Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 5 schools in district

Norwalk Middle School

200 Cherry Street, Norwalk, IA 50211Norwalk Comm School District →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
787
Students
Total enrolled
$17,385
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 21% vs nat'l
15.2 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
~avg
51/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Large public school
Serves 787 students in grades 06–08 in Norwalk, Iowa.
21% above average funding
District spends $17,385 per pupil, 21% more than the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 51th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Norwalk Middle School is a large middle in Norwalk, Iowa, serving grades 06–08 with 787 students. The district invests $17,385 per student — 21% above the national average of $14,347, with a 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. With only 21% of students on free or reduced-price lunch, the school primarily serves an economically stable community.

Student Body & Demographics at Norwalk Middle School

787
Total Students
15.2 : 1
Student:Teacher
21%
Free Lunch
52
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (06–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution417 male · 369 female
53%
47%
Male 53%Female 47%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility21%
National avg 52% · 167 students
Student Composition
88%
White88%
Hispanic / Latino7%
Black2%
Multiracial3%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 192124001274

Academic Outcomes at Norwalk Middle School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
51
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 51th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 82th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 50211

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$17,385Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$17,385
State avg
$17,386
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$7,649
Student Support$3,303
Administration$2,086
Operations$2,608
Other$1,739
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $17,385 spent per student, an estimated $7,702 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
57%
35%
State government
57.0%
Local (property tax)
35.1%
Federal programs
8.0%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $17,385/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • Low economic disadvantage rate — only 21% of students on free or reduced lunch
  • 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.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Oviatt Elementary SchoolLakewood Elementary SchoolOrchard Hills Elementary
↓
High School
Norwalk Senior High School
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountyWarren County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictNorwalk Comm School District →
Phone: (515)981-0435
NCES ID: 192124001274
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Norwalk seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Norwalk Comm School District
High
Norwalk Senior High School
1,035 students · 09–12
● 51 opp19% FRL
Elem
Oviatt Elementary School
616 students · PK–01
● 51 opp22% FRL
Elem
Lakewood Elementary School
544 students · 04–05
● 51 opp19% FRL
Elem
Orchard Hills Elementary
526 students · 02–03
● 51 opp20% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
200 Cherry Street, Norwalk, IA 50211
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.