Summary:
The city of Baxter, Iowa is home to two schools - Baxter High School and Baxter Elementary School, both part of the Baxter Community School District. While Baxter High School is a standout performer, ranking in the top 40% of Iowa high schools, Baxter Elementary has more mixed academic results.
Baxter High School consistently outperforms the state average on key test score metrics, with 80.6% of 10th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts compared to 73.8% statewide, and 66.7% proficient or better in math versus 66% across Iowa. The school also has a relatively low free/reduced lunch rate of 30.08%, suggesting a more affluent student population. In contrast, Baxter Elementary's test scores are more varied, with some grades exceeding state averages while others fall behind.
Despite the differences in academic performance, both schools have a predominantly white student population, with Baxter High at 93.75% and Baxter Elementary at 95.22%. There is also a significant gap in per-student spending, with Baxter High spending $19,126 compared to $16,144 at the elementary school. The student-teacher ratio is also much lower at the elementary level, which may contribute to the more mixed results seen there.
Thank you for your feedback!