The top reported proficiency rate is 86% in English language arts. The lowest is 75% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Bondurant-farrar Junior High
Bondurant-Farrar Junior High is a regular public school serving seventh and eighth graders in Bondurant, Iowa, part of the Bondurant-Farrar Community School District. It sits on the Grant Street campus alongside the high school and athletic facilities, and a dedicated junior high building opened there in 2022, a direct response to the district’s rapid enrollment growth. Because it serves only two middle grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and state testing results are limited to the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) for a single school year.
That testing picture is a strong one. On the most recent assessments, a large majority of students met or exceeded proficiency standards in reading and writing (English language arts), with math and science also at levels most schools in the state would consider solid. The English language arts result is particularly high. Only one year of testing data is available for this school, so there is no trend to examine, but the single snapshot suggests a student body that is, on average, performing well academically.
The student population is predominantly white, with a share of Hispanic students and smaller numbers of Black, Asian, multiracial, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. Roughly one in five students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a lower rate than many Iowa public schools and reflects the area’s economic profile. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not reported, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those programs and supports.
Bondurant itself is a fast-growing suburb of Des Moines that has seen substantial population increases in recent years. It bills itself as offering a quiet small-town feel within a short drive of the metro area’s jobs and amenities. The built environment is car-dependent, with most errands requiring a vehicle. The community’s outdoor life centers on the Bondurant Regional Trailhead and the Chichaqua Valley Trail. Housing costs in the area are above the state median, consistent with a desirable suburban market where family-oriented homeownership is the norm. The district’s growth has driven recent facility investments, including the new junior high building that houses this school.
When compared with other schools across Polk County, Bondurant-Farrar Junior High’s overall proficiency across tested subjects sits above the midpoint. That positioning, combined with the school’s strong single-year results and the district’s investment in a new building, points to a school that is academically solid and operating in a growth context where resources are being added rather than cut.
Some areas of interest are simply not available in the data. There is no information on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, class sizes, or specific program offerings such as advanced courses, arts, or extracurriculars. Because this is a junior high, it does not offer high school pathways like Advanced Placement or dual credit, and career and technical education options are not reported. A parent should expect to learn about elective choices and student support services directly from the school. The district’s rapid enrollment growth also means the school may continue to see changing class sizes and potentially additional construction, though no further building plans were included in the available material.
For a family looking at this school, the academic picture is reassuringly strong, the community is growing and suburban, the housing market is on the higher side, and the school itself is brand new. The main unknowns are in the details of daily school life and supports for students who need extra help, which are gaps the parent would want to fill with a visit or a conversation with staff.
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