North Polk Middle School

Q: Is North Polk Middle School a good school?

North Polk Middle School ranks 42 nd of 337 Iowa middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

North Polk Middle School is a public middle school located in Alleman, Iowa, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 455 students. The school is part of the North Polk Community School District, which is ranked 24th out of 309 districts in Iowa and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

North Polk Middle School consistently ranks among the top middle schools in Iowa, with a statewide ranking between 4th and 42nd over the past 10 years. The school's students have significantly higher proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science compared to the state averages. In 2023-2024, 92.9% of 8th graders were proficient in ELA, compared to 77.5% statewide, and 92.2% were proficient in Math, compared to 73.2% statewide. Additionally, 81.4% of 8th graders were proficient in Science, compared to 65.5% statewide.

While North Polk Middle School has maintained a high level of academic performance, the school's student population is predominantly white, with 94.29% of students identifying as white in the 2022-2023 school year. This is significantly higher than the racial diversity of nearby schools, such as Harding Middle School (16.64% white) and Meredith Middle School (19.88% white) in the Des Moines Independent Community School District. Additionally, only 9.45% of students at North Polk Middle School are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to 89.47% at Harding Middle School and 83.89% at Meredith Middle School.

Detail:

Public 6-8

315 NE 141st Ave.
Alleman, IA 50007

(515) 984-3400

District: North Polk Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
42^nd of 337 Iowa Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $11,145

Students who attend North Polk Middle School usually attend:

High:

North Polk High School

Feeder schools for North Polk Middle School:

Elementary:	North Polk Central Elementary School
	North Polk West Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 17.4

Number of students: 455

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.3%

Hispanic:

2.9%

Two or more races:

1.8%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 9.5%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details North Polk Middle School ranks better than 87.5% of middle schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 78.54. (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 North Polk Middle School is $11,145.

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

SchoolDigger ranks North Polk Middle School 42^nd of 337 Iowa public middle schools. (See North Polk Middle School in the ranking list.)

North Polk Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks North Polk Community School District 24^th of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for North Polk Middle School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	76.61	42^nd	349	88.0%
2013	74.30	54^th	350	84.6%
2014	77.64	35^th	337	89.6%
2015	81.47	28^th	349	92.0%
2016	86.40	11^th	343	96.8%
2017	86.22	7^th	327	97.9%
2018	90.63	5^th	318	98.4%
2019	93.81	4^th	342	98.8%
2021	85.68	17^th	324	94.8%
2022	86.49	15^th	337	95.5%
2023	88.04	8^th	334	97.6%
2024	78.54	42^nd	337	87.5%

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

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Enrollment information for North Polk Middle School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2009	185	2	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	189
2010	179	0	0	2	0	0	4	0	185
2011	173	0	0	2	0	0	2	0	177
2012	171	1	0	3	1	0	3	0	179
2013	178	2	2	3	0	0	4	0	189
2014	292	2	2	4	0	0	7	0	307
2015	323	1	3	6	0	0	6	0	339
2016	317	1	3	6	0	0	8	0	335
2017	355	3	1	5	0	0	8	0	372
2018	370	1	1	5	0	0	8	0	385
2019	403	1	1	14	0	0	10	0	429
2020	411	3	2	15	0	1	9	0	441
2021	414	6	3	17	0	1	11	0	452
2022	403	6	0	12	0	1	9	0	431
2023	429	3	1	13	0	0	8	1	455

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 North Polk Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2009	189	22.0	8.6	5.3
2010	185	14.6	12.6	12.4
2011	177	11.3	15.5	11.9
2012	179	10.2	17.4	15.6
2013	189	11.5	16.3	11.1
2014	307	22.0	13.9	12.1
2015	339	22.0	15.4	13
2016	335	23.0	14.5	10.1
2017	372	22.6	16.4	12.6
2018	385	22.8	16.8	8.3
2019	429	24.1	17.8	11.4
2020	441	25.1	17.5	10.7
2021	452	25.5	17.6	13.3
2022	431	26.0	16.5	7.4
2023	455	26.0	17.4	9.5

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 North Polk Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2009	189	22.0	8.6	5.3
2010	185	14.6	12.6	12.4
2011	177	11.3	15.5	11.9
2012	179	10.2	17.4	15.6
2013	189	11.5	16.3	11.1
2014	307	22.0	13.9	12.1
2015	339	22.0	15.4	13
2016	335	23.0	14.5	10.1
2017	372	22.6	16.4	12.6
2018	385	22.8	16.8	8.3
2019	429	24.1	17.8	11.4
2020	441	25.1	17.5	10.7
2021	452	25.5	17.6	13.3
2022	431	26.0	16.5	7.4
2023	455	26.0	17.4	9.5

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 North Polk Middle School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$144 (1.3%)	$11,001 (98.7%)	$11,145

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on North Polk 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 4^th of 342 Middle schools	Ranks 8^th of 334 Middle schools	1.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (North Polk Middle School)	89.4	91.4	2%
6th Grade English Language Arts (North Polk Community School District)	89.4	91.4	2%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	67.5	72.7	5.2%
6th Grade Mathematics (North Polk Middle School)	87.4	85.9	1.5%
6th Grade Mathematics (North Polk Community School District)	87.4	85.9	1.5%
6th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	69.4	69.9	0.5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (North Polk Middle School)	93	91.5	1.5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (North Polk Community School District)	93	91.5	1.5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	69.9	74.2	4.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (North Polk Middle School)	95.8	79.4	16.4%
7th Grade Mathematics (North Polk Community School District)	95.8	79.4	16.4%
7th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	70.1	68.9	1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (North Polk Middle School)	91.7	93.3	1.6%
8th Grade English Language Arts (North Polk Community School District)	91.7	93.3	1.6%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	69.5	76	6.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (North Polk Middle School)	95.5	94.6	0.9%
8th Grade Mathematics (North Polk Community School District)	95.5	94.6	0.9%
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	429	455	6.1%
African American	1	3	200%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	1	1
Hispanic	14	13	7.1%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	403	429	6.5%
Two or More Races	10	8	20%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	11.4%	9.5%	2%

Schools Near North Polk 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
North Polk Middle School	Public	6-8	315 NE 141st Ave.	Alleman	50007	Polk County	North Polk Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 984-3400	455	26	17.4	9.5%	429 (94.3%)	3 (0.7%)	13 (2.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.8%)	78.5	42^nd of 337 public middle schools	87.5%		88	8^th of 334 public middle schools	97.6%	34		78.4	91.2	92.9		80.1	81.2	92.2		81.4	$11,145	$144	$11,001
Prairie Ridge Middle School	Public	6-7	1010 NW Prairie Ridge Dr	Ankeny	50023	Polk County	Ankeny Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 965-9705	1,025	64	16.0	16.3%	832 (81.2%)	41 (4.0%)	74 (7.2%)	28 (2.7%)	2 (0.2%)	1 (0.1%)	47 (4.6%)	75.7	61^st of 337 public middle schools	81.9%		80.1	39^th of 334 public middle schools	88.3%	22		85.3	89.4			80.7	79.2				$12,721	$191	$12,529
Ballard Middle School	Public	6-8	509 N Main Ave	Huxley	50124	Story County	Ballard Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 597-2815	432	27	15.9	15.3%	397 (91.9%)	12 (2.8%)	15 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.9%)	71	80^th of 337 public middle schools	76.3%		76.5	53^rd of 334 public middle schools	84.1%	27		93.0	78.5	82.6		93.0	80.0	81.9		68.5	$13,142	$46	$13,096
Parkview Middle School	Public	6-7	105 NW Pleasant St	Ankeny	50023	Polk County	Ankeny Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 965-9640	867	62	14.0	22.6%	656 (75.7%)	47 (5.4%)	74 (8.5%)	39 (4.5%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (5.5%)	80.4	34^th of 337 public middle schools	89.9%		82	27^th of 334 public middle schools	91.9%	7		86.6	90.9			81.5	84.7				$13,100	$296	$12,804
Woodside Middle School	Public	5-8	5810 NE 14th St	Des Moines	50313	Polk County	Saydel Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 265-3451	359	36	10.0	71.0%	248 (69.1%)	1 (0.3%)	74 (20.6%)	2 (0.6%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (8.9%)	19.5	296^th of 337 public middle schools	12.2%		16.5	297^th of 334 public middle schools	11.1%	1	63.8	64.0	74.4	61.4	67.5	54.1	64.6	56.0	47.5	54.8	$14,080	$452	$13,628
Madrid Junior High School	Public	6-8	599 N Kennedy	Madrid	50156	Boone County	Madrid Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 795-3240	153	12	13.1	28.8%	142 (92.8%)	2 (1.3%)	5 (3.3%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.0%)	63.6	125^th of 337 public middle schools	62.9%		65.6	107^th of 334 public middle schools	68.0%	18		91.1	95.2	82.7		71.1	88.1	71.2		59.6	$11,710	$73	$11,637
Bondurant - Farrar Intermediate School	Public	5-6	300 Garfield St. SW	Bondurant	50035	Polk County	Bondurant-Farrar Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 967-3711	380	30	12.4	18.9%	319 (83.9%)	17 (4.5%)	25 (6.6%)	6 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.4%)								(n/a)	69.0	85.2			60.1	80.4			60.6		$11,425	$241	$11,184
Bondurant-Farrar Junior High	Public	7-8	1201 Grant Street	Bondurant	50035	Polk County	Bondurant-Farrar Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(515) 957-7970	440	25	17.3	22.3%	375 (85.2%)	12 (2.7%)	32 (7.3%)	5 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	12 (2.7%)	57.6	159^th of 337 public middle schools	52.8%					(n/a)			78.2	84.7			65.2	77.8		72.2
Summit Middle School	Public	6-7	9500 Windsor Parkway	Johnston	50131	Polk County	Johnston Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 986-0318	1,112	69	16.0	26.8%	738 (66.4%)	126 (11.3%)	83 (7.5%)	106 (9.5%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	58 (5.2%)	68.9	96^th of 337 public middle schools	71.5%		74.6	62^nd of 334 public middle schools	81.4%	34		82.3	84.0			82.9	75.4				$11,977	$474	$11,503
Harding Middle School	Public	6-8	203 E Euclid Ave	Des Moines	50313	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 242-8445	655	37	17.5	89.5%	109 (16.6%)	182 (27.8%)	226 (34.5%)	87 (13.3%)	6 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	44 (6.7%)	0.7	334^th of 337 public middle schools	0.9%		1.3	328^th of 334 public middle schools	1.8%	6		37.1	46.1	47.6		36.0	34.0	42.3		33.5	$13,719	$830	$12,889

Frequently Asked Questions about North Polk Middle School

Is North Polk Middle School a good school?

North Polk Middle School ranks 42^nd of 337 Iowa middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What high school do graduates of North Polk Middle School attend?

Students who attend North Polk Middle School usually go on to attend North Polk High School

How many students attend North Polk Middle School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 455 students attended North Polk Middle School.

What district is North Polk Middle School in?

North Polk Community School District

What is the racial makeup of North Polk Middle School?

Students at North Polk Middle School are 94% White, 3% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

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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.