The top reported proficiency rate is 77% in English language arts. The lowest is 69% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Perry Middle School
Perry Middle School serves students in grades six through eight as part of the Perry Community School District, a regular public school in a small Iowa city roughly northwest of Des Moines. The school sits within a community that combines a historic residential core with a working downtown, a setting typical of many small Midwestern railroad towns. The city has seen modest population growth over the past two decades, and its housing stock includes affordable historic homes, newer developments, and rentals. The local economy has recently faced a significant disruption: the closure of the Tyson Foods pork processing plant, which had been the city’s primary employer and laid off a substantial number of workers in 2024. That shock may shape the community’s trajectory in the near term, though the city is part of the Des Moines metro area and remains positioned for potential commuter-driven growth.
Academically, Perry Middle School’s state testing results from the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress show that a majority of students met the state’s proficiency benchmarks across all three tested subjects. In English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient or above was notably above the share in math, and science proficiency was modestly lower than both. For a middle school serving a population with a high proportion of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, these rates represent a solid foundation, though they trail the median performance among the county’s school districts. The school’s overall proficiency index across subjects places it in the bottom quarter relative to other districts in Dallas County, meaning a parent looking for the highest local test scores would find stronger results elsewhere in the county. However, the school’s figures are not weak in an absolute sense—most students are meeting grade-level expectations.
The student body is diverse. Roughly two-fifths of students are Hispanic, and a similar share are White, with smaller populations of Black, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, American Indian or Alaska Native, and multiracial students. This composition reflects the broader community, which is notably diverse for rural Iowa. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a community with above-average economic need. Data on the number of students with individualized education programs and the share of English learners were not available in the provided records; a family with a child who has an identified special education need or is an English learner may want to inquire directly with the school about supports and services.
As a middle school, Perry Middle School does not have a graduation rate, and the data do not include chronic absenteeism or discipline metrics. No information about course offerings, staffing ratios, or extracurricular programs was present. The district’s recent changes, including referendums or curriculum shifts, appear to have been minimal based on publicly available information. The school itself operates as a regular zoned school under the Perry Community School District, with no charter or magnet designation noted.
For families considering the area, housing in Perry is relatively affordable compared to state and national benchmarks, and the city’s walkable downtown core provides some amenities. The economic fallout from the Tyson closure is an ongoing factor that may affect property values and local services. The school offers a reasonable baseline academic experience with a diverse peer environment, but those seeking higher overall proficiency or a wider array of program offerings may want to compare options in other parts of Dallas County, where districts with stronger composite results exist. Given the missing data on special populations and program access, a direct conversation with the school would be prudent for any family with specific support needs.
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