Original Research by School Decision on Ballard High School
Ballard High School sits in Huxley, a growing residential community in Story County about midway between Ames and the northern Des Moines suburbs. The town is car-dependent and low-density, with amenities that include a grocery, a brewery, an ice cream shop, parks, a community rec center, and seasonal events like a Prairie Festival. Students at the high school come from the Ballard Community School District, which serves Huxley and several surrounding small towns. The community has seen steady population growth and recent annexations, and new housing construction continues. The area economy is shaped by the proximity to Iowa State University, federal research labs, and the state department of transportation, with educational services and health care among the largest local industries.
Ballard High School enrolls a student body that is predominantly white, with small shares of Hispanic, Black, and other racial and ethnic groups. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch is relatively low, well below the statewide average. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available from the state, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about how those populations are supported.
The school serves grades nine through twelve as a regular public high school. On the most recent state assessments, the school posted strong proficiency rates across all three tested subjects: English language arts, math, and science. All three rates were well above the state average, and the results for English language arts and math were particularly high. This is a single year of data, so there is no trend to assess, but the performance levels as reported are strong and suggest that the majority of students are meeting state academic standards. No graduation rate was available in the data, and no data on chronic absenteeism was provided, which are gaps a parent may want to follow up on with the school or the district.
The school did not report any data on programming such as Advanced Placement, career and technical education pathways, or dual enrollment. For a high school that serves a full four-year cohort, the absence of this information is notable. A parent interested in the depth and breadth of the academic and career offerings would need to check the school’s website or contact the school directly. No discipline, staffing, or course access data was available either, so the picture of the school’s day-to-day environment is incomplete from the information provided.
In the context of Story County, the academic proficiency index could not be placed against neighboring districts, and neither could the graduation or chronic absenteeism rates, because the data was not present. Ballard High School’s testing results at the building level are strong in isolation, but how it compares to other high schools in the county on those other measures is unclear from what was reported.
Housing in the area is more expensive than the state median. Typical home values are well above the Iowa average, and rents are also elevated. The typical household across Huxley earns a six-figure income, and homeownership rates are high. The affordability picture shows that owning a home costs significantly more than renting, and the local market reflects a well-off, growing community rather than a low-cost entry point. For a family considering a move into the district, the housing costs and the growth trajectory of the area are likely important factors in the decision.
Overall, Ballard High School presents as an academically strong high school in a growing, relatively affluent small town. The student body is not diverse, and the share of low-income students is low. The main gaps in the available information concern programming breadth, support for special populations, and outcome measures like graduation and attendance. For a family that values strong aggregate test results and a small-town setting close to Ames and Des Moines, this school is worth further investigation, especially on those missing pieces.
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