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Very Good

#36 of 157 private schools in IA

Top 22% of private schools

St Mary's School

School

523 MADISON, Remsen, IA 51050

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on IA statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

187

Student-Teacher

7.2:1

Score

7.1

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

Iowa schools

#7 of 35

About St Mary's School

ST MARY'S SCHOOL serves 187 students in grades PK through 12 in the small rural community of Remsen, Iowa. This regular public school stands out with an impressive 7.2:1 student-teacher ratio, well below typical averages, thanks to its dedicated team of 26 full-time equivalent teachers. The intimate class sizes allow for personalized attention and strong teacher-student relationships throughout the K-12 experience.

The school has earned recognition for its academic quality, receiving a 7.8 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking #33 out of 157 schools statewide, placing it in the 80th percentile among Iowa schools. This strong performance reflects the school's commitment to educational excellence in a close-knit environment where students can thrive academically and personally. ST MARY'S SCHOOL is nestled in Plymouth County's ZIP code 51050, where families enjoy a median household income of $94,605 and median home values of $205,100.

The community maintains a low poverty rate of just 4.6% among its 3,043 residents. While 17% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, the area values education and community involvement. The school operates in Remsen's peaceful rural setting, providing students with a supportive small-town atmosphere where everyone knows each other and educational achievement is celebrated.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 187 students, St Mary's School 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.

With a student-teacher ratio of 7.2:1, St Mary's School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, St Mary's School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How St Mary's School compares to the 2 public schools in Remsen, IA

Student-Teacher Ratio
7.2:1
This School
vs
18:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
187
This School
vs
154
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.1
This School
vs
7.7
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 99.5% vs 0%
Black 0.5% vs 0%
St Mary's School Remsen Public Avg

All Schools in Remsen

School Rating
St Mary's School (this school) 7.1
Remsen-Union Elementary School 8.1
Remsen-Union Middle School 7.2

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

Score Breakdown

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)
A 9.1 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 7.2:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A 9.0 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7.2 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,296
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
C- 2.1 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 1%
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 187
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 74.8%
School
State
71.8%
ELA Proficiency 84.5%
School
State
74.4%

Based on 21 test records from IA state assessments. About our data

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 99.5%
Black 0.5%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

523 MADISON, Remsen, IA 51050

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering St Mary's School may also want to explore other schools in the area. MMCRU Marcus Elementary (rated 8.5/10, 8.4 miles away, in nearby Marcus), which scores notably higher. Another option is Remsen-Union Elementary School (rated 8.1/10, 0.2 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, SPALDING CATHOLIC SCHOOL (rated 7.9/10, 12.5 miles away, in nearby Alton), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Remsen, see our Remsen schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 15.5 mi
School Distance Rating
Remsen-Union Elementary School Remsen 0.2 mi 8.1
Remsen-Union Middle School Remsen 0.2 mi 7.2
MMCRU High School Marcus 8.4 mi 6.1
MMCRU Marcus Elementary Marcus 8.4 mi 8.5
SPALDING CATHOLIC SCHOOL Alton 12.5 mi 7.9
SPAULDING CATHOLIC SCHOOL Alton 12.5 mi 6.7
MOC-Floyd Valley Middle School Alton 12.6 mi 7.8
GEHLEN CATHOLIC SCHOOL Le Mars 9.6 mi 6.8
MOC-Floyd Valley Elementary School Orange City 13.0 mi 6.1
Franklin Elementary School Le Mars 9.9 mi 7.2
Kluckhohn Elementary School Le Mars 10.3 mi 6.0
Clark Elementary School Le Mars 10.3 mi 7.8
MOC-Floyd Valley High School Orange City 13.6 mi 7.1
Le Mars High School Le Mars 10.5 mi 4.5
Le Mars Middle School Le Mars 10.5 mi 7.4
Individualized Learning Center Le Mars 10.9 mi 5.1
ORANGE CITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Orange City 14.2 mi 5.5
UNITY CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL Orange City 14.4 mi 5.2
Kingsley Elementary School Kingsley 15.5 mi 7.6
Kingsley-Pierson High School Kingsley 15.5 mi 5.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 51050 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$101,691

Median Home Value

$219,100

Median Rent

$1,014/mo

Population

2,909

College Educated

16.4%

Homeownership

82.9%

Avg Commute

19.9 min

Poverty Rate

3.9%

Median Age

40.9

Community Profile

The community surrounding St Mary's School has a median household income of $101,691. It is a community where 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $219,100, with a median rent of $1,014/month. The local poverty rate of 3.9% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 20 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
PRINCE OF PEACE CATHOLIC SCHOOL Clinton, IA 7.1
MARQUETTE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS PK-12 Bellevue, IA 6.9
CEDAR VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Cedar Rapids, IA 7.3
TRI-STATE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Asbury, IA 6.7
RIVERMONT COLLEGIATE Bettendorf, IA 8.0
JOSHUA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Des Moines, IA 8.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about St Mary's School

What grades does St Mary's School serve?

St Mary's School serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend St Mary's School?

St Mary's School has an enrollment of approximately 187 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at St Mary's School?

The student-teacher ratio at St Mary's School is 7.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does St Mary's School rank in IA?

St Mary's School is ranked #36 out of 157 private schools in IA.

What is St Mary's School's MySchoolScout rating?

St Mary's School has a composite rating of 7.1 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 St Mary's School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, St Mary's School has 74.8% math proficiency and 84.5% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is St Mary's School a private school?

Yes, St Mary's School 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 St Mary's School a religious school?

St Mary's School has a Roman Catholic religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
38 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
33 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR. County-level only.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
187
Gender Split
52% M / 48% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
7.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
26
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Roman Catholic
School Day
7.2 hours
Days Per Year
180 days
Setting
Distant Rural
County
PLYMOUTH
Data Year
2022–2023

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 methodology

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