Very Good
#442 of 1,280 schools in IA
Top 35% in state
Van Meter Middle School
Middle School · Van Meter Comm School District · Van Meter, IA
A Van Meter Comm School District middle school serving grades 6th – 8th.
PO BOX 257 520 1st Ave, Van Meter, IA 50261
- Math 92% vs IA 73% (2025)
- Reading 94% vs IA 77% (2025)
- 40.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Van Meter Middle School score 93% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 91%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
↑ ImprovingProficiency has improved 6 points since 2020, reaching 93% in 2025, across a 9-year record (2017–2025).
Show all 7 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 87% (multi-year average, 2017-2025) · reading/ELA 90% (multi-year average, 2017-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 19 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
7.1%
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 Van Meter Middle 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 22Car-Dependent
- Bike 12Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Low110/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Van Meter), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$150,341
Median home value
$318,600
Median rent
$979/mo
College educated
41.3%
Homeownership
84.5%
Poverty rate
1.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 50261; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
1 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desoto Intermediate SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.1 | 5–6 | 3.0 mi | 333 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Van Meter Comm School District
- Schools in district
- 3
- Rank in district
- #3 of 3
- District spending per student
- $9,683NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 1.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
Van Meter Middle School is listed in Van Meter Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Van Meter Middle School
Van Meter Middle School is a public middle school in Van Meter, IA, part of Van Meter Comm School District, serving approximately 241 students in grades 6th-8th with a 40.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10 and ranks #442 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 87% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2017-2025) and 90% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2017-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Van Meter Middle School
What grades does Van Meter Middle School serve?
Van Meter Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Van Meter Middle School?
Van Meter Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 241 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Van Meter Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Van Meter Middle School is 40.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Van Meter Middle School rank in IA?
Van Meter Middle School ranks #442 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Van Meter Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Van Meter Middle School 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 Van Meter Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Van Meter Middle School has 87% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2017-2025) and 90% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2017-2025).
Is Van Meter Middle School a charter school?
No, Van Meter Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Van Meter Middle School a Title I school?
No, Van Meter Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Van Meter Middle School?
7.1% of students at Van Meter Middle 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
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 241
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 40.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 6
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Dallas County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 12.9%
- Phone
- (515) 996-2221
- Area population (ZIP 50261)
- 3,105
- Area average commute
- 21.7 min
- Area median age
- 40.3
Official sources & links
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 50261; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2017-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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