Very Good
#469 of 1,280 schools in IA
Top 37% in state
South O'brien Secondary School
High School · South O'brien Comm School District · Paullina, IA
A South O'brien Comm School District high school where students score 7 points above what's typical for similar communities.
PO BOX 638 307 W Groesbeck, Paullina, IA 51046
- Math 84% vs IA 70% (2025)
- Reading 86% vs IA 76% (2025)
- 90%+ 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at South O'brien Secondary School score 85% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 78%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 21 points since 2020, reaching 85% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 82% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 79% (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 40 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
30.6%
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 South O'brien Secondary 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 33Car-Dependent
- Bike 44Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Average347/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$81,389
Median home value
$161,200
Median rent
$804/mo
College educated
21.3%
Homeownership
78.5%
Poverty rate
6.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 51046; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
0 from verified nearby records
No verified same-level alternatives
The available nearby set has no same-level school with a verified grade span.
South O'brien Comm School District
- Schools in district
- 2
- Rank in district
- #1 of 2
- District spending per student
- $13,648NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 11.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
South O'brien Secondary School is listed in South O'Brien Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About South O'brien Secondary School
South O'brien Secondary School is a public high school in Paullina, IA, part of South O'brien Comm School District, serving approximately 242 students in grades 7th-12th with a 11.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 out of 10 and ranks #469 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 82% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 79% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about South O'brien Secondary School
What grades does South O'brien Secondary School serve?
South O'brien Secondary School serves students in grades 7th through 12th.
How many students attend South O'brien Secondary School?
South O'brien Secondary School has an enrollment of approximately 242 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South O'brien Secondary School?
The student-teacher ratio at South O'brien Secondary School is 11.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does South O'brien Secondary School rank in IA?
South O'brien Secondary School ranks #469 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is South O'brien Secondary School's MySchoolScout rating?
South O'brien Secondary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 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 South O'brien Secondary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, South O'brien Secondary School has 82% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 79% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is South O'brien Secondary School a charter school?
No, South O'brien Secondary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is South O'brien Secondary School a Title I school?
No, South O'brien Secondary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for South O'brien Secondary School?
30.6% of students at South O'brien Secondary 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
- 7th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 242
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 21
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- O'Brien County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 17.8%
- Phone
- (712) 949-3454
- 4-Year Graduation
- 90%+
- Area population (ZIP 51046)
- 1,407
- Area median age
- 51.3
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 51046; 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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