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St. Mary's Catholic ChurchPhoto: Denise Krebs · CC BY 2.0
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Schools in Alton · MOC-Floyd Valley Community School District

Alton’s public schools outscore 87% of Iowa districts

In Alton, 84% of tested students are proficient in math, above the Iowa average (64%). The grade covers the public school district serving Alton, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Iowa, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Iowa state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
88%
▲ 18 pts vs IA 70%
2021–22
Math proficiency
84%
▲ 20 pts vs IA 64%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 2–2 pts vs IA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.0K
▼ 5% vs IA $13.7K
FY2024
Students per teacher
14.2
IA 14.1
Schools in town
3
1,495 students on the public path
In brief

Alton’s schools, in brief

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 88% and math 84% in spring 2022, against 70% and 64% statewide; 85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $12,988 per student, against $13,713 across Iowa (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 6 the district’s path is MOC-Floyd Valley Middle School, then MOC-Floyd Valley High School. Enrollment is up 20% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Spalding Catholic School (private) and Spalding Catholic Schools (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Alton’s grade

A+ Test scoresC+ Graduation

A: better than 87% of Iowa school districts. Test scores are above the Iowa average; graduation is below it.

Iowa school districts we grade (326)Better than 87%
Lower resultsHigher results
Iowa towns with similar household incomes (312)Better than 84%
A−A+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,026 test results and a graduating class of 120 could put Alton anywhere from A− to A+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Alton’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,027 in math, 1,026 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Alton, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–5MOC-Floyd Valley Elementary Schoolin Orange CityA+
6–8MOC-Floyd Valley Middle SchoolMOC-Floyd Valley Community School DistrictA
9–12MOC-Floyd Valley High Schoolin Orange CityA

Alton’s public schools are run by MOC-Floyd Valley Community School District, which also serves Granville, Hospers, Maurice and Orange City. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

MOC-Floyd Valley Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 1,495 students, up 20% since 2020–21 · 14.2 per teacher (IA 14.1)
$12,988IA $13,713 · FY2024
A
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading88%
State average 69.7% · 1026 students tested
Math84%
State average 63.8% · 1027 students tested

Alton vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Iowa towns that share Alton’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
AltonAMOC-Floyd Valley
Orange CityAMOC-Floyd Valley

Every school in Alton

5 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Iowa’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Altonby address
MOC-Floyd Valley Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
A
337 students15:1Rate it →
Also serving Altonin other towns
MOC-Floyd Valley Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Orange City
A+
672 students14:1Rate it →
MOC-Floyd Valley High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Orange City
A
486 students14:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Spalding Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
Private · Catholic
27 students5:1Rate it →
Spalding Catholic Schools
Elementary · Grades K–6
Private · Catholic
26 students5:1Rate it →

1 duplicate private-school records merged.

Questions about Alton’s schools

Are Alton’s schools good?

By Iowa’s own tests, yes: the public schools Alton children attend outscore 87% of Iowa’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 84%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Alton in?

MOC-Floyd Valley Community School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,495 students in 3 schools (2024–25).

Where do Alton kids go to high school?

MOC-Floyd Valley High School in Orange City, with 486 students; its own test results earn an A.

What is Alton’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in MOC-Floyd Valley Community School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Iowa.

How much does Alton spend per student?

$12,988 in MOC-Floyd Valley Community School District (FY2024), against $13,713 across Iowa. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Alton?

Yes: Spalding Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–6, 27 students) and Spalding Catholic Schools (Catholic, grades K–6, 26 students).

Parents talk

What Alton families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Alton → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Iowa. Stars are from neighbors.