sioux City 0.9 mi 6.4
Sunnyside Elementary School Sioux City 1.0 mi 8.0
East Middle School Sioux City 1.0 mi 7.2
MATER DEI SCHOOL Sioux City 1.8 mi 6.7
Spalding Park Elementary Sioux City 2.0 mi 6.0
SIOUXLAND CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Sioux City 2.0 mi 8.6
CARDINAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL So Sioux City 2.6 mi 7.6
SOUTH SIOUX CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL So Sioux City 2.7 mi 7.0
SOUTH SIOUX HIGH SCHOOL So Sioux City 2.7 mi 4.9
HARNEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL So Sioux City 2.9 mi 7.4
Sergeant Bluff-Luton Primary School Sergeant Bluff 3.7 mi 7.4
Sergeant Bluff-Luton Elementary School Sergeant Bluff 3.8 mi 6.4
Sergeant Bluff-Luton Middle School Sergeant Bluff 3.9 mi 7.5
E N SWETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL So Sioux City 3.0 mi 3.4
Sergeant Bluff-Luton Senior High School Sergeant Bluff 4.0 mi 6.4
Unity Elementary School Sioux City 4.1 mi 4.1
COVINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL So Sioux City 3.2 mi 4.4
Irving Preschool Sioux City 3.8 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 51106 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$74,486

Median Home Value

$186,300

Median Rent

$1,080/mo

Population

28,381

College Educated

27.5%

Homeownership

71.2%

Avg Commute

16 min

Poverty Rate

13.8%

Median Age

36

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Lake Mills Middle School Lake Mills, 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 Mater Dei School Nativity Center

What grades does Mater Dei School Nativity Center serve?

Mater Dei School Nativity Center serves students in grades 5th through 8th.

How many students attend Mater Dei School Nativity Center?

Mater Dei School Nativity Center has an enrollment of approximately 131 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Mater Dei School Nativity Center?

The student-teacher ratio at Mater Dei School Nativity Center is 10.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Mater Dei School Nativity Center rank in IA?

Mater Dei School Nativity Center ranks #30 of 157 private schools in IA.

What is Mater Dei School Nativity Center's MySchoolScout rating?

Mater Dei School Nativity Center 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 Mater Dei School Nativity Center?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Mater Dei School Nativity Center has 85% math proficiency (2025 ISASP) and 92% reading/ELA proficiency (2025 ISASP).

Is Mater Dei School Nativity Center a private school?

Yes, Mater Dei School Nativity Center is a private coeducational school with a Roman Catholic affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Mater Dei School Nativity Center a religious school?

Mater Dei School Nativity Center has a Roman Catholic religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
58 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
22 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
34 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
5th – 8th
Enrollment
131
Gender Split
51% M / 49% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
13
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Roman Catholic
School Day
7 hours
Days Per Year
180 days
Setting
Small City
County
Woodbury County

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