PCM Middle School

Q: Is PCM Middle School a good school?

PCM Middle School ranks 139 th of 337 Iowa middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

PCM Middle School is a public middle school located in Prairie City, Iowa, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 247 students. The school is part of the PCM Community School District, which is ranked 124 out of 309 districts in Iowa and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

PCM Middle School consistently outperforms the state average in ISASP (Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress) test scores across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, the school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts ranged from 82.7% to 91.5%, compared to the state average of 74.5% to 77.5%. Similarly, in Mathematics, the school's proficiency rates ranged from 64% to 74.6%, compared to the state average of 69.9% to 73.2%. Additionally, PCM Middle School has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 12.3 to 15.2 over the past few years, which is lower than the nearby schools in the Des Moines Independent Community School District (15.7 to 16.6).

While PCM Middle School's academic performance is strong, the school has a relatively homogeneous student population, with a majority (over 90%) of students identifying as White. This is in contrast to the nearby schools in the Des Moines district, which have much more diverse student populations. Additionally, PCM Middle School has a lower percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (around 28-30%) compared to the nearby Des Moines schools, which have significantly higher rates (over 80%). These differences in student demographics may contribute to the school's strong academic performance, but they also highlight the need for continued efforts to ensure educational equity and access for all students in the region.

Detail:

Public 6-8

407 Plainsmen Rd
Prairie City, IA 50228-0490

(515) 994-8222

District: PCM Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
139^th of 337 Iowa Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,929

Students who attend PCM Middle School usually attend:

High:

PCM High School

Feeder schools for PCM Middle School:

Elementary:	Monroe Elementary School
	Prairie City Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 13.3

Number of students: 240

Racial breakdown:

White:

89.6%

Hispanic:

5.0%

Two or more races:

4.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 30%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details PCM Middle School ranks better than 58.8% of middle schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 62.12. (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

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (89.6%), Hispanic (5%), two or more races (4.6%). (See more...)

Compare Details 30% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at PCM Middle School is 13.3. (See more...)

Compare PCM Middle School employs 17.9 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at PCM Middle School is $13,929.

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

SchoolDigger ranks PCM Middle School 139^th of 337 Iowa public middle schools. (See PCM Middle School in the ranking list.)

PCM Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks PCM Community School District 124^th of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for PCM Middle School

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	55.81	152^nd	349	56.4%
2013	53.65	181^st	350	48.3%
2014	76.74	41^st	337	87.8%
2015	73.46	64^th	349	81.7%
2016	61.06	134^th	343	60.9%
2017	71.17	74^th	327	77.4%
2018	57.92	141^st	318	55.7%
2019	46.25	210^th	342	38.6%
2021	48.87	184^th	324	43.2%
2022	57.58	144^th	337	57.3%
2023	56.11	171^st	334	48.8%
2024	62.12	139^th	337	58.8%

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 PCM Middle School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1992	240	0	5	0	0	n/a	n/a	245
1993	243	0	3	1	0	n/a	n/a	247
1994	249	0	4	1	0	n/a	n/a	254
1995	262	0	5	2	0	n/a	n/a	269
1996	262	0	5	2	0	n/a	n/a	269
1997	245	0	7	0	0	n/a	n/a	252
1998	237	2	2	4	0	n/a	n/a	245
1999	234	1	3	2	0	n/a	n/a	240
2000	219	3	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	224
2001	219	1	3	2	0	n/a	n/a	225
2002	218	0	3	2	0	n/a	n/a	223
2003	218	0	3	2	0	n/a	n/a	223
2004	238	0	3	1	0	n/a	n/a	242
2005	229	0	3	2	0	n/a	n/a	234
2006	254	0	1	3	0	n/a	n/a	258
2007	235	0	1	3	0	n/a	n/a	239
2008	237	3	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	244
2009	216	0	5	5	0	n/a	n/a	226
2010	203	0	1	8	0	1	3	216
2011	222	0	2	4	0	1	3	232
2012	209	1	2	6	0	1	3	222
2013	229	0	4	6	0	0	3	242
2014	248	1	4	6	0	0	4	263
2015	261	1	1	5	0	0	3	271
2016	238	2	1	2	0	0	4	247
2017	223	1	0	3	0	0	3	230
2018	206	1	0	5	0	1	2	215
2019	237	0	0	9	0	1	3	250
2020	255	0	0	11	0	1	3	270
2021	259	1	0	11	0	0	3	274
2022	243	0	1	10	0	0	4	258
2023	225	0	1	13	0	0	8	247
2024	215	0	1	12	1	0	11	240

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 PCM Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1992	245	19.0	12.8	7.8
1993	247	19.9	12.4	12.1
1994	254	18.3	13.9	11.8
1995	269	20.5	13.1	11.9
1996	269	20.5	13.1	11.9
1997	252	20.5	12.3	9.9
1998	245	18.5	13.2	13.9
1999	240	20.0	12.0	19.2
2000	224	20.0	11.2	17.4
2001	225	21.0	10.7	20
2002	223	20.0	11.2	14.3
2003	223	20.0	11.2	14.3
2004	242	23.8	10.2	14.5
2005	234	21.8	10.7	19.2
2006	258	18.2	14.2	17.1
2007	239	17.7	13.5	21.3
2008	244	16.4	14.9	21.3
2009	226	16.0	14.1	16.4
2010	216	17.5	12.3	20.8
2011	232	16.0	14.5	24.1
2012	222	17.3	12.7	28.8
2013	242	16.9	14.2	26.4
2014	263	18.8	13.9	27.4
2015	271	24.0	11.2	25.8
2016	247	21.0	11.7	26.7
2017	230	19.4	11.8	25.7
2018	215	17.9	12.0	22.8
2019	250	17.9	13.9	28.4
2020	270	17.9	15.0	25.9
2021	274	17.9	15.2	30.3
2022	258	19.9	12.9	23.6
2023	247	19.9	12.3	28.7
2024	240	17.9	13.3	30

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 PCM Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1992	245	19.0	12.8	7.8
1993	247	19.9	12.4	12.1
1994	254	18.3	13.9	11.8
1995	269	20.5	13.1	11.9
1996	269	20.5	13.1	11.9
1997	252	20.5	12.3	9.9
1998	245	18.5	13.2	13.9
1999	240	20.0	12.0	19.2
2000	224	20.0	11.2	17.4
2001	225	21.0	10.7	20
2002	223	20.0	11.2	14.3
2003	223	20.0	11.2	14.3
2004	242	23.8	10.2	14.5
2005	234	21.8	10.7	19.2
2006	258	18.2	14.2	17.1
2007	239	17.7	13.5	21.3
2008	244	16.4	14.9	21.3
2009	226	16.0	14.1	16.4
2010	216	17.5	12.3	20.8
2011	232	16.0	14.5	24.1
2012	222	17.3	12.7	28.8
2013	242	16.9	14.2	26.4
2014	263	18.8	13.9	27.4
2015	271	24.0	11.2	25.8
2016	247	21.0	11.7	26.7
2017	230	19.4	11.8	25.7
2018	215	17.9	12.0	22.8
2019	250	17.9	13.9	28.4
2020	270	17.9	15.0	25.9
2021	274	17.9	15.2	30.3
2022	258	19.9	12.9	23.6
2023	247	19.9	12.3	28.7
2024	240	17.9	13.3	30

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 PCM Middle School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$269 (1.9%)	$13,660 (98.1%)	$13,929

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on PCM 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 210^th of 342 Middle schools	Ranks 171^st of 334 Middle schools	10.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (PCM Middle School)	55.7	69	13.3%
6th Grade English Language Arts (PCM Community School District)	55.7	69	13.3%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	67.5	72.7	5.2%
6th Grade Mathematics (PCM Middle School)	67	53.5	13.5%
6th Grade Mathematics (PCM Community School District)	67	53.5	13.5%
6th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	69.4	69.9	0.5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (PCM Middle School)	69.9	87.1	17.2%
7th Grade English Language Arts (PCM Community School District)	69.9	87.1	17.2%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	69.9	74.2	4.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (PCM Middle School)	71.2	77.6	6.4%
7th Grade Mathematics (PCM Community School District)	71.2	77.6	6.4%
7th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	70.1	68.9	1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (PCM Middle School)	81.1	77.8	3.3%
8th Grade English Language Arts (PCM Community School District)	81.1	77.8	3.3%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	69.5	76	6.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (PCM Middle School)	68.9	72	3.1%
8th Grade Mathematics (PCM Community School District)	68.9	72	3.1%
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	250	247	1.2%
African American	0	0
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	1
Hispanic	9	13	44.4%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	237	225	5.1%
Two or More Races	3	8	166.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	28.4%	28.7%	0.3%

Schools Near PCM 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
PCM Middle School	Public	6-8	407 Plainsmen Rd	Prairie City	50228	Jasper County	PCM Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 994-8222	240	18	13.3	30.0%	215 (89.6%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.0%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.6%)	62.1	139^th of 337 public middle schools	58.8%		56.1	171^st of 334 public middle schools	48.8%	32		91.5	82.7	88.5		74.6	64.0	73.6		71.3	$13,929	$269	$13,660
Southeast Polk Junior High	Public	7-8	8325 NE University Ave.	Pleasant Hill	50327	Polk County	Southeast Polk Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 967-5509	1,106	65	17.0	38.0%	783 (70.8%)	92 (8.3%)	117 (10.6%)	33 (3.0%)	1 (0.1%)	3 (0.3%)	77 (7.0%)	49.2	202^nd of 337 public middle schools	40.1%		59.3	150^th of 334 public middle schools	55.1%	52			79.7	77.2			76.3	71.2		61.7	$13,053	$388	$12,665
Spring Creek - 6th Grade	Public	6	8031 NE University Ave.	Pleasant Hill	50327	Polk County	Southeast Polk Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 967-5533	544	33	16.4	37.7%	382 (70.2%)	46 (8.5%)	65 (11.9%)	14 (2.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	35 (6.4%)								(n/a)		80.2				77.2					$13,720	$335	$13,385
Berg Middle School	Public	5-8	1900 N 5th Ave East	Newton	50208	Jasper County	Newton Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(641) 792-7741	823	54	15.3	55.0%	681 (82.7%)	25 (3.0%)	63 (7.7%)	8 (1.0%)	4 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	41 (5.0%)	22.3	289^th of 337 public middle schools	14.2%		30.4	263^rd of 334 public middle schools	21.3%	26	60.0	62.7	67.0	71.6	54.3	55.1	57.2	67.8	51.3	57.8	$14,159	$320	$13,839
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	408	29	14.3	21.3%	335 (82.1%)	16 (3.9%)	36 (8.8%)	5 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	12 (2.9%)	57.6	159^th of 337 public middle schools	52.8%					(n/a)			78.2	84.7			65.2	77.8		72.2
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	428	32	13.1	20.8%	356 (83.2%)	13 (3.0%)	30 (7.0%)	8 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.9%)								(n/a)	69.0	85.2			60.1	80.4			60.6		$11,425	$241	$11,184
Pleasantville Middle School	Public	7-8	415 Jones St	Pleasantville	50225	Marion County	Pleasantville Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 848-0528	126	7	18.3	39.7%	111 (88.1%)	1 (0.8%)	9 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (4.0%)	55.8	168^th of 337 public middle schools	50.1%		63	122^nd of 334 public middle schools	63.5%	46			81.3	81.4			70.3	81.4		62.7	$6,497	$87	$6,410
Carlisle Middle School	Public	6-8	325 Scotchridge Rd	Carlisle	50047	Warren County	Carlisle Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 989-0833	531	41	12.8	33.0%	432 (81.4%)	9 (1.7%)	57 (10.7%)	19 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.6%)	35.5	252^nd of 337 public middle schools	25.2%		49.4	196^th of 334 public middle schools	41.3%	56		65.9	61.8	75.9		68.9	65.9	76.1		61.7	$10,769	$174	$10,595
Hoyt Middle School	Public	6-8	2700 E 42nd St	Des Moines	50317	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 242-8446	486	31	15.6	70.8%	219 (45.1%)	80 (16.5%)	134 (27.6%)	17 (3.5%)	4 (0.8%)	2 (0.4%)	29 (6.0%)	1.3	332^nd of 337 public middle schools	1.5%		1.3	329^th of 334 public middle schools	1.5%	3		45.5	50.0	52.6		41.3	32.5	42.2		36.4	$14,771	$931	$13,840
Goodrell Middle School	Public	6-8	3300 E. 29th Street	Des Moines	50317	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 242-8444	493	35	14.2	74.2%	172 (34.9%)	106 (21.5%)	153 (31.0%)	28 (5.7%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	30 (6.1%)	1.8	331^st of 337 public middle schools	1.8%		1.6	326^th of 334 public middle schools	2.4%	5		34.1	46.1	51.7		35.7	49.4	44.8		35.2	$15,696	$1,024	$14,672

Frequently Asked Questions about PCM Middle School

How many students attend PCM Middle School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 240 students attended PCM Middle School.

Is PCM Middle School a good school?

PCM Middle School ranks 139^th of 337 Iowa middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What high school do graduates of PCM Middle School attend?

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

What district is PCM Middle School in?

PCM Community School District

What is the racial makeup of PCM Middle School?

Students at PCM Middle School are 90% White, 5% Hispanic, 5% 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.