Is Spencer Middle School a good school?

Spencer Middle School ranks 126 th of 337 Iowa middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Spencer Middle School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 502 students attended Spencer Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Spencer Middle School?

Students at Spencer Middle School are 87% White, 8% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

What high school do graduates of Spencer Middle School attend?

Students who attend Spencer Middle School usually go on to attend Spencer High School

Spencer Middle School in Spencer IA

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

SchoolDigger ranks Spencer Middle School 126^th of 337 Iowa public middle schools. (See Spencer Middle School in the ranking list.)

Spencer Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Spencer Community School District 130^th of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Spencer Middle School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	58.80	138^th	349	60.5%
2013	56.93	161^st	350	54.0%
2014	45.24	212^th	337	37.1%
2015	48.25	208^th	349	40.4%
2016	65.53	107^th	343	68.8%
2017	67.21	95^th	327	70.9%
2018	62.90	112^th	318	64.8%
2019	78.31	42^nd	342	87.7%
2021	68.89	82^nd	324	74.7%
2022	53.74	164^th	337	51.3%
2023	58.71	156^th	334	53.3%
2024	63.61	126^th	337	62.6%

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: 1)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Saturday, January 30, 2021

There are teachers that think they are better than everyone and try to throw their "power" around. If you have a problem with the principal, the superintendent will not get involved, leaving the principal unchecked to do or not do as she pleases. This "community" is all about money and it shows with so many teachers. Even the students are very click oriented. Good luck getting anything taken care of if there are problems. A few of the teachers are downright rude and a disgrace to the teacher career. They scream at students and parents, treating everyone with 0 respect if you aren't an athlete. They scream at students to not do something that they themselves are doing as they're telling kids not to. The teachers also find it appropriate to talk about student's parents to other teachers when other students are around. Some of the teachers even talk about how much they hate kids while walking amongst the students. This school is absolutely ridiculous if your child needs extra help with anything. There is 0 resources offered. And if a parent asks for work to be sent home for extra help they tell you no. So parent involvement is pretty much nothing and not by our choice. I'd be happy to move away from this school district. You couldn't pay me enough to keep my kids in this crap show. Close Quote

by a parent
Thursday, May 10, 2018

Bullying is a major problem in this school and some of the administration and teachers are part of the problem. The administration refuses to listen to parents concerns or actually let a child have a voice. Is your student an athlete and a troublemaker? Likely they will never see the inside of the principals office or be reprimanded. If your child has ADD or ADHD they will be pretargeted and every action scrutinized. This school is horrible for discriminating against social status, participation in athletics (or lack of) and academic aptitude. If you read slower, struggle to grasp concepts immediately or need extra time or assistance to get started on a project or an assignment... good luck. My child has come home crying numerous times because the teachers just don’t help by using a different approach to help get the wheels spinning. No out of the box thinking when it comes to this school. I’ve met with some of our administration and they even present to other adults that they are ‘better’ than you. This school has a fixed mindset that lacks the ability to truly desire to understand students & parents in a way that will improve the culture within its walls. Close Quote

Enrollment information for Spencer Middle School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	331	1	3	0	0	n/a	n/a	335
1989	359	2	3	0	0	n/a	n/a	364
1990	370	0	3	0	0	n/a	n/a	373
1991	412	0	2	0	1	n/a	n/a	415
1992	436	0	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	440
1993	432	0	3	0	2	n/a	n/a	437
1994	401	0	5	0	2	n/a	n/a	408
1995	428	1	6	0	1	n/a	n/a	436
1996	428	1	6	0	1	n/a	n/a	436
1997	431	2	4	1	0	n/a	n/a	438
1998	397	2	8	2	0	n/a	n/a	409
1999	388	3	8	1	0	n/a	n/a	400
2000	347	1	9	3	1	n/a	n/a	361
2001	355	1	8	4	2	n/a	n/a	370
2002	362	1	6	2	0	n/a	n/a	371
2003	362	1	6	2	0	n/a	n/a	371
2004	377	3	7	5	2	n/a	n/a	394
2005	340	2	8	8	0	n/a	n/a	358
2006	307	2	8	7	0	n/a	n/a	324
2007	312	9	8	9	0	n/a	n/a	338
2008	321	9	6	14	1	n/a	n/a	351
2009	303	5	6	15	2	n/a	n/a	331
2010	286	4	6	12	3	0	3	314
2011	286	2	5	13	0	0	6	312
2012	282	2	4	18	2	0	5	313
2013	383	4	3	32	2	0	5	429
2014	387	4	4	35	1	0	5	436
2015	388	8	2	40	1	0	2	441
2016	373	8	3	54	1	0	6	445
2017	413	6	1	49	0	0	4	473
2018	457	5	3	46	1	0	6	518
2019	454	4	2	42	2	0	6	510
2020	455	9	3	41	1	0	3	512
2021	463	6	4	44	1	0	8	526
2022	454	6	5	37	1	0	13	516
2023	449	3	4	40	2	0	16	514
2024	436	4	3	41	1	0	17	502

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 Spencer Middle School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	335	27.8	12.0	25.7
1989	364	27.5	13.2	21.7
1990	373	25.5	14.6	19
1991	415	27.2	15.2	12.8
1992	440	28.0	15.7	15.2
1993	437	28.6	15.3	17.8
1994	408	28.4	14.4	17.9
1995	436	27.7	15.7	12.2
1996	436	27.7	15.7	12.2
1997	438	31.5	13.9	12.6
1998	409	28.4	14.4	14.2
1999	400	30.6	13.1	20.8
2000	361	28.2	12.8	22.2
2001	370	28.7	12.9	20.5
2002	371	25.8	14.4	22.6
2003	371	25.8	14.4	22.6
2004	394	25.7	15.3	20.6
2005	358	25.2	14.2	21.5
2006	324	25.2	12.9	25
2007	338	24.7	13.7	26.3
2008	351	23.8	14.7	27.9
2009	331	21.0	15.8	28.4
2010	314	19.1	16.4	32.5
2011	312	20.6	15.0	33
2012	313	21.6	14.4	38.3
2013	429	27.7	15.4	46.2
2014	436	26.7	16.3	39.7
2015	441	30.0	14.7	44.2
2016	445	30.0	14.8	39.8
2017	473	30.4	15.5	38.3
2018	518	30.6	16.9	36.9
2019	510	29.1	17.5	45.5
2020	512	30.9	16.5	43.9
2021	526	30.8	17.0	43.2
2022	516	31.4	16.4	43
2023	514	31.6	16.2	43
2024	502	30.9	16.2	40.2

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 Spencer Middle School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	335	27.8	12.0	25.7
1989	364	27.5	13.2	21.7
1990	373	25.5	14.6	19
1991	415	27.2	15.2	12.8
1992	440	28.0	15.7	15.2
1993	437	28.6	15.3	17.8
1994	408	28.4	14.4	17.9
1995	436	27.7	15.7	12.2
1996	436	27.7	15.7	12.2
1997	438	31.5	13.9	12.6
1998	409	28.4	14.4	14.2
1999	400	30.6	13.1	20.8
2000	361	28.2	12.8	22.2
2001	370	28.7	12.9	20.5
2002	371	25.8	14.4	22.6
2003	371	25.8	14.4	22.6
2004	394	25.7	15.3	20.6
2005	358	25.2	14.2	21.5
2006	324	25.2	12.9	25
2007	338	24.7	13.7	26.3
2008	351	23.8	14.7	27.9
2009	331	21.0	15.8	28.4
2010	314	19.1	16.4	32.5
2011	312	20.6	15.0	33
2012	313	21.6	14.4	38.3
2013	429	27.7	15.4	46.2
2014	436	26.7	16.3	39.7
2015	441	30.0	14.7	44.2
2016	445	30.0	14.8	39.8
2017	473	30.4	15.5	38.3
2018	518	30.6	16.9	36.9
2019	510	29.1	17.5	45.5
2020	512	30.9	16.5	43.9
2021	526	30.8	17.0	43.2
2022	516	31.4	16.4	43
2023	514	31.6	16.2	43
2024	502	30.9	16.2	40.2

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 Spencer Middle School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$315 (2.6%)	$11,626 (97.4%)	$11,941

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Spencer 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 42^nd of 342 Middle schools	Ranks 156^th of 334 Middle schools	34.4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Spencer Middle School)	77.1	79.6	2.5%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Spencer Community School District)	77.1	79.6	2.5%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	67.5	72.7	5.2%
6th Grade Mathematics (Spencer Middle School)	76.6	80.3	3.7%
6th Grade Mathematics (Spencer Community School District)	76.6	80.3	3.7%
6th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	69.4	69.9	0.5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Spencer Middle School)	76	75.2	0.8%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Spencer Community School District)	76	75.2	0.8%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	69.9	74.2	4.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (Spencer Middle School)	86.5	68.3	18.2%
7th Grade Mathematics (Spencer Community School District)	86.5	68.3	18.2%
7th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	70.1	68.9	1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Spencer Middle School)	84	77.9	6.1%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Spencer Community School District)	84	77.9	6.1%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	69.5	76	6.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Spencer Middle School)	86.2	82.4	3.8%
8th Grade Mathematics (Spencer Community School District)	86.2	82.4	3.8%
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	510	514	0.8%
African American	4	3	25%
American Indian	2	2
Asian	2	4	100%
Hispanic	42	40	4.8%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	454	449	1.1%
Two or More Races	6	16	166.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	45.5%	43%	2.5%

Elementary:	Fairview Park Elementary
	Johnson Elementary
	Lincoln Elementary School

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
Spencer Middle School	Public	6-8	1400 10th Avenue East	Spencer	51301	Clay County	Spencer Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 262-3345	502	31	16.2	40.2%	436 (86.9%)	4 (0.8%)	41 (8.2%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.4%)	63.6	126^th of 337 public middle schools	62.6%		58.7	156^th of 334 public middle schools	53.3%	30		73.4	87.1	82.4		80.4	81.7	81.8		62.9	$11,941	$315	$11,626
Okoboji Middle School	Public	5-8	1800 6th Street	Milford	51351	Dickinson County	Okoboji Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 338-4757	335	28	11.8	35.5%	297 (88.7%)	1 (0.3%)	21 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.8%)	62.7	131^st of 337 public middle schools	61.1%		73.4	71^st of 334 public middle schools	78.7%	60	74.4	83.5	74.1	79.3	87.2	78.5	75.3	82.9	67.4	75.6	$13,326	$189	$13,137
Spirit Lake Middle School	Public	5-8	609 28th St	Spirit Lake	51360	Dickinson County	Spirit Lake Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 336-1370	364	24	15.3	24.2%	315 (86.5%)	2 (0.5%)	28 (7.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.9%)	72.3	73^rd of 337 public middle schools	78.3%		69.3	90^th of 334 public middle schools	73.1%	17	68.3	84.8	79.1	83.7	83.5	81.5	76.7	87.0	65.9	81.5	$12,257	$62	$12,195
Sioux Central Middle School	Public	6-8	4440 U.S. Hwy 71	Sioux Rapids	50585	Buena Vista County	Sioux Central Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 283-2571	145	7	21.2	23.4%	106 (73.1%)	4 (2.8%)	22 (15.2%)	2 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.4%)	9 (6.2%)	60.1	147^th of 337 public middle schools	56.4%		68.3	96^th of 334 public middle schools	71.3%	51		78.6	85.1	80.0		73.8	76.6	75.6		68.9	$12,869	$350	$12,519
Graettinger-Terril Middle School	Public	6-8	205 S Lincoln Ave	Graettinger	51342	Palo Alto County	Graettinger-Terril Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(712) 859-3286	68	6	11.6	54.4%	64 (94.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.5%)	1 (1.5%)	34.1	257^th of 337 public middle schools	23.7%		21.1	288^th of 334 public middle schools	13.8%	31		58.3	82.6	67.9		66.7	78.3	57.1		57.1	$13,248	$220	$13,029

Spencer Middle School

Spencer Community School District:

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Rank History for Spencer Middle School

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Enrollment information for Spencer Middle School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Spencer Middle School

Student/Teacher Ratio Spencer Middle School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Spencer Middle School

Impact of COVID-19 on Spencer Middle School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

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