The top reported proficiency rate is 96% in English language arts. The lowest is 92% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Gilbert Middle School
Gilbert Middle School serves the core years of the Gilbert Community School District, a public middle school that draws students from this small, growing town just north of Ames. The school is a single building within a compact community where the district’s elementary, intermediate, middle, and high schools all sit within the town’s few square miles. For a family considering the area, this school offers a distinct academic profile: consistently strong test results that place it among the top tier of middle-grades schools in Story County.
State assessments from the 2024–25 school year show that the vast majority of Gilbert Middle School students met or exceeded the state’s proficiency standards in all three tested subjects. In English language arts, the score was very high, and in math and science the results were similarly strong, with a high share of students reaching proficiency. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages scores across tested subjects and grades, lands in the top quartile relative to districts in Story County. The strong performance is reported after a single measurement year, so there is no trend line to compare against, but the current numbers are clear. Participation rates were high, meaning the results reflect nearly the entire student body.
The school enrolls a student population that is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Asian, Hispanic, Black, and multiracial students. A modest share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker that suggests the school’s overall economic profile is weighted toward middle-income families. Data on students receiving special education services or English learner support was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those programs.
Gilbert itself is a town that has grown steadily since the 2020 census, adding population at a pace that makes it one of the faster-growing small towns in Iowa. The median household income is above the national median, and the poverty rate is low. Housing values in the area have risen in recent years, and the town’s compact layout—with parks, a library, a museum, and community centers—means schools and amenities are within a short distance of each other. Many residents commute to Ames and Iowa State University for work. The district’s school facilities are integrated into the town rather than separated onto a remote campus, and the annual Gilbert Days festival is a community touchstone.
No recent significant changes to district policies, budgets, or programs were publicly reported, so families should expect continuity in the school’s operations. The school functions as a regular public middle school with no charter or magnet designation. Information on course offerings, electives, and extracurricular programs was not provided in the available data, which means a parent weighing enrollment may need to check the school’s website or visit to understand the range of options for sixth through eighth graders.
For a family that values strong academic results and a small-town setting with access to a nearby university city, Gilbert Middle School represents a high-performing option within Story County. The school’s test scores are a clear strength, and the community’s steady growth and above-median incomes suggest a stable foundation. The lack of some detail on special populations and programming is a gap to fill through direct inquiry, but the core evidence points to a middle school that is performing at a very high level academically. The peer environment is largely homogenous, which may be a consideration for families seeking more racial or economic diversity. Overall, this is a school where the academic pathway is well-established and the community context is one of managed growth and proximity to a larger metropolitan area.
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