The top reported proficiency rate is 72% in Science. The lowest is 71% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Susan Clark Junior High
Susan Clark Junior High is a regular public school in Muscatine, Iowa, serving seventh and eighth graders as part of the Muscatine Comm School District. It is the only junior high in the district, meaning all public school students in those two grades within the city attend here, unless they have chosen an alternative or private option. That makes this school a single point of entry for a whole cohort of early adolescents in the community.
Academically, the school’s state test results from the most recent year show a majority of students meeting or exceeding proficiency in each tested area. In math, in English language arts, and in science, the share of students scoring at proficient or above was solid. The school’s combined proficiency index across these subjects placed it above the midpoint of the small handful of districts within Muscatine County in the most recent comparison. That is a meaningful signal: within a three-district county, Susan Clark Junior High posted the highest proficiency index, a position its staff can point to with confidence. The state test participation rate was high, which means the results reflect nearly the entire student body.
State testing data covers only a single year in the available records, so there is no trend line to show whether performance is improving or declining. A parent should not read that as a concern; the data simply does not go back further. The school’s grade band of seventh and eighth means there is no graduation rate to report here, as that metric applies to high schools.
The school serves a moderate-sized student body. The enrollment is split almost evenly between seventh and eighth graders, with a slightly larger eighth-grade cohort. The student body is diverse. A substantial share of students are Hispanic, with a smaller but still present Black population and a modest number of students who identify with two or more races. White students form a clear majority. More than half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of lower household income that is common in a manufacturing-centered river city like Muscatine.
Data on special education and English learner populations was not available in the source records, though given the community’s profile, a range of needs is likely served. A parent who wants to understand the support structures for students with disabilities or language services should ask the school directly.
The housing market for the attendance area reflects a community that is more affordable than the state and national averages. Homes in the Muscatine area come in below typical Iowa prices, and the rent-to-income context suggests renting is a relatively accessible option for local households. The local unemployment rate has been steady and roughly in line with the national figure. Muscatine’s economy is anchored by a mix of large manufacturers and corporate headquarters, including HNI Corporation, Kent Corporation, Bridgestone Bandag, and Bayer, among others. The city sits on the Mississippi River with a historic downtown and significant industrial corridors. This is not a bedroom community; it is an employment center in its own right, which shapes who lives here and what families expect from their schools.
The district’s recent history, based on publicly available information, shows no major changes or initiatives that would alter a family’s sense of the school’s direction. That can be read as stability rather than stagnation, though a parent curious about upcoming curriculum shifts, facility plans, or programming changes should check the district’s communications.
Campus life at Susan Clark Junior High is not documented in the available data in terms of extracurriculars, electives, or athletics. For a school serving only seventh and eighth grade, those offerings often act as a bridge to high school programs, but nothing specific is recorded here. A family considering this school should ask about what clubs, sports, and exploratory classes are available, particularly if a student is looking for outlets beyond core academics. The physical school building sits at Kindler Avenue in a residential part of Muscatine.
This is a school that serves its community’s middle school population without the fragmentation of multiple feeder buildings. Its academic results are among the strongest in the county for its tested subjects, and it benefits from a local economy that provides stable employment and housing that remains within reach for many. The school does not have a reputation as an elite or selective institution; it is a comprehensive public junior high serving a wide range of students in a mid-sized industrial river city. For a family already living in Muscatine or moving into the area, Susan Clark Junior High is the default option for seventh and eighth grade, and based on the available evidence, it is performing well relative to its immediate peers.
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