McCombs Middle School

Summary:

McCombs Middle School is a public middle school in Des Moines, Iowa, serving 654 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Des Moines Independent Community School District, which is ranked 301 out of 309 districts in the state and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Academically, McCombs Middle School is underperforming compared to state and district averages. In the 2023-2024 school year, the percentage of students proficient or better in English Language Arts ranged from 53.2% to 62.6%, compared to the state average of 74.5% to 77.5%. Similarly, in Mathematics, the proficiency rates ranged from 50.2% to 56.4%, compared to the state average of 69.9% to 73.2%. The school has consistently ranked in the bottom 10% of Iowa middle schools, with a ranking between 309 and 334 out of 337 schools over the past 10 years.

McCombs Middle School serves a predominantly low-income population, with 83.64% to 84.74% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch over the past three years. This is significantly higher than nearby schools like Stilwell Junior High (36.11%) and Carlisle Middle School (30.57%). The school's racial diversity, with 32.57% White, 18.65% African American, 34.1% Hispanic, and 8.87% Asian students, is higher than some nearby schools, but the academic performance remains a concern.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 201 SW County Line Rd
       Des Moines, IA  50320


(515) 242-8447

District: Des Moines Independent Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
318th of 337 Iowa Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $14,664 Help


Students who attend McCombs Middle School usually attend:

High:    Lincoln High School

Feeder schools for McCombs Middle School:

Elementary:    Lovejoy Elementary School
    Studebaker Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio:  15.2 Help
Number of students:  654

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
34.1%
White:
32.6%
African American:
18.7%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  83.6% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details McCombs Middle School ranks worse than 94.4% of middle schools in Iowa. It also ranks 2nd among 10 ranked middle schools in the Des Moines Independent Community School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 7.69. (See more...)
Help
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
Help
Compare Details McCombs Middle School has the largest middle school student body size in the Des Moines Independent Community School District.  (See more...)
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at McCombs Middle School is $14,664. 5 middle schools in the Des Moines Independent Community School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger Rankings:

McCombs Middle School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks McCombs Middle School 318th of 337 Iowa public middle schools. (See McCombs Middle School in the ranking list.)

Des Moines Independent Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Des Moines Independent Community School District 301st of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for McCombs Middle School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools IA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2012 14.46 333rd 349 4.6%
2013 12.17 333rd 350 4.9%
2014 9.84 321st 337 4.7%
2015 8.02 330th 349 5.4%
2016 5.06 334th 343 2.6%
2017 7.34 312th 327 4.6%
2018 4.70 309th 318 2.8%
2019 8.91 322nd 342 5.8%
2021 2.18 319th 324 1.5%
2022 4.16 329th 337 2.4%
2023 3.13 323rd 334 3.3%
2024 7.69 318th 337 5.6%
See the entire list of Iowa Middle School Rankings!

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

McCombs Middle School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    





Data source: Iowa Department of Education

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Enrollment information for McCombs Middle School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 555 6 10 5 3 n/a n/a 0 579
1989 560 11 10 8 1 n/a n/a 0 590
1990 578 14 8 10 1 n/a n/a 0 611
1991 571 11 8 14 2 n/a n/a 0 606
1992 602 15 11 14 3 n/a n/a 0 645
1993 570 11 16 15 0 n/a n/a 0 612
1994 568 13 14 17 2 n/a n/a 0 614
1995 541 16 14 19 5 n/a n/a 0 595
1996 541 16 14 19 5 n/a n/a 0 595
1997 505 19 15 19 7 n/a n/a 0 565
1998 537 20 11 27 3 n/a n/a 0 598
1999 508 24 13 21 1 n/a n/a 0 567
2000 541 18 10 18 3 n/a n/a 0 590
2001 538 19 8 20 5 n/a n/a 0 590
2002 521 30 16 41 8 n/a n/a 0 616
2003 521 30 16 41 8 n/a n/a 0 616
2004 551 51 19 43 9 n/a n/a 0 673
2005 525 56 20 62 4 n/a n/a 0 667
2006 498 43 17 67 2 n/a n/a 0 627
2007 452 48 21 85 2 n/a n/a 0 608
2008 415 59 25 85 8 n/a n/a 0 592
2009 391 71 27 84 9 n/a n/a 0 582
2010 368 58 17 105 7 0 39 0 594
2011 358 60 17 137 8 0 46 0 626
2012 321 59 22 145 7 0 37 0 591
2013 328 81 26 177 7 1 44 0 664
2014 329 87 36 166 4 1 34 0 657
2015 325 88 39 164 4 1 41 0 662
2016 321 91 50 182 4 0 43 0 691
2017 298 119 58 210 2 0 35 0 722
2018 311 113 57 223 2 1 26 0 733
2019 285 127 59 233 2 0 27 0 733
2020 271 125 59 255 4 0 30 0 744
2021 260 135 54 267 4 1 26 0 747
2022 224 135 58 230 4 0 33 0 684
2023 213 122 58 223 0 0 38 0 654

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 McCombs Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 579 32.6 17.7 14.7
1989 590 36.4 16.2 13.7
1990 611 32.5 18.8 14.7
1991 606 35.5 17.0 15.7
1992 645 38.0 16.9 18.8
1993 612 38.1 16.1 18.6
1994 614 45.0 13.6 22.5
1995 595 39.0 15.3 27.9
1996 595 39.0 15.3 27.9
1997 565 39.0 14.5 24.2
1998 598 39.0 15.3 24.7
1999 567 34.2 16.6 37
2000 590 41.5 14.2 34.4
2001 590 40.1 14.7 41
2002 616 39.0 15.8 44.2
2003 616 39.0 15.8 44.2
2004 673 42.3 15.9 48.6
2005 667 37.9 17.6 55.2
2006 627 41.8 15.0 59.2
2007 608 41.9 14.5 59
2008 592 41.6 14.2 62.8
2009 582 39.8 14.6 60.1
2010 594 38.7 15.3 68.2
2011 626 33.0 18.9 69.5
2012 591 35.0 16.8 72.3
2013 664 36.0 18.4 76.2
2014 657 43.0 15.2 73.7
2015 662 44.0 15.0 79.8
2016 691 46.0 15.0 81.5
2017 722 48.5 14.8 80.2
2018 733 47.3 15.4 80.9
2019 733 44.9 16.3 83.5
2020 744 43.5 17.1 83.6
2021 747 47.0 15.8 84.7
2022 684 44.1 15.5 84.4
2023 654 43.0 15.2 83.6

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 McCombs Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 579 32.6 17.7 14.7
1989 590 36.4 16.2 13.7
1990 611 32.5 18.8 14.7
1991 606 35.5 17.0 15.7
1992 645 38.0 16.9 18.8
1993 612 38.1 16.1 18.6
1994 614 45.0 13.6 22.5
1995 595 39.0 15.3 27.9
1996 595 39.0 15.3 27.9
1997 565 39.0 14.5 24.2
1998 598 39.0 15.3 24.7
1999 567 34.2 16.6 37
2000 590 41.5 14.2 34.4
2001 590 40.1 14.7 41
2002 616 39.0 15.8 44.2
2003 616 39.0 15.8 44.2
2004 673 42.3 15.9 48.6
2005 667 37.9 17.6 55.2
2006 627 41.8 15.0 59.2
2007 608 41.9 14.5 59
2008 592 41.6 14.2 62.8
2009 582 39.8 14.6 60.1
2010 594 38.7 15.3 68.2
2011 626 33.0 18.9 69.5
2012 591 35.0 16.8 72.3
2013 664 36.0 18.4 76.2
2014 657 43.0 15.2 73.7
2015 662 44.0 15.0 79.8
2016 691 46.0 15.0 81.5
2017 722 48.5 14.8 80.2
2018 733 47.3 15.4 80.9
2019 733 44.9 16.3 83.5
2020 744 43.5 17.1 83.6
2021 747 47.0 15.8 84.7
2022 684 44.1 15.5 84.4
2023 654 43.0 15.2 83.6

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 McCombs Middle School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,066 (7.3%) $13,598 (92.7%) $14,664

Data source: Iowa Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on McCombs Middle 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 322nd of 342 Middle schoolsRanks 323rd of 334 Middle schools
 2.6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (McCombs Middle School)47.742.9
 4.8%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Des Moines Independent Community School District)48.345.6
 2.7%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)67.572.7
 5.2%
6th Grade Mathematics (McCombs Middle School)53.643.2
 10.4%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Des Moines Independent Community School District)51.141
 10.1%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)69.469.9
 0.5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (McCombs Middle School)43.251.1
 7.9%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Des Moines Independent Community School District)47.848.4
 0.6%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)69.974.2
 4.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (McCombs Middle School)5648.6
 7.4%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Des Moines Independent Community School District)51.943.3
 8.6%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)70.168.9
 1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (McCombs Middle School)52.741.6
 11.1%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Des Moines Independent Community School District)50.751.5
 0.8%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)69.576
 6.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (McCombs Middle School)52.247.8
 4.4%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Des Moines Independent Community School District)51.946.1
 5.8%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)71.872
 0.2%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students733654
 10.8%
African American127122
 3.9%
American Indian20
 100%
Asian5958
 1.7%
Hispanic233223
 4.3%
Pacific Islander00
White285213
 25.3%
Two or More Races2738
 40.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients83.5%83.6%
 0.1%


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Frequently Asked Questions about McCombs Middle School

McCombs Middle School ranks in the bottom 5.6% of Iowa middle schools.

Students at McCombs Middle School are 34% Hispanic, 33% White, 19% African American, 9% Asian, 6% Two or more races.

Students who attend McCombs Middle School usually go on to attend Lincoln High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 654 students attended McCombs Middle School.


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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.





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