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Lake City, IAPhoto: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0
C+
Schools in Lake City · South Central Calhoun Community School District

Lake City’s public schools score below 64% of Iowa districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Lake 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.

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
64%
▼ 6 pts vs IA 70%
2021–22
Math proficiency
61%
▼ 3 pts vs IA 64%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 2–6 pts vs IA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.9K
▲ 1% vs IA $13.7K
FY2024
Students per teacher
11.9
IA 14.1 · smaller classes
Schools in town
1
912 students on the public path
In brief

Lake City’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 64% of tested students were proficient in reading and 61% in math, against 70% and 64% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

90–94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Iowa (the state reports Lake City’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,873 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 4 the district’s path is South Central Calhoun Middle School, then South Central Calhoun 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 Lake City’s grade

C− Test scoresB− Graduation

C+: better than 36% of Iowa school districts. Graduation is above the Iowa average; test scores are below it.

Iowa school districts we grade (326)Better than 36%
Lower resultsHigher results
Iowa towns with similar household incomes (613)Better than 35%
C−BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 543 test results and a graduating class of 62 could put Lake City anywhere from C− to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Lake City’s students in the tested grades sat them (543 in math, 543 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–3South Central Calhoun Elementary Schoolin Rockwell CityB−
4–8South Central Calhoun Middle Schoolin Rockwell CityC+
9–12South Central Calhoun High SchoolSouth Central Calhoun Community School DistrictC

Lake City’s public schools are run by South Central Calhoun Community School District, which also serves Jolley, Lanesboro, Lohrville and Lytton and others. 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.

South Central Calhoun Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 912 students · 11.9 per teacher (IA 14.1)
$13,873IA $13,713 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading64%
State average 69.7% · 543 students tested
Math61%
State average 63.8% · 543 students tested

Lake City vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Lake CityC+South Central Calhoun

Every school in Lake 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 Lake Cityby address
South Central Calhoun High School
High · Grades 9–12
C
284 students10:1Rate it →
Also serving Lake Cityin other towns
South Central Calhoun Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–3 · Rockwell City
B−
299 students12:1Rate it →
South Central Calhoun Middle School
Middle · Grades 4–8 · Rockwell City
C+
329 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about Lake City’s schools

Are Lake City’s schools good?

On Iowa’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Lake City children attend score below 64% of Iowa’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 35%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Lake City in?

South Central Calhoun Community School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 912 students in 3 schools (2024–25).

Where do Lake City kids go to high school?

South Central Calhoun High School, with 284 students; its own test results earn a C.

What is Lake City’s graduation rate?

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

How much does Lake City spend per student?

$13,873 in South Central Calhoun Community School District (FY2024), against $13,713 across Iowa. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Lake City families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Lake 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.