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C+
Schools in Sanborn · Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District

Sanborn’s public schools score below 60% of Iowa districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Sanborn, 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
75%
▲ 5 pts vs IA 70%
2021–22
Math proficiency
64%
▲ 0 pts vs IA 64%
2021–22
Graduate on time
80–89%
▼ 2–8 pts vs IA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.0K
▼ 5% vs IA $13.7K
FY2024
Students per teacher
11.9
IA 14.1 · smaller classes
Schools in town
2
629 students on the public path
In brief

Sanborn’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 581 Iowa towns with household incomes within a quarter of Sanborn’s, its schools beat 45%, higher than their 40% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 75% and math 64% in spring 2022, against 70% and 64% statewide; 80–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,016 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 Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Middle School, then Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School. Enrollment is up 5% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Sanborn Christian School (private) is 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 Sanborn’s grade

B− Test scoresC− Graduation

C+: better than 40% of Iowa school districts. Test scores are above the Iowa average; graduation is below it.

Iowa school districts we grade (326)Better than 40%
Lower resultsHigher results
Iowa towns with similar household incomes (581)Better than 45%
C−B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 403 test results and a graduating class of 52 could put Sanborn anywhere from C− to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Sanborn’s students in the tested grades sat them (403 in math, 403 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–4Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Elementary Schoolin HartleyB+
5–8Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Middle SchoolHartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School DistrictB
9–12Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High Schoolin HartleyB+

Sanborn’s public schools are run by Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District, which also serves Hartley and Melvin. 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.

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 629 students, up 5% since 2020–21 · 11.9 per teacher (IA 14.1)
$13,016IA $13,713 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading75%
State average 69.7% · 403 students tested
Math64%
State average 63.8% · 403 students tested

Sanborn vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
SanbornC+Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn

Every school in Sanborn

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 Sanbornby address
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8
B
165 students13:1Rate it →
Also serving Sanbornin other towns
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–4 · Hartley
B+
261 students12:1Rate it →
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Hartley
B+
203 students11:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Sanborn Christian School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
117 students10:1Rate it →

Questions about Sanborn’s schools

Are Sanborn’s schools good?

On Iowa’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Sanborn children attend score below 60% of Iowa’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 45%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Sanborn in?

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 629 students in 3 schools (2024–25).

Where do Sanborn kids go to high school?

Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School in Hartley, with 203 students; its own test results earn a B+.

What is Sanborn’s graduation rate?

80–89% of the class of 2023 in Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Iowa.

How much does Sanborn spend per student?

$13,016 in Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District (FY2024), against $13,713 across Iowa. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Sanborn?

Yes: Sanborn Christian School (religious, grades PK–8, 117 students).

Parents talk

What Sanborn families are saying about school.

Town Square →
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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Sanborn → 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.