Below Average
#1195 of 1,280 schools in IA
Newell-fonda Middle Sch.
Middle School · Newell-Fonda Comm School District
PO BOX 297 205 Clark St, Newell, IA 50568
Enrollment
130
Student-Teacher
21.7:1
Score
4.2
Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
130
Student-Teacher
21.7:1
Score
4.2
Grades
6th – 8th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Newell
#3 of 3
public schools
Iowa middle schools
#238 of 248
In district
#3 of 3
Newell-Fonda Comm School District
About Newell-fonda Middle Sch.
Newell-Fonda Middle School is a regular public middle school located in the rural setting of Newell, Iowa. The school serves students from sixth to eighth grade and has an enrollment of 130 students. With a student-teacher ratio of 21.7:1, it offers personalized attention within its small community atmosphere.
Newell-Fonda Middle School’s academic performance shows that 70% of students are proficient or above in ELA/Reading, while 59% are proficient or above in Math. The school ranks at the 4th percentile among Iowa's schools with a MySchoolScout rating of 2.6 out of 10 and an Academic Score of 3.2 out of 10, indicating areas for improvement but also opportunities for growth. Newell-Fonda Middle School is situated in a rural area where students benefit from close-knit community ties and supportive educational settings.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 130 students, Newell-fonda Middle Sch. is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
The student-teacher ratio at Newell-fonda Middle Sch. is 21.7:1, which is higher than the national average. This may mean larger class sizes, so parents should ask about classroom support, teaching assistants, and how the school differentiates instruction for students who need extra help.
Located in a rural area, Newell-fonda Middle Sch. 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 · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Newell-fonda Middle Sch. — Students at Newell-fonda Middle Sch. score 60% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 65%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
46.9%
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: 5.3/10.
How Newell-fonda Middle Sch. Compares
See how Newell-fonda Middle Sch. performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 72% (2019) to 47% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 72% (2019) to 72% (2022).
Location
PO BOX 297 205 Clark St, Newell, IA 50568
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Newell-fonda Middle Sch. may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Schaller-Crestland Ridge View Middle School (rated 7.0/10, 12.7 miles away, in nearby Schaller), which scores notably higher. Another option is Sioux Central Middle School (rated 5.9/10, 20.1 miles away, in nearby Sioux Rapids), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Storm Lake Middle School (rated 3.8/10, 12.0 miles away, in nearby Storm Lake), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Newell, see our Newell schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 18.7 miNeighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 50568 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$74,946
Median Home Value
$124,300
Median Rent
$717/mo
Population
1,364
College Educated
15.6%
Homeownership
79.9%
Avg Commute
21 min
Poverty Rate
4.8%
Median Age
40.9
Community Profile
The community surrounding Newell-fonda Middle Sch. has a median household income of $74,946. It is a community where 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $124,300, with a median rent of $717/month. The local poverty rate of 4.8% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 21 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Ogden Middle School Ogden, IA | 4.1 |
| Earlham Middle School Earlham, IA | 4.6 |
| Albia Middle School Albia, IA | 4.7 |
| East Marshall Middle School Gilman, IA | 4.7 |
| Panorama Middle School Panora, IA | 4.8 |
| West Bend-Mallard Middle School West Bend, IA | 5.6 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Newell-fonda Middle Sch.
What grades does Newell-fonda Middle Sch. serve?
Newell-fonda Middle Sch. serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Newell-fonda Middle Sch.?
Newell-fonda Middle Sch. has an enrollment of approximately 130 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Newell-fonda Middle Sch.?
The student-teacher ratio at Newell-fonda Middle Sch. is 21.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Newell-fonda Middle Sch. rank in IA?
Newell-fonda Middle Sch. is ranked #1195 out of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Newell-fonda Middle Sch.'s MySchoolScout rating?
Newell-fonda Middle Sch. has a composite rating of 4.2 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 Newell-fonda Middle Sch.?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Newell-fonda Middle Sch. has 62.3% math proficiency and 74.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Newell-fonda Middle Sch. a charter school?
No, Newell-fonda Middle Sch. is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Newell-fonda Middle Sch. a Title I school?
No, Newell-fonda Middle Sch. is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Newell-fonda Middle Sch.?
46.9% of students at Newell-fonda Middle Sch. 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
- County Safety
- Low (169/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 130
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 21.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 6
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 46.9%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Buena Vista County
- Phone
- (712) 272-3324
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Newell-Fonda Comm School District- District Enrollment
- 556
- Schools in District
- 3
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $13,061
- District Rank
- #3 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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