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Prairie City IowaPhoto: Mattofwashington · CC BY-SA 3.0
B
Schools in Prairie City · PCM Community School District

Prairie City’s public schools outscore 62% of Iowa districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Prairie City, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. 79% of students in Prairie City’s public schools are proficient in reading, above the Iowa average (70%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Iowa, not nationally.

≈could be anywhere from C+ to A−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
79%
▲ 9 pts vs IA 70%
2021–22
Math proficiency
65%
▲ 1 pts vs IA 64%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 2–6 pts vs IA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.9K
▼ 6% vs IA $13.7K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.8
IA 14.1
Schools in town
2
1,077 students on the public path
In brief

Prairie City’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 79% and math 65% 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 $12,914 per student, against $13,713 across Iowa (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one elementary, one middle and one high school

From grade 3 the district’s path is Prairie City Elementary School, then PCM Middle School, then PCM 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 Prairie City’s grade

B Test scoresB− Graduation

B: better than 62% of Iowa school districts. 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 62%
Lower resultsHigher results
Iowa towns with similar household incomes (572)Better than 59%
C+A−A rough placement. Ordinary sampling error in 728 test results and a graduating class of 82 could put Prairie City anywhere from C+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Prairie City’s students in the tested grades sat them (729 in math, 728 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–2Monroe Elementary Schoolin MonroeC
3–5Prairie City Elementary SchoolPCM Community School DistrictB+
6–8PCM Middle SchoolPCM Community School DistrictB−
9–12PCM High Schoolin MonroeB+

Prairie City’s public schools are run by PCM Community School District, which also serves Monroe and Reasnor. 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.

PCM Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 1,077 students, down 3% since 2020–21 · 13.8 per teacher (IA 14.1)
$12,914IA $13,713 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading79%
State average 69.7% · 728 students tested
Math65%
State average 63.8% · 729 students tested

Prairie City vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Prairie CityBPCM

Every school in Prairie City

4 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 Prairie Cityby address
Prairie City Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 3–5
B+
240 students14:1Rate it →
PCM Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B−
232 students12:1Rate it →
Also serving Prairie Cityin other towns
Monroe Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–2 · Monroe
C
257 students15:1Rate it →
PCM High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Monroe
B+
348 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about Prairie City’s schools

Are Prairie City’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Iowa: the public schools Prairie City children attend outscore 62% of Iowa’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 59%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Prairie City in?

PCM Community School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,077 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do Prairie City kids go to high school?

PCM High School in Monroe, with 348 students; its own test results earn a B+.

What is Prairie City’s graduation rate?

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

How much does Prairie City spend per student?

$12,914 in PCM Community School District (FY2024), against $13,713 across Iowa. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Prairie City families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Prairie 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.