The schools were graded in the second year of a statewide ratings system called the Iowa School Performance Profiles.

Under that system, Feelhaver Elementary School received an overall performance rating of acceptable. It was the highest rated school in the district.

Fort Dodge Senior High School, Fort Dodge Middle School, and the Early Childhood Center received overall performance ratings of needs improvement.

Butler Elementary School, Cooper Elementary School and Duncombe Elementary School received the overall performance rating of priority, which is the lowest rating in the system.

A statement on the Iowa Department of Education website devoted to the performance profiles indicates that each rating “provides a snapshot of school performance, but may not tell the entire story about performance of students in that school.”

“We use this as a tool to try to make improvements across the district,” Superintendent Josh Porter said.

“”We know we’ve got some work to do,” he added. “These profiles enable us to find some areas to put some attention on.”

Porter said the rating system is only in its second year. He said the Fort Dodge district did not decline from its overall standings in last year’s ratings, but it did not improve.

Literacy scores remain the district’s top priority, according to the superintendent.

He said the district did show significant improvement in a couple of areas. He said chronic absenteeism among students is down at both the middle and high schools. The state defines chronic absenteeism as a student being absent for more than 10 percent of the school days for any reason.

The scoring system the state uses for the profiles shows Fort Dodge Senior High School improving by just over eight points on the issue of reducing chronic absenteeism.

“Across the district, we really did have some growth in attendance,” Porter said.

McKenzie Snow, the director of the Iowa Department of Education, explained the rating system in a written statement.

“Iowa’s unified accountability system was designed in partnership with educators and communities to inform and advance continuous school improvement,” she said. “With our teachers, school leaders, and families working together to accelerate student learning, Iowa’s School Performance Profiles show impressive gains overall and among schools identified in need of support.”

“Iowa’s continued commitment to evidence-based practices, instructional leadership and accountability is imperative, and we celebrate the hard work that led to these remarkable gains in early literacy and science proficiency, work-based learning attainment and attendance,” she added.

This is the second year of designations and ratings using Iowa’s unified accountability system approved by the U.S. Department of Education in 2024. The accountability system uses a set of core indicators to provide an overall score and performance rating for all public schools. Rating categories include exceptional (highest performing), high performing, commendable, acceptable, needs improvement and priority/comprehensive (lowest performing).

Overall scores increased to 63.3 percent of possible points earned in 2024-25, up from 61 percent in 2023-24.

Of 1,276 total schools, 528 schools moved up one or more rating categories.

Indicators focus on proficiency in English language arts, mathematics and science, student academic growth, chronic absenteeism and attendance growth among all K-12 schools. High school ratings include two additional measures — graduation rates and a postsecondary readiness indicator measuring work-based learning experiences and college credit attained by students. The addition of industry-recognized credential attainment while in high school is underway for future reporting cycles.

The Iowa School Performance Profiles website also shows schools identified for support and improvement to meet requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Designated last year for a three-year cycle, 35 schools are in need of comprehensive support and improvement (CSI), representing the lowest performing 5 percent of all Title I public schools.

How Fort Dodge schools rated in the recently released Iowa School Performance Profiles

Feelhaver Elementary School – Overall performance – Acceptable

Early Childhood center – Overall performance – Needs Improvement

Fort Dodge Middle School – Overall performance – Needs Improvement

Fort Dodge Senior High School – Overall performance – Needs Improvement

Butler Elementary School – Overall performance – Priority

Cooper Elementary School – Overall performance – Priority

Duncombe Elementary School – Overall performance – Priority