The top reported proficiency rate is 83% in Science. The lowest is 74% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Starmont Middle School
Starmont Middle School is a regular public school serving sixth through eighth grade in Arlington, a very small rural community in Fayette County, Iowa. It is part of the Starmont Community School District, and it shares a consolidated campus with the district’s elementary and high schools, set apart from the town’s Main Street corridor. With a modest enrollment, this middle school provides the primary academic environment for students in the middle grades across the district.
Academically, the school’s state test results are a notable strength. On the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress, proficiency rates in English language arts, math, and science all reached levels that place the school in the top quartile relative to the districts in Fayette County. The strongest performance came in science, followed closely by English language arts, with math also solidly above the county midpoint. Every student tested participated, so the results reflect nearly the entire population. Because only a single year of data is available, there is no trend to assess, but the current picture shows a school where most students are meeting state proficiency benchmarks.
The student body is predominantly white, with a small share of Hispanic students and a very small number of students identifying as two or more races. About two-fifths of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that suggests a moderate level of economic diversity. Information on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the available data, so parents seeking details on special education or language support services should follow up directly with the school.
The setting is distinctly rural. Arlington has a very low population density and has experienced long-term population decline. Its built environment centers on a Main Street with a library and city hall, but the school campus sits on a rural road outside that core. Housing values in the area are moderate and have risen at a noticeably faster pace than the state average in the most recent period, though they remain below national medians. The local economy appears to be driven by agriculture, small businesses, and likely the school district itself as a major employer; no large corporate or industrial employers were identified. No recent district-level changes that would affect families were found in publicly reported materials.
For a family considering this school, the academic picture is encouraging—strong proficiency on state tests and a school that compares favorably with others in the county. The student experience will be shaped by a small, largely homogeneous peer group in a rural community where the school is physically separate from the town’s center. The lack of multi-year trend data means it is not yet possible to see whether these strong results are stable or improving. The missing information on special populations should be addressed directly with school staff. Overall, Starmont Middle School offers a solid academic foundation in a quiet rural setting, with a scale that allows for close attention to students.
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