Best Schools in Story County, IA
Story County, IA has 37 public schools (10 high, 8 middle, 19 elementary) serving 15,996 students. On average they score 80% on state proficiency tests against a projected 67%, so schools in Story County meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Story County, IA
The top high schools in Story County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Gilbert High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Gilbert Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 537 Students
2. Roland-story High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Roland-story Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 345 Students
3. West Marshall High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
West Marshall Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 327 Students
4. North Polk High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Polk Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 647 Students
5. Ballard High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ballard Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 545 Students
6. Ames High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ames Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1403 Students
7. Boone High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Boone Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 711 Students
8. Nevada High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Nevada Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 491 Students
9. Collins-maxwell Middle/high School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Collins-maxwell Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 12 • 208 Students
10. Colo-nesco Middle/high School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Colo-nesco Comm School District • Public • Grades 5 - 12 • 232 Students
Best Middle Schools in Story County, IA
The top middle schools in Story County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Gilbert Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Gilbert Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 409 Students
2. North Polk Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Polk Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 455 Students
3. Ballard Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ballard Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 432 Students
4. West Marshall Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
West Marshall Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 195 Students
5. Roland-story Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Roland-story Comm School District • Public • Grades 5 - 8 • 317 Students
6. Nevada Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Nevada Comm School District • Public • Grades 5 - 8 • 443 Students
7. Ames Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ames Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1002 Students
8. Boone Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Boone Comm School District • Public • Grades 5 - 8 • 582 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Story County, IA
The top elementary schools in Story County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Ames Christian School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ames Christian School • Private • Grades Pre K - 6 • 87 Students
2. Gilbert Intermediate School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Gilbert Comm School District • Public • Grades 3 - 5 • 341 Students
3. Central Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Nevada Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 608 Students
4. Roland-story Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Roland-story Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 463 Students
5. St Cecilia Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
St Cecilia Elementary School • Private • Grades Pre K - 5 • 162 Students
6. Collins-maxwell Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Collins-maxwell Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 204 Students
7. Fellows Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ames Comm School District • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 528 Students
8. North Polk Central Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Polk Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 342 Students
9. West Marshall Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
West Marshall Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 448 Students
10. Meeker Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ames Comm School District • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 351 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Story County, IA
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Story County, IA has a total population of 98,537 with 43% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 97%, and 57% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Story County, IA
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Story County, IA.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
15.81 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
2.84 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
12.97 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Story County, IA.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Story County, IA.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Story County, IA Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Story County, IA
How many schools are in Story County, IA?
Story County, IA has 37 public schools: 10 high schools, 8 middle schools and 19 elementary schools, serving 15,996 students in total.
How do schools in Story County perform on state tests?
On average, 37 schools in Story County score 80% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 67%, so on average schools in Story County meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Story County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Story County, IA
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 78%
- Projected: 64%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 67%
- Projected: 52%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 78%
- Projected: 64%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 79%
- Projected: 63%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 68%
- Projected: 54%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 74%
- Projected: 64%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 76%
- Projected: 62%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 70%
- Projected: 57%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 65%
- Projected: 54%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 75%
- Projected: 56%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Story County
12 places in Story County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (12)
- Ames (8)
- Gilbert (4)
- Nevada (3)
- Huxley (2)
- Story City (2)
- Cambridge (1)
- Collins (1)
- Colo (1)
- Maxwell (1)
- Roland (1)
- Slater (1)
- Zearing (1)
School districts (5)
- Ames Comm School District (8 schools)
- Ballard Comm School District (4 schools)
- Gilbert Comm School District (4 schools)
- Nevada Comm School District (3 schools)
- Roland-Story Comm School District (3 schools)