The top reported proficiency rate is 68% in English language arts. The lowest is 57% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Howar Middle School
Howar Middle School serves sixth through eighth graders in Centerville, a small county seat in southern Iowa. The school is part of the Centerville Community School District, which also operates an elementary school and a high school within the town. Centerville itself is a place that has experienced a long period of population decline, and its economy has shifted away from a history in coal mining and manufacturing. Today, the largest local employers include a manufacturer, a medical center, the school district, and retail chains. The town square is a point of pride, described as the largest in Iowa, and it hosts seasonal festivals.
The middle school has a student body that is predominantly white. A meaningful share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, signaling that a portion of families in the area are navigating economic strain. The demographic makeup is one of the plain characteristics of this school; it reflects the broader community it serves.
When it comes to academic performance on the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress, the school shows results that are mixed in a way that a parent may want to look into further. In math and English language arts, the share of students scoring at a proficient level or above was around the midpoint of the three school districts in Appanoose County. The overall proficiency index across tested subjects was below the midpoint among those districts, with a stronger math and reading result and a softer showing in science. This means that while the school is not the top performer in the county, it is also not at the bottom of the three-district pool on an average basis. The science proficiency rate, while based on a smaller cohort of students, was notably lower than the math and English rates. This could point to an area where the curriculum or instruction may differ in strength.
Only one year of test data was available for the school, so there is no trend to assess whether performance is improving or declining. A parent should note that the school did not have reported data on chronic absenteeism or a graduation rate, which is expected since it serves middle grades only.
No information was available on the school’s staffing, class sizes, discipline rates, or course offerings. No data on special education or English learner populations was reported. These gaps are significant if a family is considering whether the school can meet specific needs. It may be worth contacting the school or district directly for a clearer picture of support services and academic programming.
The school appears to be a regular public school with no charter or magnet status. It does not offer the specialized pathways or selective admissions that some families seek. It is a straightforward neighborhood middle school serving the Centerville area.
The housing market in Centerville is low-cost relative to state and national benchmarks. Home values declined modestly in the past year. A typical household in the area, based on median income, would likely find the local housing to be affordable, with the estimated monthly mortgage payment falling well below what a national median earner would face. This means families moving into the district may find housing costs are not a barrier.
Overall, Howar Middle School presents as a typical small-town Iowa middle school. Academic performance sits in the middle of a small county pool, with a noticeable dip in science. The student population is homogeneous, and economic need is present but not universal. A parent considering this school should look for more detail on the middle school experience—extracurriculars, elective options, how students transition to high school—since the available data does not cover those aspects.
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