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Needs Improvement

#1242 of 1,280 schools in IA

Storm Lake High School

High School · Storm Lake Comm School District

621 Tornado Dr, Storm Lake, IA 50588

Enrollment

805

Student-Teacher

18.3:1

Score

2.9

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Iowa schools

#1,242 of 1,280

In Storm Lake

#6 of 6

public schools

In district

#6 of 6

Storm Lake Comm School District

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Storm Lake High School

2.9/10

High School in Storm Lake · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

St Lake/ia Cntrl/buena Vista Early College HS

3.1/10

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

East Early Childhood Ctr

5.2/10

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

About Storm Lake High School

Storm Lake High School is a public high school in Storm Lake, IA, part of Storm Lake Comm School District. Storm Lake High School serves approximately 805 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Storm Lake High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 2.9 out of 10 and ranks #1,242 of 1,280 schools in IA.

Structured state assessment records for Storm Lake High School show 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 2.9 · Needs Improvement
  • District avg 3.0
  • IA avg 6.0

What Parents Should Know

30% of students at Storm Lake High School were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress3.5Needs Improvement25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.41 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics2.1Needs Improvement25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency45.5% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency46.1% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg-21 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-31 pts
Overall Proficiency46% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)62% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected-16.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile5th
College Readiness3.0Needs Improvement30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate52%
AP Participation1%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment2.8Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio18.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,455
Chronic Absenteeism30.4%

Storm Lake High School — Students at Storm Lake High School score 46% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 62%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

59.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 59.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
67.3% (2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency 60.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
74.2% (2025 ISASP)

Based on 35 test records from IA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
67%
ELA
62%
2010
Math
57%
ELA
67%
2011
Math
67%
ELA
72%
2012
Math
62%
ELA
62%
2013
Math
72%
ELA
67%
2014
Math
77%
ELA
72%
2015
Math
77%
ELA
62%
2016
Math
77%
ELA
72%
2017
Math
67%
ELA
62%
2018
Math
62%
ELA
57%
2019
Math
62%
ELA
57%
2020*
Math
45%
ELA
61%
2021*
Math
45%
ELA
61%
2022
Math
42%
ELA
47%
2025
Math
45.5%
ELA
46.1%

* 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: 3.5/10.

How Storm Lake High School Compares

See how Storm Lake High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
2.9/10
3th percentile in IA
Academic
2.1/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
3.5/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
2.8/10
Needs Improvement
AP Courses
1
State avg: 1.7
Sports
17
9 boys' · 8 girls'
Advanced STEM
5/5
Subjects offered
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
60%
Teaching Staff
18:1 student-teacher ratio
44 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
30.4%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs1 AP course offered
1% participation·State avg: 1.7 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Athletics17sports offered
9 boys'·8 girls'·38 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses5 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22
Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

621 Tornado Dr, Storm Lake, IA 50588

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Storm Lake High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Alta-Aurelia High School (rated 6.8/10, 5.7 miles away, in nearby Alta), which scores notably higher. Another option is Sioux Central High School (rated 6.3/10, 15.8 miles away, in nearby Sioux Rapids), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Newell-Fonda High School (rated 5.7/10, 10.3 miles away, in nearby Newell), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Storm Lake, see our Storm Lake schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 18.5 mi
School Distance Rating
St Lake/IA Cntrl/Buena Vista Early College HS Storm Lake 0.0 mi 3.1
East Early Childhood Ctr Storm Lake 0.4 mi 5.2
Storm Lake Middle School Storm Lake 1.7 mi 4.7
Storm Lake Elementary Storm Lake 1.8 mi 3.4
Storm Lake Early Elementary School Storm Lake 1.9 mi 7.0
Alta Elementary School Alta 5.7 mi 8.9
Alta-Aurelia High School Alta 5.7 mi 6.8
Schaller-Crestland Elementary Schaller 11.7 mi 9.2
Schaller-Crestland Ridge View Middle School Schaller 12.9 mi 7.5
Newell-Fonda Middle Sch. Newell 10.3 mi 5.8
Newell-Fonda Elementary Newell 10.3 mi 6.2
Newell-Fonda High School Newell 10.3 mi 5.7
Sioux Central Middle School Sioux Rapids 15.8 mi 6.6
Sioux Central Elementary School Sioux Rapids 15.8 mi 7.3
Sioux Central High School Sioux Rapids 15.8 mi 6.3
Aurelia Elementary School Aurelia 12.8 mi 8.4
Alta-Aurelia Middle School Aurelia 12.8 mi 9.0
Galva-Holstein Upper Elementary Galva 14.8 mi 5.9
Albert City-Truesdale Elementary School Albert City 15.4 mi 8.4
East Sac County Elementary Sac City 18.5 mi 4.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 50588 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$65,475

Median Home Value

$178,800

Median Rent

$836/mo

Population

13,346

College Educated

23.1%

Homeownership

67%

Avg Commute

11.7 min

Poverty Rate

8.6%

Median Age

32

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Fort Dodge High School Fort Dodge, IA 2.9
Iowa Connections Academy High School Anita, IA 2.4
Burlington Community High School Burlington, IA 2.3
Clinton High School Clinton, IA 3.6
Charles City High School Charles City, IA 3.7
Fort Madison High School Fort Madison, IA 3.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Storm Lake High School

What grades does Storm Lake High School serve?

Storm Lake High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Storm Lake High School?

Storm Lake High School has an enrollment of approximately 805 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Storm Lake High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Storm Lake High School is 18.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Storm Lake High School rank in IA?

Storm Lake High School ranks #1,242 of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is Storm Lake High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Storm Lake High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 2.9 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 Storm Lake High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Storm Lake High School has 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Storm Lake High School a charter school?

No, Storm Lake High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Storm Lake High School a Title I school?

No, Storm Lake High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Storm Lake High School?

59.9% of students at Storm Lake 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
74 Very Walkable
Bike Score
64 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
805
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
44
Free/Reduced Lunch
59.9%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Town
County
Buena Vista County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
30.4%
4-Year Graduation
52.0%

How we rate schools

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