Van Meter Middle School

Summary:

Van Meter Middle School is a public middle school serving grades 6-8 in the Van Meter Community School District, consistently ranking among the top middle schools in Iowa with a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Van Meter Middle School students consistently outperform the state averages in ISASP (Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress) tests for English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, 94.3% of 6th graders, 95.8% of 7th graders, and 90.4% of 8th graders were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the state averages of 74.5%, 77.3%, and 77.5%, respectively. However, the school has a relatively homogeneous student population, with over 90% of students identifying as White, in contrast to some nearby schools like Indian Hills Junior High School and Stilwell Junior High School, which have more diverse student populations.

Van Meter Middle School also has a very low percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 5.29% to 5.77% over the past three school years, significantly lower than the nearby schools like Indian Hills Junior High School (45.4%) and Stilwell Junior High School (36.11%). Additionally, the school has a higher student-teacher ratio compared to the nearby schools, ranging from 36.4 to 39.1 over the past three school years, which may impact the level of individual attention and support available to students.

Detail:

Public 6-8

520 1st Ave
Van Meter, IA 50261

(515) 996-2221

District: Van Meter Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
6^th of 337 Iowa Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $7,390

Students who attend Van Meter Middle School usually attend:

High:

Van Meter High School

Feeder schools for Van Meter Middle School:

Elementary:

Van Meter Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 39.1

Number of students: 227

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.2%

Hispanic:

4.4%

Two or more races:

1.8%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 5.3%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Van Meter Middle School ranks better than 98.2% of middle schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 90.12. (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 Van Meter Middle School is $7,390.

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

SchoolDigger ranks Van Meter Middle School 6^th of 337 Iowa public middle schools. (See Van Meter Middle School in the ranking list.)

Van Meter Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Van Meter Community School District 4^th of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Van Meter Middle School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IA State Percentile
2019	85.15	20^th	342	94.2%
2021	86.26	15^th	324	95.4%
2022	90.34	7^th	337	97.9%
2023	91.31	4^th	334	98.8%
2024	90.12	6^th	337	98.2%

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 Van Meter Middle School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2018	185	0	0	6	1	0	0	192
2019	196	0	0	7	2	0	2	207
2020	194	3	0	5	1	0	1	204
2021	193	2	1	7	2	1	2	208
2022	199	4	2	10	1	1	3	220
2023	207	2	3	10	0	1	4	227

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 Van Meter Middle School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2018	192	n/a	n/a	11.5
2019	207	5.7	36.3	12.6
2020	204	5.7	35.7	10.3
2021	208	5.7	36.4	5.8
2022	220	5.8	37.9	5.5
2023	227	5.8	39.1	5.3

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 Van Meter Middle School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2018	192	n/a	n/a	11.5
2019	207	5.7	36.3	12.6
2020	204	5.7	35.7	10.3
2021	208	5.7	36.4	5.8
2022	220	5.8	37.9	5.5
2023	227	5.8	39.1	5.3

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 Van Meter Middle School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$259 (3.5%)	$7,131 (96.5%)	$7,390

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Van Meter 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 20^th of 342 Middle schools	Ranks 4^th of 334 Middle schools	4.7%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Van Meter Middle School)	77.1	94.2	17.1%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Van Meter Community School District)	77.1	94.2	17.1%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	67.5	72.7	5.2%
6th Grade Mathematics (Van Meter Middle School)	80	91.3	11.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (Van Meter Community School District)	80	91.3	11.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	69.4	69.9	0.5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Van Meter Middle School)	88.6	92.5	3.9%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Van Meter Community School District)	88.6	92.5	3.9%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	69.9	74.2	4.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (Van Meter Middle School)	85.7	88.8	3.1%
7th Grade Mathematics (Van Meter Community School District)	85.7	88.8	3.1%
7th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	70.1	68.9	1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Van Meter Middle School)	90.5	96	5.5%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Van Meter Community School District)	90.5	96	5.5%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	69.5	76	6.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Van Meter Middle School)	93.7	86.7	7%
8th Grade Mathematics (Van Meter Community School District)	93.7	86.7	7%
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	207	227	9.7%
African American	0	2
American Indian	2	0	100%
Asian	0	3
Hispanic	7	10	42.9%
Pacific Islander	0	1
White	196	207	5.6%
Two or More Races	2	4	100%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	12.6%	5.3%	7.3%

Schools Near Van Meter 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
Van Meter Middle School	Public	6-8	520 1st Ave	Van Meter	50261	Dallas County	Van Meter Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 996-2221	227	6	39.1	5.3%	207 (91.2%)	2 (0.9%)	10 (4.4%)	3 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	4 (1.8%)	90.1	6^th of 337 public middle schools	98.2%		91.3	4^th of 334 public middle schools	98.8%	2		94.3	95.8	90.4		87.4	93.0	90.4		90.4	$7,390	$259	$7,131
DeSoto Intermediate School	Public	5-6	317 Spruce St	De Soto	50069	Dallas County	Adel DeSoto Minburn Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 834-2424	347	24	14.4	20.2%	315 (90.8%)	3 (0.9%)	12 (3.5%)	3 (0.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.7%)								(n/a)	91.1	91.4			87.3	85.8			85.4		$10,530	$359	$10,171
South Middle School	Public	6-7	2350 SE LA Grant Parkway	Waukee	50263	Dallas County	Waukee Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 987-3222	909	61	14.9	25.6%	571 (62.8%)	79 (8.7%)	76 (8.4%)	105 (11.6%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	76 (8.4%)	69.7	88^th of 337 public middle schools	73.9%		63	123^rd of 334 public middle schools	63.2%	35		83.0	86.0			82.2	74.2				$12,239	$285	$11,954
ADM Middle School	Public	7-8	801 Nile Kinnick Dr. S.	Adel	50003	Dallas County	Adel DeSoto Minburn Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 993-3490	343	23	15.0	20.4%	313 (91.3%)	2 (0.6%)	17 (5.0%)	3 (0.9%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	6 (1.7%)	69.9	86^th of 337 public middle schools	74.5%		81.7	31^st of 334 public middle schools	90.7%	55			90.4	91.4			74.4	74.2		72.2	$10,460	$110	$10,351
Waukee Middle School	Public	6-7	905 S. Warrior Lane	Waukee	50263	Dallas County	Waukee Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 987-5177	1,069	68	15.7	12.1%	834 (78.0%)	42 (3.9%)	79 (7.4%)	62 (5.8%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	51 (4.8%)	77.7	46^th of 337 public middle schools	86.4%		84.3	19^th of 334 public middle schools	94.3%	27		85.5	89.6			81.9	81.2				$11,676	$209	$11,466
Trailridge School	Public	6-7	1455 NW Douglas Parkway	Waukee	50263	Dallas County	Waukee Community School District	No	(n/a)	(n/a)	(n/a)	(515) 987-5161	0				0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	86.2	15^th of 337 public middle schools	95.5%					(n/a)		86.0	91.9			93.0	87.2
Earlham Middle School	Public	6-8	535 N Chestnut Ave	Earlham	50072	Madison County	Earlham Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 758-2214	132	7	19.4	15.9%	121 (91.7%)	3 (2.3%)	5 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.3%)	63	128^th of 337 public middle schools	62.0%		51.3	184^th of 334 public middle schools	44.9%	56		78.8	73.8	78.4		82.7	73.8	86.5		78.4	$13,748	$102	$13,646
Dallas Center-Grimes Middle School	Public	5-6	1400 Vine Street	Dallas Center	50063	Dallas County	Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 992-4343	527	36	14.7	18.8%	468 (88.8%)	24 (4.6%)	19 (3.6%)	8 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.5%)								(n/a)	82.6	92.8			81.1	87.2			68.7		$11,420	$262	$11,159
Indian Hills Junior High School	Public	7-8	9401 Indian Hills Dr	Clive	50325	Polk County	West Des Moines Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 633-4700	696	53	13.1	45.4%	354 (50.9%)	71 (10.2%)	154 (22.1%)	63 (9.1%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (7.5%)	59.8	149^th of 337 public middle schools	55.8%		65.5	109^th of 334 public middle schools	67.4%	40			83.2	77.3			78.9	81.3		64.5	$15,125	$193	$14,931
Stilwell Junior High School	Public	7-8	1601 Vine St	West Des Moines	50265	Polk County	West Des Moines Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 633-6000	684	48	14.3	36.1%	449 (65.6%)	72 (10.5%)	91 (13.3%)	30 (4.4%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	39 (5.7%)	52.1	189^th of 337 public middle schools	43.9%		56.8	166^th of 334 public middle schools	50.3%	23			76.9	79.3			66.2	82.0		67.2	$15,102	$192	$14,909

Frequently Asked Questions about Van Meter Middle School

Is Van Meter Middle School a good school?

Yes! Van Meter Middle School is one of the best middle schools in the state. It ranks 6^th of 337 Iowa middle schools.

What is the racial makeup of Van Meter Middle School?

Students at Van Meter Middle School are 91% White, 4% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

What district is Van Meter Middle School in?

Van Meter Community School District

What high school do graduates of Van Meter Middle School attend?

Students who attend Van Meter Middle School usually go on to attend Van Meter High School

How many students attend Van Meter Middle School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 227 students attended Van Meter 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.