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Charles J. Thompson HouseCharles J. Thompson House · Photo: Chuckmor · CC BY-SA 3.0
A−
Schools in Forest City · Forest City Community School District

Forest City’s public schools outscore 79% of Iowa districts

77% of students in Forest City’s public schools are proficient in math, above the Iowa average (64%). The grade covers the public school district serving Forest City, 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.

#34of 140 Iowa townsK–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
78%
▲ 8 pts vs IA 70%
2021–22
Math proficiency
77%
▲ 13 pts vs IA 64%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 2–6 pts vs IA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.3K
▼ 3% vs IA $13.7K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.0
IA 14.1 · smaller classes
Schools in town
3
1,082 students on the public path
In brief

Forest City’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 78% and math 77% in spring 2022, against 70% and 64% statewide; 90–94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,341 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 5 the district’s path is Forest City Middle School, then Forest City High School. See the path ↓

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 Forest City’s grade

A− Test scoresB− Graduation

A−: better than 79% of Iowa school districts, #34 of 140 Iowa towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Iowa average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Iowa school districts we grade (326)Better than 79%
Lower resultsHigher results
Iowa towns with similar household incomes (643)Better than 83%
BAA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 719 test results and a graduating class of 81 could put Forest City anywhere from B to A. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Forest City’s students in the tested grades sat them (717 in math, 721 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–4Forest City Elementary SchoolForest City Community School DistrictB−
5–8Forest City Middle SchoolForest City Community School DistrictA−
9–12Forest City High SchoolForest City Community School DistrictB

Forest City’s public schools are run by Forest City Community School District, which also serves Crystal Lake, Fertile, Leland and Woden. 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.

Forest City Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 1,082 students, down 4% since 2020–21 · 12.0 per teacher (IA 14.1)
$13,341IA $13,713 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading78%
State average 69.7% · 721 students tested
Math77%
State average 63.8% · 717 students tested

Forest City vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Forest CityA−Forest City

Every school in Forest City

3 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 Forest Cityby address
Forest City Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
B−
448 students12:1Rate it →
Forest City Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8
A−
330 students13:1Rate it →
Forest City High School
High · Grades 9–12
B
304 students11:1Rate it →

Questions about Forest City’s schools

Are Forest City’s schools good?

By Iowa’s own tests, yes: the public schools Forest City children attend outscore 79% of Iowa’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #34 of 140 Iowa towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 83%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Forest City in?

Forest City Community School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,082 students in 3 schools (2024–25).

Where do Forest City kids go to high school?

Forest City High School, with 304 students; its own test results earn a B.

What is Forest City’s graduation rate?

90–94% of the class of 2023 in Forest City Community School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Iowa.

How much does Forest City spend per student?

$13,341 in Forest City Community School District (FY2024), against $13,713 across Iowa. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Forest City families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Forest City → 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.