West Branch Middle School

Q: Is West Branch Middle School a good school?

West Branch Middle School ranks 194 th of 337 Iowa middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

West Branch Middle School is a public middle school serving 257 students in grades 5-8 in the West Branch Community School District located in West Branch, Iowa.

The school consistently outperforms the state average on ISASP (Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress) tests, with 87.5% of 5th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts compared to the state average of 69%, and 90% of 5th graders proficient or better in Mathematics compared to the state average of 70.7%. However, the school's statewide ranking has declined in recent years, from a high of 41 out of 342 Iowa middle schools in 2018-2019 to 194 out of 337 in 2023-2024, suggesting other schools in the state may be improving at a faster rate.

Compared to nearby schools like Mount Vernon Middle School and Clear Creek Amana Middle School, West Branch Middle School has a significantly less diverse student population, with 90.66% of students identifying as White in the 2022-2023 school year. Additionally, the school has a lower percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at 26.46%, compared to some nearby schools with higher rates.

Detail:

Public 5-8

900 W. Main St.
West Branch, IA 52358-0637

(319) 643-5324

District: West Branch Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
194^th of 337 Iowa Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $14,753

Students who attend West Branch Middle School usually attend:

High:

West Branch High School

Feeder schools for West Branch Middle School:

Elementary:

Hoover Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 15.5

Number of students: 257

Racial breakdown:

White:

90.7%

Hispanic:

6.6%

Two or more races:

1.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 26.5%

See top rated Iowa middle schools

Compare West Branch Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details West Branch Middle School ranks worse than 57.6% of middle schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 50.29. (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 West Branch Middle School is $14,753.

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

SchoolDigger ranks West Branch Middle School 194^th of 337 Iowa public middle schools. (See West Branch Middle School in the ranking list.)

West Branch Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks West Branch Community School District 204^th of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for West Branch Middle School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	76.85	40^th	349	88.5%
2013	80.00	25^th	350	92.9%
2014	55.66	163^rd	337	51.6%
2015	52.98	184^th	349	47.3%
2016	43.91	220^th	343	35.9%
2017	41.63	224^th	327	31.5%
2018	60.78	127^th	318	60.1%
2019	78.46	41^st	342	88.0%
2021	57.91	142^nd	324	56.2%
2022	55.39	155^th	337	54.0%
2023	55.49	172^nd	334	48.5%
2024	50.29	194^th	337	42.4%

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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Reviews:
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Enrollment information for West Branch Middle School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	136	0	3	4	0	n/a	n/a	143
1989	145	0	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	149
1990	165	0	2	3	0	n/a	n/a	170
1991	197	0	1	2	0	n/a	n/a	200
1992	193	0	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	195
1993	209	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	209
1994	183	0	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	186
1995	180	0	1	2	0	n/a	n/a	183
1996	180	0	1	2	0	n/a	n/a	183
1997	188	0	2	3	0	n/a	n/a	193
1998	177	1	2	3	1	n/a	n/a	184
1999	175	1	3	2	0	n/a	n/a	181
2000	169	2	4	2	0	n/a	n/a	177
2001	178	2	4	2	0	n/a	n/a	186
2002	183	0	2	2	2	n/a	n/a	189
2003	183	0	2	2	2	n/a	n/a	189
2004	190	2	0	1	2	n/a	n/a	195
2005	183	2	0	1	1	n/a	n/a	187
2006	177	1	1	3	1	n/a	n/a	183
2007	165	2	1	3	0	n/a	n/a	171
2008	175	4	3	4	3	n/a	n/a	189
2009	173	6	3	3	2	n/a	n/a	187
2010	168	0	2	4	3	0	9	186
2011	155	0	0	8	2	0	7	172
2012	154	0	0	9	1	0	8	172
2013	220	0	0	8	0	0	11	239
2014	234	1	0	11	0	0	15	261
2015	222	2	0	9	0	0	14	247
2016	210	4	1	12	0	1	13	241
2017	210	3	0	15	0	1	8	237
2018	202	2	1	12	0	1	9	227
2019	194	3	0	14	0	1	6	218
2020	219	2	0	19	0	1	7	248
2021	219	4	0	15	0	1	8	247
2022	220	5	0	19	0	1	6	251
2023	233	3	0	17	0	0	4	257

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 West Branch Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	143	9.3	15.3	7
1989	149	9.2	16.1	14.1
1990	170	12.0	14.1	7.6
1991	200	11.6	17.2	0
1992	195	11.0	17.7	n/a
1993	209	11.6	18.0	2.9
1994	186	11.9	15.6	2.7
1995	183	11.7	15.6	9.3
1996	183	11.7	15.6	9.3
1997	193	14.3	13.5	9.3
1998	184	14.3	12.9	10.9
1999	181	14.4	12.6	16
2000	177	13.6	13.0	12.4
2001	186	14.6	12.7	8.6
2002	189	13.5	14.0	7.9
2003	189	13.5	14.0	7.9
2004	195	13.2	14.8	7.7
2005	187	13.2	14.2	12.8
2006	183	13.2	13.9	11.5
2007	171	13.5	12.7	16.4
2008	189	12.3	15.4	15.3
2009	187	13.8	13.6	16.6
2010	186	13.4	13.8	22.6
2011	172	11.0	15.6	25.6
2012	172	11.6	14.8	24.4
2013	239	14.6	16.2	22.2
2014	261	16.0	16.2	25.7
2015	247	18.0	13.7	21.5
2016	241	19.0	12.6	23.2
2017	237	18.4	12.8	23.6
2018	227	15.6	14.4	15.4
2019	218	16.5	13.1	22.9
2020	248	16.6	14.9	29
2021	247	15.5	15.8	27.9
2022	251	16.5	15.1	27.5
2023	257	16.5	15.5	26.5

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 West Branch Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	143	9.3	15.3	7
1989	149	9.2	16.1	14.1
1990	170	12.0	14.1	7.6
1991	200	11.6	17.2	0
1992	195	11.0	17.7	n/a
1993	209	11.6	18.0	2.9
1994	186	11.9	15.6	2.7
1995	183	11.7	15.6	9.3
1996	183	11.7	15.6	9.3
1997	193	14.3	13.5	9.3
1998	184	14.3	12.9	10.9
1999	181	14.4	12.6	16
2000	177	13.6	13.0	12.4
2001	186	14.6	12.7	8.6
2002	189	13.5	14.0	7.9
2003	189	13.5	14.0	7.9
2004	195	13.2	14.8	7.7
2005	187	13.2	14.2	12.8
2006	183	13.2	13.9	11.5
2007	171	13.5	12.7	16.4
2008	189	12.3	15.4	15.3
2009	187	13.8	13.6	16.6
2010	186	13.4	13.8	22.6
2011	172	11.0	15.6	25.6
2012	172	11.6	14.8	24.4
2013	239	14.6	16.2	22.2
2014	261	16.0	16.2	25.7
2015	247	18.0	13.7	21.5
2016	241	19.0	12.6	23.2
2017	237	18.4	12.8	23.6
2018	227	15.6	14.4	15.4
2019	218	16.5	13.1	22.9
2020	248	16.6	14.9	29
2021	247	15.5	15.8	27.9
2022	251	16.5	15.1	27.5
2023	257	16.5	15.5	26.5

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 West Branch Middle School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$580 (3.9%)	$14,171 (96.1%)	$14,753

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on West Branch 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 41^st of 342 Middle schools	Ranks 172^nd of 334 Middle schools	39.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
5th Grade English Language Arts (West Branch Middle School)	80.7	72.7	8%
5th Grade English Language Arts (West Branch Community School District)	80.7	72.7	8%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	67.3	68.3	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (West Branch Middle School)	71.9	80.3	8.4%
5th Grade Mathematics (West Branch Community School District)	71.9	80.3	8.4%
5th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	69.4	71.3	1.9%
6th Grade English Language Arts (West Branch Middle School)	83.6	76.7	6.9%
6th Grade English Language Arts (West Branch Community School District)	83.6	76.7	6.9%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	67.5	72.7	5.2%
6th Grade Mathematics (West Branch Middle School)	80	83.3	3.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (West Branch Community School District)	80	83.3	3.3%
6th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	69.4	69.9	0.5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (West Branch Middle School)	84.9	75	9.9%
7th Grade English Language Arts (West Branch Community School District)	84.9	75	9.9%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	69.9	74.2	4.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (West Branch Middle School)	79.2	69.6	9.6%
7th Grade Mathematics (West Branch Community School District)	79.2	69.6	9.6%
7th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	70.1	68.9	1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (West Branch Middle School)	80.8	80	0.8%
8th Grade English Language Arts (West Branch Community School District)	80.8	80	0.8%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	69.5	76	6.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (West Branch Middle School)	78.8	70	8.8%
8th Grade Mathematics (West Branch Community School District)	78.8	70	8.8%
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	218	257	17.9%
African American	3	3
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	14	17	21.4%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	194	233	20.1%
Two or More Races	6	4	33.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	22.9%	26.5%	3.5%

Schools Near West Branch 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
West Branch Middle School	Public	5-8	900 W. Main St.	West Branch	52358	Cedar County	West Branch Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 643-5324	257	17	15.5	26.5%	233 (90.7%)	3 (1.2%)	17 (6.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.6%)	50.3	194^th of 337 public middle schools	42.4%		55.5	172^nd of 334 public middle schools	48.5%	22	87.5	79.1	75.9	83.6	90.0	79.1	65.5	67.2	65.0	63.9	$14,753	$580	$14,171
Southeast Junior High School	Public	7-8	2501 Bradford Dr	Iowa City	52240	Johnson County	Iowa City Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 688-1070	812	55	14.7	49.6%	410 (50.5%)	164 (20.2%)	156 (19.2%)	15 (1.8%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	60 (7.4%)	36.9	248^th of 337 public middle schools	26.4%		25.4	280^th of 334 public middle schools	16.2%	32			79.5	73.1			66.8	61.4		62.4	$13,848	$402	$13,446
West Liberty Middle School	Public	5-8	203 E. 7th St	West Liberty	52776	Muscatine County	West Liberty Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 627-2118	399	28	14.3	53.4%	164 (41.1%)	2 (0.5%)	225 (56.4%)	5 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)	12.4	313^th of 337 public middle schools	7.1%		22.3	285^th of 334 public middle schools	14.7%	28	36.7	65.0	66.2	47.5	33.7	53.0	67.5	40.4	37.1	43.4	$13,387	$274	$13,113
Northwest Junior High School	Public	7-8	1507 8th St	Coralville	52241	Johnson County	Iowa City Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 688-1060	730	54	13.4	42.7%	335 (45.9%)	204 (27.9%)	71 (9.7%)	73 (10.0%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	41 (5.6%)	52.6	186^th of 337 public middle schools	44.8%		56.7	167^th of 334 public middle schools	50.0%	19			80.5	77.7			72.0	69.5		72.0	$14,464	$430	$14,034
Solon Middle School	Public	6-8	1775 Racine Ave.	Solon	52333	Johnson County	Solon Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 624-2381	345	23	14.9	6.7%	325 (94.2%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.7%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.2%)	86.8	14^th of 337 public middle schools	95.8%		84.2	20^th of 334 public middle schools	94.0%	6		86.9	90.5	95.7		85.0	90.5	91.3		82.6	$12,824	$214	$12,609
North Central Junior High School	Public	7-8	180 E. Forevergreen Rd	North Liberty	52317	Johnson County	Iowa City Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 688-1210	622	40	15.6	23.5%	428 (68.8%)	80 (12.9%)	46 (7.4%)	23 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (7.2%)	60.3	145^th of 337 public middle schools	57.0%		73.6	69^th of 334 public middle schools	79.3%	76			86.1	77.9			76.6	75.2		69.5	$13,555	$302	$13,252
Tipton Middle School	Public	5-8	725 West 7th St.	Tipton	52772	Cedar County	Tipton Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(563) 886-6025	292	20	14.4	32.5%	273 (93.5%)	1 (0.3%)	11 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.4%)	56.5	162^nd of 337 public middle schools	51.9%		44.1	212^th of 334 public middle schools	36.5%	50	80.0	88.5	89.6	72.3	72.3	80.3	65.7	75.4	70.8	63.1	$10,591	$216	$10,375
Clear Creek Amana Middle School	Public	6-8	311 W Marengo Rd	Tiffin	52340	Johnson County	Clear Creek Amana Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 545-4490	640	43	14.8	28.6%	491 (76.7%)	52 (8.1%)	52 (8.1%)	10 (1.6%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (5.2%)	59.3	151^st of 337 public middle schools	55.2%		63.1	117^th of 334 public middle schools	65.0%	34		77.0	85.8	79.3		70.0	81.7	77.5		67.1	$27,866	$261	$27,605
Mount Vernon Middle School	Public	5-8	525 Palisades Road SW	Mount Vernon	52314	Linn County	Mount Vernon Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 895-6254	397	26	15.2	17.4%	354 (89.2%)	4 (1.0%)	11 (2.8%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.3%)	89.6	9^th of 337 public middle schools	97.3%		88.4	7^th of 334 public middle schools	97.9%	2	82.2	92.2	91.4	91.8	85.0	92.2	85.7	93.9	82.2	91.8	$12,017	$516	$11,501

Frequently Asked Questions about West Branch Middle School

What is the racial makeup of West Branch Middle School?

Students at West Branch Middle School are 91% White, 7% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 1% African American.

What district is West Branch Middle School in?

West Branch Community School District

What high school do graduates of West Branch Middle School attend?

Students who attend West Branch Middle School usually go on to attend West Branch High School

How many students attend West Branch Middle School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 257 students attended West Branch Middle School.

Is West Branch Middle School a good school?

West Branch Middle School ranks 194^th of 337 Iowa middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate West Branch 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.