Excelsior Middle School

Q: Is Excelsior Middle School a good school?

Excelsior Middle School ranks 62 nd of 337 Iowa middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Excelsior Middle School is a public middle school located in Marion, Iowa, serving grades 7-8 with a total enrollment of 617 students. The school is part of the Linn-Mar Community School District, which is ranked 88 out of 309 districts in Iowa and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Excelsior Middle School consistently outperforms the state average in ISASP (Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress) test scores across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, 86.5% of 7th graders and 86.6% of 8th graders were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 77.3% and 77.5%, respectively. Similarly, in mathematics, 82.3% of 7th graders and 83.1% of 8th graders were proficient or better, compared to the state averages of 69.9% and 73.2%. The school has also consistently ranked among the top middle schools in Iowa, with a ranking of 62 out of 337 schools in the 2023-2024 school year, and a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

When compared to nearby schools within the Linn-Mar Community School District, such as Boulder Peak Intermediate School, Oak Ridge Middle School, and Hazel Point Intermediate School, Excelsior Middle School's academic performance is generally higher. The school also significantly outperforms the middle schools in the Cedar Rapids Community School District, which is ranked 276 out of 309 districts in Iowa.

Detail:

Public 7-8

3555 N 10th St
Marion, IA 52302

(319) 447-3130

District: Linn-Mar Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
62^nd of 337 Iowa Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,096

Students who attend Excelsior Middle School usually attend:

High:

Linn-Mar High School

Feeder schools for Excelsior Middle School:

Elementary:	Indian Creek Elementary School
	Linn Grove Elementary School
	Novak Elementary School
	Wilkins Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 13.2

Number of students: 617

Racial breakdown:

White:

82.3%

Two or more races:

6.3%

Hispanic:

4.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 27.6%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Excelsior Middle School ranks better than 81.6% of middle schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 75.4. (See more...)

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

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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Excelsior Middle School is $13,096.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Excelsior Middle School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Excelsior Middle School 62^nd of 337 Iowa public middle schools. (See Excelsior Middle School in the ranking list.)

Linn-Mar Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Linn-Mar Community School District 88^th of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Excelsior Middle School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	76.37	44^th	349	87.4%
2013	75.79	47^th	350	86.6%
2014	66.15	111^th	337	67.1%
2015	62.20	134^th	349	61.6%
2016	66.93	98^th	343	71.4%
2017	72.59	65^th	327	80.1%
2018	71.03	71^st	318	77.7%
2019	83.22	25^th	342	92.7%
2021	62.11	119^th	324	63.3%
2022	64.66	110^th	337	67.4%
2023	71.77	75^th	334	77.5%
2024	75.40	62^nd	337	81.6%

See the entire list of Iowa Middle School Rankings!

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

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent on FaceBook
Monday, January 12, 2015

This is an awesome school..... with some of the best teachers!! Our son went here 7th and 8th grade. One of the nicest things is the grades are split up by hallways.... you have 6th grade hallway in one, 7th grade in another and 8th grade in another. Its almost like 3 separate schools in one! Close Quote

Enrollment information for Excelsior Middle School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	423	1	7	0	1	n/a	n/a	432
1989	439	1	5	2	0	n/a	n/a	447
1990	454	2	7	2	0	n/a	n/a	465
1991	466	3	8	3	1	n/a	n/a	481
1992	490	6	10	3	1	n/a	n/a	510
1993	506	5	10	3	0	n/a	n/a	524
1994	545	2	9	4	0	n/a	n/a	560
1995	556	10	14	5	0	n/a	n/a	585
1996	556	10	14	5	0	n/a	n/a	585
1997	615	5	8	2	0	n/a	n/a	630
1998	643	8	15	8	0	n/a	n/a	674
1999	620	8	20	10	1	n/a	n/a	659
2000	959	14	33	10	1	n/a	n/a	1017
2001	929	16	32	11	0	n/a	n/a	988
2002	1055	21	32	15	1	n/a	n/a	1124
2003	1055	21	32	15	1	n/a	n/a	1124
2004	839	17	14	12	0	n/a	n/a	882
2005	783	11	17	15	1	n/a	n/a	827
2006	779	16	17	15	3	n/a	n/a	830
2007	751	26	18	19	5	n/a	n/a	819
2008	722	29	19	12	3	n/a	n/a	785
2009	698	34	24	9	2	n/a	n/a	767
2010	668	30	25	11	1	0	1	736
2011	673	31	25	23	1	0	8	761
2012	746	35	19	29	3	0	14	846
2013	784	38	18	33	3	1	14	891
2014	800	40	17	37	3	1	23	921
2015	781	42	23	42	2	2	35	927
2016	791	42	19	41	2	1	48	944
2017	822	40	18	42	1	1	47	971
2018	802	30	21	38	1	1	55	948
2019	805	40	20	45	1	1	55	967
2020	769	50	26	44	0	0	60	949
2021	513	33	15	33	0	2	39	635
2022	517	33	13	34	0	1	34	632
2023	508	28	13	29	0	0	39	617

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 Excelsior Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	432	29.5	14.6	2.3
1989	447	2.6	171.9	2.2
1990	465	28.6	16.2	2.2
1991	481	31.0	15.5	3.5
1992	510	29.0	17.5	4.5
1993	524	31.1	16.8	6.1
1994	560	37.4	15.0	3.6
1995	585	38.0	15.4	5
1996	585	38.0	15.4	5
1997	630	38.7	16.3	4.9
1998	674	36.7	18.4	8.3
1999	659	37.7	17.5	8.2
2000	1017	58.5	17.4	8.4
2001	988	56.0	17.6	9.9
2002	1124	77.0	14.6	7.6
2003	1124	77.0	14.6	7.6
2004	882	54.8	16.1	13.3
2005	827	66.0	12.5	11.4
2006	830	60.9	13.6	12.8
2007	819	61.8	13.3	12.6
2008	785	63.7	12.3	12.6
2009	767	58.4	13.1	16.8
2010	736	56.3	13.0	16.3
2011	761	55.0	13.8	21.3
2012	846	58.5	14.4	22.8
2013	891	60.7	14.6	23.2
2014	921	63.0	14.6	26.8
2015	927	63.0	14.7	24.5
2016	944	63.0	14.9	28.3
2017	971	63.2	15.3	28.1
2018	948	66.9	14.1	28.7
2019	967	62.8	15.3	30.2
2020	949	62.5	15.1	28.6
2021	635	46.3	13.7	30.4
2022	632	46.4	13.6	26.3
2023	617	46.4	13.2	27.6

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 Excelsior Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	432	29.5	14.6	2.3
1989	447	2.6	171.9	2.2
1990	465	28.6	16.2	2.2
1991	481	31.0	15.5	3.5
1992	510	29.0	17.5	4.5
1993	524	31.1	16.8	6.1
1994	560	37.4	15.0	3.6
1995	585	38.0	15.4	5
1996	585	38.0	15.4	5
1997	630	38.7	16.3	4.9
1998	674	36.7	18.4	8.3
1999	659	37.7	17.5	8.2
2000	1017	58.5	17.4	8.4
2001	988	56.0	17.6	9.9
2002	1124	77.0	14.6	7.6
2003	1124	77.0	14.6	7.6
2004	882	54.8	16.1	13.3
2005	827	66.0	12.5	11.4
2006	830	60.9	13.6	12.8
2007	819	61.8	13.3	12.6
2008	785	63.7	12.3	12.6
2009	767	58.4	13.1	16.8
2010	736	56.3	13.0	16.3
2011	761	55.0	13.8	21.3
2012	846	58.5	14.4	22.8
2013	891	60.7	14.6	23.2
2014	921	63.0	14.6	26.8
2015	927	63.0	14.7	24.5
2016	944	63.0	14.9	28.3
2017	971	63.2	15.3	28.1
2018	948	66.9	14.1	28.7
2019	967	62.8	15.3	30.2
2020	949	62.5	15.1	28.6
2021	635	46.3	13.7	30.4
2022	632	46.4	13.6	26.3
2023	617	46.4	13.2	27.6

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 Excelsior Middle School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$300 (2.3%)	$12,796 (97.7%)	$13,096

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Excelsior 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 25^th of 342 Middle schools	Ranks 75^th of 334 Middle schools	15.1%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
7th Grade English Language Arts (Excelsior Middle School)	84.9	80.9	4%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Linn-Mar Community School District)	85.8	83.8	2%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	69.9	74.2	4.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (Excelsior Middle School)	81.3	81.9	0.6%
7th Grade Mathematics (Linn-Mar Community School District)	81.8	82.1	0.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	70.1	68.9	1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Excelsior Middle School)	86.7	84	2.7%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Linn-Mar Community School District)	85.8	85.1	0.7%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	69.5	76	6.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Excelsior Middle School)	88.7	79.7	9%
8th Grade Mathematics (Linn-Mar Community School District)	89.6	80.7	8.9%
8th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	71.8	72	0.2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	967	617	36.2%
African American	40	28	30%
American Indian	1	0	100%
Asian	20	13	35%
Hispanic	45	29	35.6%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	805	508	36.9%
Two or More Races	55	39	29.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	30.2%	27.6%	2.6%

Schools Near Excelsior Middle 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 5th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 6th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 7th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 8th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 5th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 6th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 7th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 8th Grade	ISASP Science 5th Grade	ISASP Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Excelsior Middle School	Public	7-8	3555 N 10th St	Marion	52302	Linn County	Linn-Mar Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 447-3130	617	46	13.2	27.6%	508 (82.3%)	28 (4.5%)	29 (4.7%)	13 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (6.3%)	75.4	62^nd of 337 public middle schools	81.6%		71.8	75^th of 334 public middle schools	77.5%	13			86.5	86.6			82.3	83.1		74.4	$13,096	$300	$12,796
Oak Ridge Middle School	Public	7-8	4901 Alburnett Road	Marion	52302	Linn County	Linn-Mar Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 447-3410	526	39	13.5	18.3%	387 (73.6%)	31 (5.9%)	27 (5.1%)	60 (11.4%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	19 (3.6%)	72.9	72^nd of 337 public middle schools	78.6%		79.6	40^th of 334 public middle schools	88.0%	32			87.8	86.4			79.1	80.4		73.5	$12,711	$282	$12,430
Hazel Point Intermediate School	Public	5-6	453 Echo Hill Road	Marion	52302	Linn County	Linn-Mar Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 447-3001	540	38	14.1	20.2%	378 (70.0%)	30 (5.6%)	37 (6.9%)	70 (13.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	22 (4.1%)								(n/a)	84.8	90.0			84.8	83.8			74.0
Boulder Peak Intermediate School	Public	5-6	3920 35th Avenue	Marion	52302	Linn County	Linn-Mar Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 447-3001	586	39	14.8	27.6%	471 (80.4%)	31 (5.3%)	29 (4.9%)	17 (2.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (6.3%)								(n/a)	69.4	84.8			70.0	82.1			58.8
Vernon Middle School	Public	5-8	1350 4th Avenue	Marion	52302	Linn County	Marion Independent School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 377-9401	668	43	15.6	39.7%	548 (82.0%)	32 (4.8%)	38 (5.7%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	44 (6.6%)	54.2	177^th of 337 public middle schools	47.5%		37.4	237^th of 334 public middle schools	29.0%	60	73.6	77.4	76.5	82.8	76.8	76.8	72.1	66.7	55.2	72.4	$11,914	$388	$11,527
Harding Middle School	Public	6-8	4801 Golf ST NE	Cedar Rapids	52405	Linn County	Cedar Rapids Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 558-2254	713	46	15.3	42.9%	472 (66.2%)	74 (10.4%)	66 (9.3%)	19 (2.7%)	3 (0.4%)	5 (0.7%)	73 (10.2%)	53.8	178^th of 337 public middle schools	47.2%		60.6	140^th of 334 public middle schools	58.1%	38		66.7	82.0	83.7		74.6	71.6	81.4		62.9	$14,559	$562	$13,997
Franklin Middle School	Public	6-8	300 20th ST NE	Cedar Rapids	52402	Linn County	Cedar Rapids Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 558-2452	537	33	16.4	55.7%	322 (60.0%)	107 (19.9%)	28 (5.2%)	7 (1.3%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	67 (12.5%)	18	298^th of 337 public middle schools	11.6%		16.7	296^th of 334 public middle schools	11.4%	2		63.2	55.7	63.0		45.1	60.1	63.8		63.8	$15,204	$665	$14,539
McKinley STEAM Academy	Public	6-8	620 10th ST SE	Cedar Rapids	52403	Linn County	Cedar Rapids Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 558-2348	448	32	14.0	52.2%	254 (56.7%)	101 (22.5%)	36 (8.0%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (11.6%)	14.6	308^th of 337 public middle schools	8.6%		20.8	289^th of 334 public middle schools	13.5%	19		70.7	64.2	67.8		48.0	48.6	53.0		54.3	$16,456	$251	$16,204
Alburnett Middle School	Public	6-8	131 Roosevelt Street	Alburnett	52202	Linn County	Alburnett Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 842-2263	188	10	18.8	18.1%	174 (92.6%)	3 (1.6%)	3 (1.6%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.7%)	84.5	23^rd of 337 public middle schools	93.2%		45.5	208^th of 334 public middle schools	37.7%	185		87.5	93.9	95.8		98.0	81.6	87.3		74.6	$9,936	$76	$9,860
Cedar Rapids Virtual Academy Middle	Public, Virtual	6-8	2500 Egewood Rd	Cedar Rapids	52405	Linn County	Cedar Rapids Community School District	No	(n/a)	Yes	No	(319) 558-3427	47	3	15.6	63.8%	28 (59.6%)	8 (17.0%)	4 (8.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (12.8%)	4.6	322^nd of 337 public middle schools	4.5%		0.9	330^th of 334 public middle schools	1.2%	8				65.0				33.3		30.0

Frequently Asked Questions about Excelsior Middle School

What high school do graduates of Excelsior Middle School attend?

Students who attend Excelsior Middle School usually go on to attend Linn-Mar High School

What district is Excelsior Middle School in?

Linn-Mar Community School District

What is the racial makeup of Excelsior Middle School?

Students at Excelsior Middle School are 82% White, 6% Two or more races, 5% Hispanic, 5% African American, 2% Asian.

How many students attend Excelsior Middle School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 617 students attended Excelsior Middle School.

Is Excelsior Middle School a good school?

Excelsior Middle School ranks 62^nd of 337 Iowa middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Excelsior 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.