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Clay County CourthouseClay County Courthouse · Photo: Scott Romine · CC BY-SA 4.0
B+
Schools in Spencer · Spencer Community School District

Spencer’s public schools outscore 67% of Iowa districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Spencer, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Math proficiency in Spencer’s districts is 72%, above the Iowa average (64%). Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Iowa, not nationally.

#52of 140 Iowa townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Iowa state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% 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
74%
▲ 4 pts vs IA 70%
2021–22
Math proficiency
72%
▲ 8 pts vs IA 64%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 2–6 pts vs IA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.4K
▼ 2% vs IA $13.7K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.2
IA 14.1 · larger classes
Schools in town
7
2,094 students on the public path
In brief

Spencer’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 583 Iowa towns with household incomes within a quarter of Spencer’s, its schools beat 74%, higher than their 67% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 74% and math 72% 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 $13,383 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 Lincoln Elementary School, then Spencer Middle School, then Spencer High School. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Sacred Heart School (private) and Iowa Great Lakes Lutheran School (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 Spencer’s grade

B+ Test scoresB− Graduation

B+: better than 67% of Iowa school districts, #52 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 67%
Lower resultsHigher results
Iowa towns with similar household incomes (583)Better than 74%
B−A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,473 test results and a graduating class of 192 could put Spencer anywhere from B− to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Spencer’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,477 in math, 1,469 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–KJohnson ElementarySpencer Community School DistrictNo scores
3–5Lincoln Elementary SchoolSpencer Community School DistrictB
6–8Spencer Middle SchoolSpencer Community School DistrictA−
9–12Spencer High SchoolSpencer Community School DistrictB

Spencer’s public schools are run by Spencer Community School District, which also serves Dickens and Gillett Grove. 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.

Spencer Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 5 schools · 2,094 students, down 4% since 2020–21 · 15.2 per teacher (IA 14.1)
$13,383IA $13,713 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading74%
State average 69.7% · 1469 students tested
Math72%
State average 63.8% · 1477 students tested

Spencer vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
SpencerB+Spencer

Every school in Spencer

7 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 Spencerby address
Johnson Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–K
201 students11:1Rate it →
Fairview Park Elementary
Elementary · Grades 1–2
C+
249 students12:1Rate it →
Lincoln Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 3–5
B
442 students16:1Rate it →
Spencer Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
A−
514 students17:1Rate it →
Spencer High School
High · Grades 9–12
B
688 students17:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Sacred Heart School
Elementary · Grades K–6
Private · Catholic
179 students18:1Rate it →
Iowa Great Lakes Lutheran School
Elementary · Grades K–7
Private · Religious
119 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about Spencer’s schools

Are Spencer’s schools good?

By Iowa’s own tests, yes: the public schools Spencer children attend outscore 67% of Iowa’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #52 of 140 Iowa towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 74%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Spencer in?

Spencer Community School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 2,094 students in 5 schools (2024–25).

Where do Spencer kids go to high school?

Spencer High School, with 688 students; its own test results earn a B.

What is Spencer’s graduation rate?

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

How much does Spencer spend per student?

$13,383 in Spencer Community School District (FY2024), against $13,713 across Iowa. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Spencer?

Yes: Sacred Heart School (Catholic, grades K–6, 179 students) and Iowa Great Lakes Lutheran School (religious, grades K–7, 119 students).

Parents talk

What Spencer families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Spencer → 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.