The top reported proficiency rate is 91% in Science. The lowest is 76% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on West Marshall Middle School
West Marshall Middle School serves sixth through eighth grade students in State Center, a small rural Iowa town that calls itself the Rose Capital and sits along Highway 30 between Ames and Des Moines. The school is a regular public school and part of the West Marshall Community School District. The district returned no recent parent-relevant changes in a public search, and no specific program offerings were available in the data, so families may want to ask the school directly about electives, activities, and any evolving offerings.
On the state’s Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress, West Marshall Middle School posted results that the data places in the top quartile when compared to other schools in Marshall County. The school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits at the high end of the county range. In English language arts, a large majority of students met the proficiency threshold. In math, a strong majority did as well, though the share was a bit lower than in English. Science, which is tested only for certain grade levels within this span, showed a very high proficiency rate. Participation was full. Because only a single year of assessment data was available for this school, there is no trend line to show whether performance is rising or holding steady over time.
The school enrolled roughly two hundred students, with a balanced distribution across sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. The student body is predominantly white, with a small Hispanic share and very small representations of students identifying as American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or two or more races. About a third of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals. Data on the number of students receiving special education services or classified as English learners was missing from the state record; parents who want that information can ask the district.
The middle school is part of a small district with a single elementary school, middle school, and high school. State Center is a compact town of about a single square mile, with a historic downtown along Main Street that includes the city hall, a public library, a rose garden, and a preserved train depot. The town has a Main Street America designation for downtown revitalization and holds an annual Rose Festival in June. The housing market in the zip code area shows home values well above the state median, and the median home value there has seen a substantial year-over-year increase. Rents, by comparison, are modest relative to incomes, with a rent-to-income ratio that suggests renting is a viable option for many households. The town’s development focus appears to be on preservation and small-town character rather than large-scale growth.
Because this school serves only middle grades, there is no graduation rate to report. The school does not administer a high school exit exam. Parents evaluating academic preparation should look to the high school for graduation and postsecondary metrics. The data does not include chronic absenteeism rates, discipline figures, or staffing ratios for this school; these are areas a family may want to explore further with the school or district.
West Marshall Middle School is a solid academic option within Marshall County, based on the first year of state results. Proficiency rates in English and science are notably strong, and math, while a step lower, is still at a level that would be competitive with the top of the county range. The school serves a predominantly homogenous student body with a moderate share of economic disadvantage. The surrounding town offers a quiet, small-town setting with a historic downtown and relatively high home costs that have been rising quickly. Families moving into the area should expect a rural context, limited immediate public data on student support populations, and a middle school that, on its first publicly available assessment, shows strong academic performance relative to its county peers.
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