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B+
Schools in Spirit Lake · Spirit Lake Community School District

Spirit Lake’s public schools outscore 74% of Iowa districts

Math proficiency in Spirit Lake’s districts is 80%, above the Iowa average (64%). The grade covers the public school district serving Spirit Lake, 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.

#41of 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
79%
▲ 9 pts vs IA 70%
2021–22
Math proficiency
80%
▲ 16 pts vs IA 64%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 2–2 pts vs IA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.2K
▼ 11% vs IA $13.7K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.1
IA 14.1 · larger classes
Schools in town
3
1,319 students on the public path
In brief

Spirit Lake’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 643 Iowa towns with household incomes within a quarter of Spirit Lake’s, its schools beat 80%, higher than their 74% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 79% and math 80% in spring 2022, against 70% and 64% statewide; 85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $12,162 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 Spirit Lake Middle School, then Spirit Lake 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 Spirit Lake’s grade

A Test scoresC+ Graduation

B+: better than 74% of Iowa school districts, #41 of 140 Iowa towns. Test scores are above the Iowa average; graduation is below it.

Iowa school districts we grade (326)Better than 74%
Lower resultsHigher results
Iowa towns with similar household incomes (643)Better than 80%
B−AA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 813 test results and a graduating class of 125 could put Spirit Lake anywhere from B− to A. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Spirit Lake’s students in the tested grades sat them (812 in math, 814 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–4Spirit Lake Elementary SchoolSpirit Lake Community School DistrictB
5–8Spirit Lake Middle SchoolSpirit Lake Community School DistrictB+
9–12Spirit Lake High SchoolSpirit Lake Community School DistrictA

Spirit Lake’s public schools are run by Spirit Lake Community School District, which also serves Okoboji, Orleans and Superior. 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.

Spirit Lake Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 1,319 students, up 2% since 2020–21 · 15.1 per teacher (IA 14.1)
$12,162IA $13,713 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading79%
State average 69.7% · 814 students tested
Math80%
State average 63.8% · 812 students tested

Spirit Lake vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Spirit LakeB+Spirit Lake
Orleans—Spirit Lake
Okoboji—Okoboji PK–12 · Spirit Lake PK–12

All 2 neighbors share Spirit Lake with Spirit Lake, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Spirit Lake

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 Spirit Lakeby address
Spirit Lake Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
B
547 students14:1Rate it →
Spirit Lake Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8
B+
379 students16:1Rate it →
Spirit Lake High School
High · Grades 9–12
A
393 students15:1Rate it →

Questions about Spirit Lake’s schools

Are Spirit Lake’s schools good?

By Iowa’s own tests, yes: the public schools Spirit Lake children attend outscore 74% of Iowa’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #41 of 140 Iowa towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 80%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Spirit Lake in?

Spirit Lake Community School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,319 students in 3 schools (2024–25).

Where do Spirit Lake kids go to high school?

Spirit Lake High School, with 393 students; its own test results earn an A.

What is Spirit Lake’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Spirit Lake Community School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Iowa.

How much does Spirit Lake spend per student?

$12,162 in Spirit Lake Community School District (FY2024), against $13,713 across Iowa. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Spirit Lake families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Spirit Lake → 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.