Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 6 schools in district

Le Mars Middle School

977 3rd Ave SW, Le Mars, IA 51031Le Mars Comm School District
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 0608Non-Charter
488
Students
Total enrolled
$12,664
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
12% vs nat'l
13.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
9% vs nat'l
53/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
Mid-sized public school
Serves 488 students in grades 06–08 in Le Mars, Iowa.
12% below average funding
District spends $12,664 per pupil, 12% less than the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 53th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Le Mars Middle School is a mid-sized middle in Le Mars, Iowa, serving grades 06–08 with 488 students. The district invests $12,664 per student — 12% below the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 38% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body.

Student Body & Demographics at Le Mars Middle School

488
Total Students
13.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
38%
Free Lunch
35
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (0608) are served by this school
Gender Distribution279 male · 209 female
57%
43%
Male 57%Female 43%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility38%
National avg 52% · 186 students
Student Composition
70%
17%
White70%
Hispanic / Latino17%
Black5%
Multiracial4%
Native American1%
Pacific Islander3%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 191653000984

Academic Outcomes at Le Mars Middle School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
53
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 53th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 90th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 51031

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$12,664Below avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$12,664
State avg
$17,386
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$5,572
Student Support$2,406
Administration$1,520
Operations$1,900
Other$1,266
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $12,664 spent per student, an estimated $5,610 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
55%
35%
State government
54.9%
Local (property tax)
35.0%
Federal programs
10.1%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location
CountyPlymouth County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
Phone: (712)546-7022
NCES ID: 191653000984
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Le Mars seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing smaller class sizes and more individualized teacher access. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

Location
977 3rd Ave SW, Le Mars, IA 51031
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.