Melcher-Dallas High School

Q: Is Melcher-Dallas High School a good school?

Melcher-Dallas High School ranks 235 th of 338 Iowa high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Melcher-Dallas High School is a public high school serving grades 7-12 with a total enrollment of 153 students in Melcher, Iowa. The school is part of the Melcher-Dallas Community School District, which is ranked 268 out of 309 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Academically, Melcher-Dallas High School has consistently performed below the state average in proficiency rates for ISASP tests in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science across various grade levels. For example, in 2023-2024, the school's 10th-grade proficiency rates were 75.9% in ELA (compared to 73.8% statewide), 51.7% in Math (compared to 66% statewide), and 58.6% in Science (compared to 59.5% statewide). The school has a low statewide ranking, typically falling in the bottom third of Iowa high schools, and its SchoolDigger rating has been 1 or 2 stars out of 5 in recent years, indicating below-average performance compared to other schools in the state.

Melcher-Dallas High School has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 33.99% to 37.28% in the past three school years, suggesting a higher proportion of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. However, the school's higher spending per student ($17,935 in 2018-2019) and lower student-teacher ratio (ranging from 10.3 to 12 students per teacher in the past three years) do not seem to translate into improved educational outcomes when compared to the nearby Indianola High School, Twin Cedars Junior-Senior High School, Chariton High School, Southeast Warren Junior-Senior High School, Pleasantville High School, and Knoxville High School.

Detail:

Public 7-12

214 S Main
Melcher, IA 50163

(641) 947-3731

District: Melcher-Dallas Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
235^th of 338 Iowa High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $17,935

Feeder schools for Melcher-Dallas High School:

Elementary:

Melcher-Dallas Elementary

Student/teacher ratio: 10.3

Number of students: 153

Racial breakdown:

White:

96.7%

Hispanic:

2.0%

African American:

1.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 34%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Melcher-Dallas High School ranks worse than 83.7% of middle schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 26.05. (See more...)

Compare Details Melcher-Dallas High School ranks worse than 69.5% of high schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 41.26. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Melcher-Dallas 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

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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Melcher-Dallas High School is $17,935.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Melcher-Dallas High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Melcher-Dallas High School 282^nd of 337 Iowa public middle schools. (See Melcher-Dallas High School in the ranking list.)

SchoolDigger ranks Melcher-Dallas High School 235^th of 338 Iowa public high schools. (See Melcher-Dallas High School in the ranking list.)

Melcher-Dallas Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Melcher-Dallas Community School District 268^th of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Melcher-Dallas High School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IA State Percentile
2021	23.27	271^st	324	16.4%
2022	13.28	309^th	337	8.3%
2023	50.54	187^th	334	44.0%
2024	26.05	282^nd	337	16.3%

See the entire list of Iowa High School Rankings!

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

Rank History for Melcher-Dallas High School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	67.73	110^th	351	68.7%
2013	41.87	258^th	351	26.5%
2014	44.06	216^th	322	32.9%
2015	22.31	274^th	324	15.4%
2017	40.72	234^th	325	28.0%
2018	6.67	304^th	320	5.0%
2019	17.35	298^th	327	8.9%
2021	40.59	223^rd	327	31.8%
2022	39.50	225^th	332	32.2%
2023	25.88	278^th	336	17.3%
2024	41.26	235^th	338	30.5%

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 Melcher-Dallas High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	135	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	135
1989	115	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	115
1990	130	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	133
1991	136	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	137
1992	137	0	3	2	n/a	n/a	142
1993	136	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	138
1994	134	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	136
1995	142	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	145
1996	142	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	145
1997	156	0	1	2	n/a	n/a	159
1998	174	0	2	1	n/a	n/a	177
1999	154	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	155
2000	141	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	143
2001	133	1	3	0	n/a	n/a	137
2002	137	1	4	0	n/a	n/a	142
2003	137	1	4	0	n/a	n/a	142
2004	139	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	142
2005	133	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	134
2006	142	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	142
2007	141	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	142
2008	140	1	0	2	n/a	n/a	143
2009	122	1	0	1	n/a	n/a	124
2010	123	1	0	1	0	0	125
2011	102	0	0	3	0	0	105
2012	92	0	0	2	0	0	94
2013	83	0	0	2	0	0	85
2014	77	1	0	0	0	0	78
2015	86	1	1	1	0	0	89
2016	76	3	1	2	0	0	82
2017	73	3	2	1	0	0	79
2018	79	2	1	1	0	0	83
2019	78	2	0	1	0	0	81
2020	148	5	0	2	0	0	155
2021	162	2	0	5	0	0	169
2022	152	0	0	7	0	0	159
2023	148	2	0	3	0	0	153

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 Melcher-Dallas High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	135	13.0	10.3	25.2
1989	115	12.8	8.9	14.8
1990	133	12.9	10.3	21.1
1991	137	14.0	9.7	13.9
1992	142	12.0	11.8	17.6
1993	138	12.4	11.1	17.4
1994	136	12.3	11.1	13.2
1995	145	14.7	9.9	11
1996	145	14.7	9.9	11
1997	159	13.7	11.6	10.1
1998	177	13.9	12.7	9.6
1999	155	13.9	11.2	25.8
2000	143	14.4	9.9	29.4
2001	137	13.3	10.3	16.8
2002	142	13.4	10.6	17.6
2003	142	13.4	10.6	17.6
2004	142	13.4	10.6	28.9
2005	134	13.4	10.0	19.4
2006	142	11.2	12.7	23.9
2007	142	10.2	13.9	19
2008	143	10.9	13.1	23.8
2009	124	10.8	11.5	27.4
2010	125	10.8	11.5	38.4
2011	105	12.2	8.5	41.9
2012	94	11.6	8.0	41.5
2013	85	10.4	8.1	37.6
2014	78	10.3	7.5	41
2015	89	10.0	8.9	40.4
2016	82	9.0	9.1	50
2017	79	8.6	9.1	44.3
2018	83	12.3	6.7	41
2019	81	11.4	7.0	33.3
2020	155	14.1	10.9	43.2
2021	169	14.0	12.0	37.3
2022	159	15.0	10.5	34.6
2023	153	14.7	10.3	34

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 Melcher-Dallas High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	135	13.0	10.3	25.2
1989	115	12.8	8.9	14.8
1990	133	12.9	10.3	21.1
1991	137	14.0	9.7	13.9
1992	142	12.0	11.8	17.6
1993	138	12.4	11.1	17.4
1994	136	12.3	11.1	13.2
1995	145	14.7	9.9	11
1996	145	14.7	9.9	11
1997	159	13.7	11.6	10.1
1998	177	13.9	12.7	9.6
1999	155	13.9	11.2	25.8
2000	143	14.4	9.9	29.4
2001	137	13.3	10.3	16.8
2002	142	13.4	10.6	17.6
2003	142	13.4	10.6	17.6
2004	142	13.4	10.6	28.9
2005	134	13.4	10.0	19.4
2006	142	11.2	12.7	23.9
2007	142	10.2	13.9	19
2008	143	10.9	13.1	23.8
2009	124	10.8	11.5	27.4
2010	125	10.8	11.5	38.4
2011	105	12.2	8.5	41.9
2012	94	11.6	8.0	41.5
2013	85	10.4	8.1	37.6
2014	78	10.3	7.5	41
2015	89	10.0	8.9	40.4
2016	82	9.0	9.1	50
2017	79	8.6	9.1	44.3
2018	83	12.3	6.7	41
2019	81	11.4	7.0	33.3
2020	155	14.1	10.9	43.2
2021	169	14.0	12.0	37.3
2022	159	15.0	10.5	34.6
2023	153	14.7	10.3	34

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 Melcher-Dallas High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$366 (2.0%)	$17,567 (97.9%)	$17,935

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Melcher-Dallas 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 298^th of 327 High schools	Ranks 278^th of 336 High schools	8.4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
10th Grade English Language Arts (Melcher-Dallas High School)	65.4	78.3	12.9%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Melcher-Dallas Community School District)	65.4	78.3	12.9%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	74.3	72.9	1.4%
10th Grade Mathematics (Melcher-Dallas High School)	57.7	60.9	3.2%
10th Grade Mathematics (Melcher-Dallas Community School District)	57.7	60.9	3.2%
10th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	67.1	67	0.1%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Melcher-Dallas High School)	43.8	60	16.2%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Melcher-Dallas Community School District)	43.8	60	16.2%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	71.4	68.7	2.7%
11th Grade Mathematics (Melcher-Dallas High School)	43.8	55	11.2%
11th Grade Mathematics (Melcher-Dallas Community School District)	43.8	55	11.2%
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	81	153	88.9%
African American	2	2
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	1	3	200%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	78	148	89.7%
Two or More Races	0	0
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	33.3%	34%	0.7%

Schools Near Melcher-Dallas 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 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 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
Melcher-Dallas High School	Public	7-12	214 S Main	Melcher	50163	Marion County	Melcher-Dallas Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(641) 947-3731	153	15	10.3	34.0%	148 (96.7%)	2 (1.3%)	3 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	41.3	235^th of 338 public high schools	30.5%		25.9	278^th of 336 public high schools	17.3%	43	61.1	82.6	80.0	75.9	76.2	50.0	60.9	48.0	51.7	66.7	56.5	58.6	$17,935	$366	$17,567
Knoxville High School	Public	9-12	1811 W Madison	Knoxville	50138	Marion County	Knoxville Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(641) 842-2173	500	34	14.8	40.0%	451 (90.2%)	7 (1.4%)	18 (3.6%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	19 (3.8%)	50.2	192^nd of 338 public high schools	43.2%		32.8	259^th of 336 public high schools	22.9%	67			75.2	78.4	66.1			58.9	76.6	62.3		68.5	$14,996	$157	$14,839
Pleasantville High School	Public	9-12	415 Jones St	Pleasantville	50225	Marion County	Pleasantville Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 848-0541	244	18	13.8	32.8%	221 (90.6%)	3 (1.2%)	11 (4.5%)	3 (1.2%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.6%)	47.6	210^th of 338 public high schools	37.9%		62.5	123^rd of 336 public high schools	63.4%	87			73.6	82.0	74.1			56.6	65.6	60.3		62.3	$19,905	$192	$19,713
Southeast Warren Junior-Senior High School	Public	7-12	16331 Tyler St	Liberty Center	50145	Warren County	Southeast Warren Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(641) 466-3331	233	19	12.5	24.0%	224 (96.1%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.9%)	67.1	104^th of 338 public high schools	69.2%		48.5	194^th of 336 public high schools	42.3%	90	80.0	88.9	75.8	83.7	82.2	72.0	88.9	54.5	81.4	71.1	81.5	81.4	$14,945	$97	$14,849
Chariton High School	Public	9-12	501 N Grand	Chariton	50049	Lucas County	Chariton Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(641) 774-5066	392	28	14.1	50.0%	365 (93.1%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.1%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.8%)	49.1	200^th of 338 public high schools	40.8%		44.8	215^th of 336 public high schools	36.0%	15			83.7	67.7	80.0			66.3	64.5	67.8		50.5	$15,840	$216	$15,624
Twin Cedars Junior-Senior High School	Public	7-12	2204 Highway G71	Bussey	50044	Marion County	Twin Cedars Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(641) 944-5243	156	17	9.4	46.8%	143 (91.7%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (5.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.6%)	29.5	270^th of 338 public high schools	20.1%		27.3	275^th of 336 public high schools	18.2%	5	85.0	91.3	75.0	48.0	70.4	70.0	52.2	60.0	52.0	59.3	78.3	52.0	$15,106	$118	$14,987
Indianola High School	Public	9-12	1304 E 1st	Indianola	50125	Warren County	Indianola Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 961-9510	1,120	63	17.6	25.3%	991 (88.5%)	14 (1.3%)	60 (5.4%)	10 (0.9%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	43 (3.8%)	54.4	173^rd of 338 public high schools	48.8%		60	133^rd of 336 public high schools	60.4%	40			78.4	75.7	70.2			70.0	72.5	70.3		58.4	$12,807	$292	$12,516

Frequently Asked Questions about Melcher-Dallas High School

Is Melcher-Dallas High School a good school?

Melcher-Dallas High School ranks 235^th of 338 Iowa high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is Melcher-Dallas High School in?

Melcher-Dallas Community School District

How many students attend Melcher-Dallas High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 153 students attended Melcher-Dallas High School.

What is the racial makeup of Melcher-Dallas High School?

Students at Melcher-Dallas High School are 97% White, 2% Hispanic, 1% African American.

What schools feed into Melcher-Dallas High School?

Melcher-Dallas High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Melcher-Dallas Elementary

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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.