Pella High School

Summary:

Pella High School is a public high school located in Pella, Iowa, serving grades 9-12 with a student population of 764. The school is part of the Pella Community School District and has consistently ranked among the top high schools in the state of Iowa, with a current statewide ranking of 6 out of 338 high schools and a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Pella High School stands out for its exceptional academic performance, with students consistently outperforming the state averages in the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) for English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, 93.1% of 10th-grade students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to the state average of 73.8%. The school also has a lower percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch (13.61% in 2022-2023) compared to the nearby Pleasantville Community School District (19.28%) and Oskaloosa Community School District (46.79%).

While Pella High School's student-teacher ratio of 17.2 in 2022-2023 is higher than the nearby schools, which range from 9.4 to 14.8, the school's academic success suggests that this higher ratio does not hinder student learning. Additionally, Pella High School's spending per student ($13,389 in 2018-2019) is lower than the nearby schools, which range from $14,367 to $19,905 per student, indicating that the district is effectively allocating resources and prioritizing academic achievement.

Detail:

Public 9-12

212 E University St
Pella, IA 50219

(641) 628-3870

District: Pella Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
6^th of 338 Iowa High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,389

Feeder schools for Pella High School:

Elementary:	Lincoln Elementary School
	Madison Elementary School
Middle:	Jefferson Intermediate
	Pella Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 17.0

Number of students: 791

Racial breakdown:

White:

86.9%

Two or more races:

3.9%

Hispanic:

3.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 13.5%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Pella High School ranks better than 98.2% of high schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 89.23. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Pella 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 Racial makeup is: White (86.9%), two or more races (3.9%), Hispanic (3.3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 13.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Pella High School is 17. (See more...)

Compare Pella High School employs 46.4 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Pella High School is $13,389.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Pella High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Pella High School 6^th of 338 Iowa public high schools. (See Pella High School in the ranking list.)

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Rank History for Pella High School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	80.82	34^th	351	90.3%
2013	62.06	144^th	351	59.0%
2014	80.43	40^th	322	87.6%
2015	81.34	25^th	324	92.3%
2016	90.60	12^th	320	96.3%
2017	77.82	49^th	325	84.9%
2018	72.88	79^th	320	75.3%
2019	83.27	24^th	327	92.7%
2021	91.21	8^th	327	97.6%
2022	94.84	4^th	332	98.8%
2023	92.10	6^th	336	98.2%
2024	89.23	6^th	338	98.2%

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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Reviews:
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Enrollment information for Pella High School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	433	0	16	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	449
1989	450	0	14	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	464
1990	456	0	12	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	468
1991	477	1	10	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	493
1992	475	0	21	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	501
1993	501	0	10	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	513
1994	493	1	17	4	1	n/a	n/a	0	516
1995	593	0	18	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	611
1996	593	0	18	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	611
1997	646	0	22	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	668
1998	658	0	40	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	698
1999	600	0	32	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	632
2000	598	2	28	3	1	n/a	n/a	0	632
2001	618	1	24	3	1	n/a	n/a	0	647
2002	625	4	22	7	0	n/a	n/a	0	658
2003	625	4	22	7	0	n/a	n/a	0	658
2004	602	4	26	11	0	n/a	n/a	0	643
2005	593	3	27	11	1	n/a	n/a	0	635
2006	601	5	25	10	0	n/a	n/a	0	641
2007	624	8	26	10	1	n/a	n/a	0	669
2008	641	7	29	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	682
2009	609	7	30	10	0	n/a	n/a	0	656
2010	627	3	26	13	0	0	12	0	681
2011	635	5	24	11	1	0	10	0	686
2012	628	4	21	13	0	0	9	0	675
2013	629	4	22	19	0	0	7	0	681
2014	637	4	16	19	0	0	8	0	684
2015	614	8	19	20	0	0	8	0	669
2016	621	10	22	17	0	0	7	0	677
2017	613	13	30	19	0	0	8	0	683
2018	602	19	33	11	0	0	4	0	669
2019	620	17	36	13	1	0	6	0	693
2020	625	19	34	17	1	0	10	0	706
2021	645	17	24	16	1	0	12	0	715
2022	653	16	20	23	2	0	23	1	738
2023	668	15	21	25	1	2	29	3	764
2024	687	20	20	26	1	4	31	2	791

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 Pella High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	449	29.2	15.3	5.1
1989	464	2.9	160.0	4.5
1990	468	28.4	16.4	3.4
1991	493	31.3	15.7	3.7
1992	501	33.0	15.1	5.8
1993	513	34.0	15.1	6.2
1994	516	33.6	15.4	7.2
1995	611	38.4	15.9	7
1996	611	38.4	15.9	7
1997	668	37.6	17.8	6.7
1998	698	37.6	18.6	5.3
1999	632	42.0	15.0	7.9
2000	632	44.2	14.3	6.5
2001	647	40.0	16.2	6.3
2002	658	43.6	15.1	10.2
2003	658	43.6	15.1	10.2
2004	643	46.6	13.8	13.8
2005	635	42.5	14.9	13.9
2006	641	44.0	14.6	14.2
2007	669	43.6	15.3	13.3
2008	682	43.2	15.8	11.9
2009	656	42.6	15.4	12
2010	681	43.4	15.6	16.6
2011	686	44.8	15.2	17.5
2012	675	43.6	15.4	16.6
2013	681	44.1	15.4	16.3
2014	684	45.1	15.1	15.6
2015	669	46.0	14.5	19.1
2016	677	48.0	14.1	17.4
2017	683	44.4	15.3	16.5
2018	669	48.2	13.8	12.7
2019	693	46.8	14.7	17.9
2020	706	47.2	14.9	13.9
2021	715	46.0	15.5	12.6
2022	738	46.4	15.9	16
2023	764	44.3	17.2	13.6
2024	791	46.4	17.0	13.5

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 Pella High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	449	29.2	15.3	5.1
1989	464	2.9	160.0	4.5
1990	468	28.4	16.4	3.4
1991	493	31.3	15.7	3.7
1992	501	33.0	15.1	5.8
1993	513	34.0	15.1	6.2
1994	516	33.6	15.4	7.2
1995	611	38.4	15.9	7
1996	611	38.4	15.9	7
1997	668	37.6	17.8	6.7
1998	698	37.6	18.6	5.3
1999	632	42.0	15.0	7.9
2000	632	44.2	14.3	6.5
2001	647	40.0	16.2	6.3
2002	658	43.6	15.1	10.2
2003	658	43.6	15.1	10.2
2004	643	46.6	13.8	13.8
2005	635	42.5	14.9	13.9
2006	641	44.0	14.6	14.2
2007	669	43.6	15.3	13.3
2008	682	43.2	15.8	11.9
2009	656	42.6	15.4	12
2010	681	43.4	15.6	16.6
2011	686	44.8	15.2	17.5
2012	675	43.6	15.4	16.6
2013	681	44.1	15.4	16.3
2014	684	45.1	15.1	15.6
2015	669	46.0	14.5	19.1
2016	677	48.0	14.1	17.4
2017	683	44.4	15.3	16.5
2018	669	48.2	13.8	12.7
2019	693	46.8	14.7	17.9
2020	706	47.2	14.9	13.9
2021	715	46.0	15.5	12.6
2022	738	46.4	15.9	16
2023	764	44.3	17.2	13.6
2024	791	46.4	17.0	13.5

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 Pella High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$358 (2.7%)	$13,030 (97.3%)	$13,389

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Pella 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 24^th of 327 High schools	Ranks 6^th of 336 High schools	5.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
10th Grade English Language Arts (Pella High School)	84.2	88.5	4.3%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Pella Community School District)	84.2	88.5	4.3%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	74.3	72.9	1.4%
10th Grade Mathematics (Pella High School)	81.5	86.2	4.7%
10th Grade Mathematics (Pella Community School District)	81.5	86.2	4.7%
10th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	67.1	67	0.1%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Pella High School)	85.8	92.5	6.7%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Pella Community School District)	85.8	92.5	6.7%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	71.4	68.7	2.7%
11th Grade Mathematics (Pella High School)	82.1	89.8	7.7%
11th Grade Mathematics (Pella Community School District)	82.1	89.8	7.7%
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	693	764	10.2%
African American	17	15	11.8%
American Indian	1	1
Asian	36	21	41.7%
Hispanic	13	25	92.3%
Pacific Islander	0	2
White	620	668	7.7%
Two or More Races	6	29	383.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	17.9%	13.6%	4.3%

Schools Near Pella 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
Pella High School	Public	9-12	212 E University St	Pella	50219	Marion County	Pella Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(641) 628-3870	791	46	17.0	13.5%	687 (86.9%)	20 (2.5%)	26 (3.3%)	20 (2.5%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.5%)	31 (3.9%)	89.2	6^th of 338 public high schools	98.2%		92.1	6^th of 336 public high schools	98.2%				89.4	93.1	89.0			80.8	90.6	87.3		88.2	$13,389	$358	$13,030
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	503	35	14.4	40.0%	452 (89.9%)	3 (0.6%)	24 (4.8%)	3 (0.6%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	17 (3.4%)	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
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	159	15	10.4	52.8%	139 (87.4%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (6.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (5.0%)	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
PCM High School	Public	9-12	400 East Highway 163	Monroe	50170	Jasper County	PCM Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 994-8222	344	25	13.7	27.3%	320 (93.0%)	1 (0.3%)	18 (5.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.2%)	61.1	141^st of 338 public high schools	58.3%		64.9	109^th of 336 public high schools	67.6%	32			80.2	83.0	68.8			65.4	73.9	71.3		70.5	$13,660	$359	$13,301
Lynnville-Sully High School	Public	9-12	12476 Hwy F62 E	Sully	50251	Jasper County	Lynnville-Sully Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(641) 594-4445	156	11	14.3	19.2%	153 (98.1%)	1 (0.6%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	81.9	26^th of 338 public high schools	92.3%		82	29^th of 336 public high schools	91.4%	3			97.5	80.5	77.4			87.5	85.4	80.6		78.0	$15,419	$151	$15,268
North Mahaska Junior-Senior High School	Public	7-12	2163 135th St	New Sharon	50207	Mahaska County	North Mahaska Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(641) 637-4187	286	21	13.7	31.5%	273 (95.5%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.4%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.4%)	65.7	117^th of 338 public high schools	65.4%		58.8	142^nd of 336 public high schools	57.7%	25	83.6	71.8	78.9	73.7	81.0	83.6	89.7	76.3	78.9	70.7	61.5	69.6	$15,724	$178	$15,545
Oskaloosa High School	Public	9-12	1816 N 3rd Extension	Oskaloosa	52577	Mahaska County	Oskaloosa Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(641) 673-3407	620	41	15.2	40.3%	544 (87.7%)	12 (1.9%)	27 (4.4%)	11 (1.8%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (3.9%)	45	220^th of 338 public high schools	34.9%		45.2	213^th of 336 public high schools	36.6%	7			78.5	74.3	75.4			61.3	62.4	73.8		40.7	$14,367	$203	$14,165
Oskaloosa Virtual Academy	Public, Virtual	7-12	1800 North 3rd Street	Oskaloosa	52577	Mahaska County	Oskaloosa Community School District	No	(n/a)	Yes	No	(641) 673-8345	25	2	12.4	60.0%	23 (92.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (4.0%)	1 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
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	245	18	13.7	32.7%	222 (90.6%)	4 (1.6%)	12 (4.9%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	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

Frequently Asked Questions about Pella High School

What district is Pella High School in?

Pella Community School District

How many students attend Pella High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 791 students attended Pella High School.

Is Pella High School a good school?

Yes! Pella High School is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 6^th of 338 Iowa high schools.

What schools feed into Pella High School?

Pella High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Lincoln Elementary School
Elementary : Madison Elementary School
Middle : Jefferson Intermediate
Middle : Pella Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Pella High School?

Students at Pella High School are 87% White, 4% Two or more races, 3% Hispanic, 3% African American, 3% Asian.

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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.