The top reported proficiency rate is 72% in English language arts. The lowest is 63% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Woodbine High School
Woodbine High School serves grades five through twelve as a regular public school in the small Harrison County town of Woodbine, Iowa. It is the sole secondary building within the Woodbine Community School District, drawing students from the town and surrounding agricultural area. The school’s enrollment, in the low hundreds for a combined middle and high school, allows for a close-knit environment where most students know one another across grade levels.
The student body is overwhelmingly white, with a very small share of Hispanic students and even fewer from other racial backgrounds. Roughly a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a share that aligns with the community’s moderate-income profile. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the available records, so a parent wanting details on those support structures would need to inquire directly with the school.
On state assessments administered by Iowa’s ISASP, a strong majority of students in the tested grades met proficiency standards in math and English language arts. Science results were somewhat lower, with about three in five students reaching the proficient level. Participation in testing was complete, so the results reflect the full tested cohort. Because the school covers both middle and high school grades, the assessment data here captures only the middle-grade portion; high school students take end-of-course exams that are not included in this summary. No multi-year trend data exists yet, as this is the first year of available results in this format, so it is not possible to say whether performance is improving or declining.
When placed against other districts in Harrison County, Woodbine High School’s overall proficiency—averaged across math, English, and science—fell in the bottom quartile among the five districts in the county. That positioning is a soft spot worth attention, though the school’s own rates are not weak in absolute terms. The graduation rate was not available in the data; the absence may reflect the reporting structure rather than a real gap, but families may wish to verify it with the district.
The town of Woodbine itself is compact, with a historic brick-paved downtown on the old Lincoln Highway and a population that has grown modestly in recent years. Housing values sit near the state average, making it a relatively affordable area within reach of the Omaha-Council Bluffs region, about a short drive west. Major local employers include Maxon Industries, a hydraulic liftgate manufacturer, the school district itself, and agriculture-related businesses. Community life revolves around annual events like Applefest and the long-running Rodeo Days, along with civic anchors such as the Carnegie Library, a preserved one-room schoolhouse museum, and recreational amenities at Willow Lake. The town’s small footprint and low traffic mean most errands and school activities are accessible on foot or by a short drive.
The district recently undertook a significant investment in capital construction, as reported in public fiscal data. That expenditure points to upgraded facilities—whether new buildings, renovations, or major maintenance—that affect both the daily learning environment and, potentially, local property tax obligations for families.
For a family considering Woodbine High School, the picture is of a small, community-rooted school where academic results are decent but not leading the county, the student population is very homogeneous, and the setting is a quiet, slowly growing rural town with historic character and easy access to a larger metro area. The lack of trend data and missing graduation rate are gaps a parent would want to fill by speaking with the district directly. The school’s size and grade span mean that middle and high school students share the same building, which can foster continuity but also means younger students are in a school with older teens. The recent facilities investment suggests the district is putting resources into its physical plant.
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