The top reported proficiency rate is 70% in Science. The lowest is 66% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on George Washington Middle School
George Washington Middle School is a regular public school serving grades six through eight in Dubuque, a mid-sized city along the Mississippi River at the junction of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Dubuque was historically a manufacturing and river-trade hub but has diversified into health care, education, financial services, and tourism, with major employers including John Deere, MercyOne Medical Center, and the district itself. The city has invested heavily in riverfront redevelopment since the 1990s, adding a Riverwalk, museum, and entertainment venues, while neighborhoods climb the steep bluffs of the Driftless Area. Housing values in the area are moderately lower than the national median, and rents are affordable relative to household income, reflecting a market that is stable rather than overheated.
The school sits within the Dubuque Community School District, which recently passed a bond referendum to fund facility upgrades across the district, including HVAC, security, and accessibility improvements, with construction ongoing through 2027. The district has also been shifting to Standards-Based Learning, a model that measures student progress against specific learning standards rather than traditional letter grades, and it launched a full-time virtual option for grades six through twelve. These are active changes that will affect how students are assessed and what learning environments are available.
Academically, George Washington Middle School posts solid proficiency rates across the core subjects. In math and English language arts, a clear majority of students met state standards on the ISASP, and the share in science was slightly higher. Participation rates on these exams were very high, so the results reflect nearly the entire student body. When compared relative to districts in Dubuque County, the school’s overall proficiency sits in the bottom quartile, though the county contains only two districts, so the range is narrow and the difference modest.
The student body is sizable for a middle school. It is majority white, with a Black student population making up roughly one-sixth of enrollment, and smaller shares of Hispanic, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and multiracial students. Economic diversity is substantial: nearly half of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a share that indicates a school serving a wide range of household incomes. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported, so families should ask the school directly about special education and language support services. No information on discipline, attendance, or staffing was available either, leaving those dimensions of school life for parents to investigate on their own.
Because the school serves only middle grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and no advanced coursework data such as AP or dual-credit offerings, as those programs typically begin in high school. The school’s program offerings were not included in the available data, so a parent may want to contact the school to learn about electives, clubs, arts, and extracurricular activities.
George Washington Middle School offers a conventional middle-school academic pathway in a district that is actively updating its facilities and instructional practices. The proficiency results are generally positive, with most students meeting state benchmarks, though the school trails the other district in the county by a modest margin. The student body is economically diverse, and the setting is a mid-sized city with a revitalized downtown and riverfront that provides a stable community context. For a family seeking a regular public middle school with straightforward academic expectations and ongoing district improvements, this school fits that profile.
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