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#909 of 1,280 schools in IA

West Branch High School

High School · West Branch Comm School District · West Branch, IA

A West Branch Comm School District high school where students score 11 points below what's typical for similar communities.

900 W Main, West Branch, IA 52358

  • Math 66% vs IA 67% (2025)
  • Reading 78% vs IA 74% (2025)
  • 92.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress4.7Below Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.07 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics4.7Below Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency66.2% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency78.4% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg-0.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+1.3 pts
Overall Proficiency72% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)84% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected-11.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile29th
College Readiness4.7Below Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate92%
AP Participation5.8%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment8.0Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.8:1
District spending per student$12,125
Chronic Absenteeism16.3%

Students at West Branch High School score 72% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 84%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 ISASP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.

Math Proficiency66%(2025 ISASP)
School
State
67%(2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency78%(2025 ISASP)
School
State
74%(2025 ISASP)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency is down 7 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 72% recently.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
85%
ELA
75%
2010
Math
75%
ELA
75%
2011
Math
98%
ELA
92%
2012
Math
87%
ELA
87%
2013
Math
95%
ELA
95%
2014
Math
85%
ELA
85%
2015
Math
85%
ELA
85%
2016
Math
92%
ELA
87%
2017
Math
87%
ELA
82%
2018
Math
65%
ELA
67%
2019
Math
65%
ELA
67%
2020*
Math
62%
ELA
82%
2021*
Math
62%
ELA
82%
2022
Math
72%
ELA
82%
2025
Math
66%
ELA
78%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 77% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 81% (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 35 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

20.2%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where West Branch High 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 8Car-Dependent
  • Bike 37Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: Average422/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (West Branch), 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

$81,250

Median home value

$235,900

Median rent

$1,010/mo

College educated

30.5%

Homeownership

82.8%

Poverty rate

7.9%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 52358; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs1AP course offered
5.8% participation·State avg: 1.7 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics12sports offered
6 boys'·6 girls'·22 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

1 from a 5-mile search

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Scattergood Friends SchoolPrivate · tuition7.96–122.8 mi45Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

West Branch Comm School District

Schools in district
3
Rank in district
#2 of 3
District spending per student
$12,125NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
6.8%Census SAIPE · 2024

West Branch High School is listed in West Branch Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About West Branch High School

West Branch High School is a public high school in West Branch, IA, part of West Branch Comm School District, serving approximately 257 students in grades 9th-12th with a 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 out of 10 and ranks #909 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 77% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 81% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about West Branch High School

What grades does West Branch High School serve?

West Branch High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend West Branch High School?

West Branch High School has an enrollment of approximately 257 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at West Branch High School?

The student-teacher ratio at West Branch High School is 12.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does West Branch High School rank in IA?

West Branch High School ranks #909 of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is West Branch High School's MySchoolScout rating?

West Branch High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 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 West Branch High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, West Branch High School has 77% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 81% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is West Branch High School a charter school?

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

Is West Branch High School a Title I school?

No, West Branch High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for West Branch High School?

20.2% of students at West Branch 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.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
257
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
20
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Cedar County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
16.3%
4-Year Graduation
92.0%
Area population (ZIP 52358)
3,752
Area average commute
23.6 min
Area median age
37.5
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 52358; 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

About our data · How we calculate scores

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