South Central Calhoun High School

Q: Is South Central Calhoun High School a good school?

South Central Calhoun High School ranks 127 th of 338 Iowa high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

South Central Calhoun High School is a public high school in Lake City, Iowa, serving 278 students in grades 9-12 and part of the South Central Calhoun Community School District. The school consistently outperforms the state average on ISASP tests in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science, with a higher percentage of students scoring proficient or better compared to the state. However, the school has experienced a decline in its statewide ranking in recent years, dropping from 50th out of 327 Iowa high schools in 2018-2019 to 127th out of 338 in 2023-2024, despite maintaining strong academic performance.

South Central Calhoun High School has a predominantly white student population, with 92.09% of students identifying as white in the 2022-2023 school year. The school has a relatively low percentage of minority students, with 4.32% Hispanic, 1.08% Pacific Islander, and 2.52% two or more races. The school also has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, at 44.96% in the 2022-2023 school year. Compared to nearby schools, South Central Calhoun High School has the highest percentage of white students and the lowest percentage of minority students, but its academic performance, particularly in ISASP test scores, remains strong.

One factor that may contribute to the school's academic success is its relatively low student-teacher ratio of 10.2 in the 2022-2023 school year, which is lower than the ratios at East Sac County High School (13.3) and Paton-Churdan Junior-Senior High School (33.0). This small class size may allow for more individualized attention and support for students, which could be a factor in the school's strong academic performance.

Detail:

Public 9-12

709 W Main St
Lake City, IA 51449-1500

(712) 464-7211

District: South Central Calhoun Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
127^th of 338 Iowa High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $16,981

Feeder schools for South Central Calhoun High School:

Elementary:	South Central Calhoun Elementary School
Middle:	South Central Calhoun Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 10.2

Number of students: 278

Racial breakdown:

White:

92.1%

Hispanic:

4.3%

Two or more races:

2.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 45%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details South Central Calhoun High School ranks better than 62.4% of high schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 62.91. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at South Central Calhoun High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details

Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at South Central Calhoun High School is $16,981.

Schooldigger Rankings:

South Central Calhoun High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks South Central Calhoun High School 127^th of 338 Iowa public high schools. (See South Central Calhoun High School in the ranking list.)

South Central Calhoun Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks South Central Calhoun Community School District 237^th of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for South Central Calhoun High School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	41.81	252^nd	351	28.2%
2013	61.09	152^nd	351	56.7%
2014	48.46	200^th	322	37.9%
2015	61.15	141^st	324	56.5%
2016	71.33	89^th	320	72.2%
2017	76.13	60^th	325	81.5%
2018	60.30	140^th	320	56.3%
2019	77.17	50^th	327	84.7%
2021	31.43	256^th	327	21.7%
2022	32.11	251^st	332	24.4%
2023	49.48	191^st	336	43.2%
2024	62.91	127^th	338	62.4%

See the entire list of Iowa High School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Iowa Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

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Enrollment information for South Central Calhoun High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1994	231	1	2	1	0	n/a	n/a	235
1995	255	0	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	257
1996	255	0	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	257
1997	250	0	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	254
1998	247	0	3	0	2	n/a	n/a	252
1999	222	0	4	2	1	n/a	n/a	229
2000	212	0	3	1	3	n/a	n/a	219
2001	221	1	2	1	3	n/a	n/a	228
2002	299	1	1	1	2	n/a	n/a	304
2003	299	1	1	1	2	n/a	n/a	304
2004	304	0	1	1	1	n/a	n/a	307
2005	292	0	1	0	4	n/a	n/a	297
2006	291	0	0	0	4	n/a	n/a	295
2007	278	1	4	2	3	n/a	n/a	288
2008	268	2	3	3	3	n/a	n/a	279
2009	239	2	2	3	4	n/a	n/a	250
2010	219	0	1	10	0	0	13	243
2011	207	0	0	8	0	0	11	226
2012	271	2	0	11	0	1	11	296
2013	310	1	0	12	0	0	14	337
2014	281	1	0	10	0	0	18	310
2015	272	1	1	8	0	0	15	297
2016	284	2	1	6	0	0	12	305
2017	300	2	1	7	1	0	11	322
2018	296	2	2	7	1	0	8	316
2019	292	2	1	13	1	0	13	322
2020	286	1	1	10	1	0	12	311
2021	267	2	2	8	0	1	8	288
2022	261	1	0	11	0	1	12	286
2023	256	0	0	12	0	3	7	278

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at South Central Calhoun High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1994	235	20.4	11.5	8.1
1995	257	23.0	11.2	10.9
1996	257	23.0	11.2	10.9
1997	254	21.5	11.8	11.8
1998	252	17.6	14.3	14.7
1999	229	18.7	12.2	21
2000	219	18.9	11.6	24.7
2001	228	18.3	12.5	24.6
2002	304	27.5	11.1	31.3
2003	304	27.5	11.1	31.3
2004	307	26.5	11.6	30.9
2005	297	26.1	11.4	38.7
2006	295	26.7	11.0	38
2007	288	25.6	11.3	32.6
2008	279	25.7	10.9	31.2
2009	250	25.5	9.8	30
2010	243	25.5	9.5	32.1
2011	226	23.8	9.4	31.9
2012	296	25.1	11.7	33.4
2013	337	25.8	13.0	35.6
2014	310	25.6	12.1	34.8
2015	297	27.0	11.0	34.3
2016	305	28.0	10.8	38
2017	322	27.2	11.8	32.9
2018	316	28.6	11.0	35.1
2019	322	28.5	11.2	43.2
2020	311	28.0	11.0	40.2
2021	288	25.9	11.1	41
2022	286	27.2	10.5	36.4
2023	278	27.1	10.2	45

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio South Central Calhoun High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1994	235	20.4	11.5	8.1
1995	257	23.0	11.2	10.9
1996	257	23.0	11.2	10.9
1997	254	21.5	11.8	11.8
1998	252	17.6	14.3	14.7
1999	229	18.7	12.2	21
2000	219	18.9	11.6	24.7
2001	228	18.3	12.5	24.6
2002	304	27.5	11.1	31.3
2003	304	27.5	11.1	31.3
2004	307	26.5	11.6	30.9
2005	297	26.1	11.4	38.7
2006	295	26.7	11.0	38
2007	288	25.6	11.3	32.6
2008	279	25.7	10.9	31.2
2009	250	25.5	9.8	30
2010	243	25.5	9.5	32.1
2011	226	23.8	9.4	31.9
2012	296	25.1	11.7	33.4
2013	337	25.8	13.0	35.6
2014	310	25.6	12.1	34.8
2015	297	27.0	11.0	34.3
2016	305	28.0	10.8	38
2017	322	27.2	11.8	32.9
2018	316	28.6	11.0	35.1
2019	322	28.5	11.2	43.2
2020	311	28.0	11.0	40.2
2021	288	25.9	11.1	41
2022	286	27.2	10.5	36.4
2023	278	27.1	10.2	45

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for South Central Calhoun High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$194 (1.1%)	$16,787 (98.9%)	$16,981

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on South Central Calhoun High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 50^th of 327 High schools	Ranks 191^st of 336 High schools	41.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
10th Grade English Language Arts (South Central Calhoun High School)	76.7	76.9	0.2%
10th Grade English Language Arts (South Central Calhoun Community School District)	76.7	76.9	0.2%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	74.3	72.9	1.4%
10th Grade Mathematics (South Central Calhoun High School)	71.7	73.1	1.4%
10th Grade Mathematics (South Central Calhoun Community School District)	71.7	73.1	1.4%
10th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	67.1	67	0.1%
11th Grade English Language Arts (South Central Calhoun High School)	92.5	60.6	31.9%
11th Grade English Language Arts (South Central Calhoun Community School District)	92.5	60.6	31.9%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	71.4	68.7	2.7%
11th Grade Mathematics (South Central Calhoun High School)	85.1	57.6	27.5%
11th Grade Mathematics (South Central Calhoun Community School District)	85.1	57.6	27.5%
11th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	66.9	67.3	0.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	322	278	13.7%
African American	2	0	100%
American Indian	1	0	100%
Asian	1	0	100%
Hispanic	13	12	7.7%
Pacific Islander	0	3
White	292	256	12.3%
Two or More Races	13	7	46.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	43.2%	45%	1.8%

Schools Near South Central Calhoun High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				ISASP English Language Arts (2024)						ISASP Mathematics (2024)						ISASP Science (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISASP English Language Arts 6th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 7th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 8th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 9th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 10th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 11th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 6th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 7th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 8th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 9th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 10th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 11th Grade	ISASP Science 8th Grade	ISASP Science 10th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
South Central Calhoun High School	Public	9-12	709 W Main St	Lake City	51449	Calhoun County	South Central Calhoun Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 464-7211	278	27	10.2	45.0%	256 (92.1%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.1%)	7 (2.5%)	62.9	127^th of 338 public high schools	62.4%		49.5	191^st of 336 public high schools	43.2%	64				77.8	83.7	72.9				65.1	76.7	70.8		79.1	$16,981	$194	$16,787
Carroll High School	Public	9-12	2809 N Grant Rd	Carroll	51401	Carroll County	Carroll Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 792-8010	544	36	15.0	28.7%	481 (88.4%)	10 (1.8%)	26 (4.8%)	8 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (3.5%)	60.3	145^th of 338 public high schools	57.1%		74.5	58^th of 336 public high schools	82.7%	87				74.0	81.1	86.8				65.4	70.1	89.5		54.3	$13,548	$346	$13,203
Glidden-Ralston Junior-Senior High School	Public	7-12	602 Idaho	Glidden	51443	Carroll County	Glidden-Ralston Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 659-2205	138	13	10.4	26.8%	130 (94.2%)	3 (2.2%)	5 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39.9	240^th of 338 public high schools	29.0%		17	295^th of 336 public high schools	12.2%	55		81.8	65.0	61.9	81.3	56.5		66.7	60.0	52.4	56.3	56.5	50.0	78.1	$18,790	$292	$18,499
Paton-Churdan Junior-Senior High School	Public	6-12	606 Adrian St	Churdan	50050	Greene County	Paton-Churdan Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 389-3111	99	3	33.0	35.4%	90 (90.9%)	1 (1.0%)	5 (5.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.0%)	70.6	91^st of 338 public high schools	73.1%		34.3	252^nd of 336 public high schools	25.0%	161	78.6	93.3	88.2	94.1	81.8		85.7	86.7	64.7	70.6	72.7		76.5	63.6	$11,337	$119	$11,218
East Sac County High School	Public	7-12	801 Jackson	Lake View	51450	Sac County	East Sac County Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 665-5001	394	30	13.3	45.7%	365 (92.6%)	1 (0.3%)	13 (3.3%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)	10 (2.5%)	51.9	182^nd of 338 public high schools	46.2%		33.9	253^rd of 336 public high schools	24.7%	71		86.5	80.4	66.7	80.6	64.2		74.5	69.1	58.3	77.8	66.0	72.2	74.6	$16,343	$296	$16,046

Frequently Asked Questions about South Central Calhoun High School

What schools feed into South Central Calhoun High School?

South Central Calhoun High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : South Central Calhoun Elementary School
Middle : South Central Calhoun Middle School

How many students attend South Central Calhoun High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 278 students attended South Central Calhoun High School.

What is the racial makeup of South Central Calhoun High School?

Students at South Central Calhoun High School are 92% White, 4% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 1% Pacific Islander.

What district is South Central Calhoun High School in?

South Central Calhoun Community School District

Is South Central Calhoun High School a good school?

South Central Calhoun High School ranks 127^th of 338 Iowa high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Iowa Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.