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South O'brien Community School District

Item: South O'brien Community School District
Rating: 7
Author: Public School Review

216 S Rutledge
Paullina, IA 51046-0638

( shown in map)

Top 50%

Tel: (712) 949-2115

www.soswolverines.org

Top Rankings

South O'brien Community School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Iowa for:

Overview

This School District

This State (IA)

# Schools

2 Schools

1,320 Schools

# Students

558 Students

501,674 Students

# Teachers

44 Teachers

34,800 Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

13:1

Student By Grade

View Data

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	South O'brien Community School District	Iowa
Pre-K	50	70
Kind	57	111
1	41	105
2	35	108
3	32	107
4	41	109
5	29	109
6	31	108
7	36	109
8	36	112
9	37	118
10	45	121
11	43	118
12	45	117

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District Rank

South O'brien Community School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 325 school districts in Iowa (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.

The school district's graduation rate of 85% has increased from 80-89% over five school years.

This School District

State Average (IA)

#110 out of 327 school districts
(Top 50%)

View Data

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	South O'brien Community School District
2023	#110
2022	#114
2021	#219
2019	#158
2018	#152
2017	#146
2016	#120
2015	#113
2014	#33
2013	#78
2012	#92

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74%

68%

View Data

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	South O'brien Community School District	Iowa
2023	74%	68%
2022	69%	64%
2021	64%	64%
2019	70%	69%
2018	80%	76%
2017	83%	77%
2016	87%	78%
2015	87%	79%
2014	92%	79%
2013	82%	77%
2012	83%	76%

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77%

70%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	South O'brien Community School District	Iowa
2022	77%	70%
2021	66%	68%
2019	73%	68%
2018	80%	74%
2017	77%	75%
2016	77%	75%
2015	78%	76%
2014	82%	76%
2013	78%	72%
2012	76%	71%
2011	80%	76%

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70-74%

63%

View Data

Science Proficiency Trends
Year	South O'brien Community School District	Iowa
2022	72%	63%
2021	57%	60%

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85%

90%

View Data

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	South O'brien Community School District	Iowa
2023	85%	90%
2022	74%	90%
2021	90%	87%
2020	90%	89%
2019	84%	88%
2018	84%	89%
2017	84%	89%
2016	84%	88%
2015	84%	88%
2014	90%	89%
2013	84%	87%

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Students by Ethnicity:

0.15

0.47

View Data

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	South O'brien Community School District	Iowa
2023	0.16	0.46
2022	0.18	0.45
2021	0.19	0.43
2020	0.20	0.42
2019	0.20	0.42
2018	0.20	0.39
2017	0.20	0.39
2016	0.19	0.38
2015	0.17	0.38
2014	0.14	0.37
2013	0.15	0.35
2012	0.15	0.34
2011	0.10	0.34
2010	0.10	0.32
2009	0.11	0.29
2008	0.10	0.28
2007	0.10	0.26
2006	0.09	0.23
2005	0.05	0.24
2004	0.05	0.22
2003	0.05	0.21
2002	0.06	0.20
2001	0.04	0.20
2000	0.04	0.15
1999	0.03	0.16

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% American Indian

n/a

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2002-2007)
Year	South O'brien Community School District	Iowa
2007	1%	1%
2006	1%	1%
2005	1%	1%
2002	2%	1%

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% Asian

n/a

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2001-2013)
Year	South O'brien Community School District	Iowa
2013	1%	3%
2012	1%	2%
2011	1%	2%
2010	1%	2%
2009	1%	2%
2008	1%	2%
2007	1%	2%
2004	1%	2%
2003	1%	2%
2002	1%	2%
2001	1%	2%

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% Hispanic

13%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2003-2023)
Year	South O'brien Community School District	Iowa
2023	5%	13%
2022	5%	12%
2021	5%	12%
2020	7%	11%
2019	7%	11%
2018	8%	11%
2017	8%	11%
2016	7%	10%
2015	6%	11%
2014	5%	10%
2013	5%	9%
2012	5%	9%
2011	3%	9%
2010	2%	8%
2009	2%	7%
2008	2%	7%
2007	2%	6%
2006	2%	5%
2005	1%	5%
2004	1%	5%
2003	1%	4%

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% Black

n/a

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1999-2021)
Year	South O'brien Community School District	Iowa
2021	1%	7%
2020	1%	6%
2019	1%	6%
2018	1%	6%
2017	1%	6%
2016	1%	6%
2015	1%	5%
2014	1%	5%
2013	1%	5%
2012	2%	5%
2011	1%	5%
2009	2%	6%
2008	2%	6%
2007	1%	5%
2006	1%	4%
2005	1%	5%
2004	1%	4%
2003	1%	4%
1999	1%	4%

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% White

92%

71%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	South O'brien Community School District	Iowa
2023	92%	72%
2022	91%	73%
2021	90%	74%
2020	90%	75%
2019	90%	75%
2018	89%	77%
2017	89%	77%
2016	90%	78%
2015	91%	78%
2014	93%	79%
2013	92%	80%
2012	91%	81%
2011	95%	81%
2010	95%	82%
2009	95%	84%
2008	95%	84%
2007	95%	86%
2006	96%	88%
2005	97%	87%
2004	97%	88%
2003	97%	89%
2002	97%	89%
2001	98%	89%
2000	98%	94%
1999	99%	91%
1998	100%	92%
1997	99%	93%
1996	100%	93%

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% Hawaiian

n/a

% Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2013-2023)
Year	South O'brien Community School District	Iowa
2023	3%	5%
2022	4%	5%
2021	4%	4%
2020	2%	4%
2019	2%	4%
2018	2%	4%
2017	2%	4%
2016	2%	4%
2015	2%	3%
2014	1%	3%
2013	1%	3%

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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $18,039 is higher than the state median of $16,468. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

The school district's spending/student of $16,091 is higher than the state median of $16,042. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

This School District

This State (IA)

Total Revenue

$10 MM

$8,262 MM

View Data

Total Revenues Trends
Year	South O'brien Community School District	Iowa
2023	$10 MM	$12 MM
2022	$9 MM	$11 MM
2021	$10 MM	$12 MM
2020	$9 MM	$11 MM
2019	$9 MM	$11 MM
2018	$9 MM	$10 MM
2017	$9 MM	$10 MM
2016	$9 MM	$10 MM
2015	$7 MM	$7 MM
2014	$9 MM	$9 MM
2012	$8 MM	$9 MM
2011	$8 MM	$8 MM
2010	$7 MM	$7 MM
2009	$7 MM	$7 MM
2008	$7 MM	$7 MM
2007	$7 MM	$7 MM
2006	$7 MM	$6 MM
2005	$7 MM	$6 MM
2004	$7 MM	$6 MM
2003	$7 MM	$6 MM
2002	$7 MM	$6 MM
2001	$6 MM	$5 MM
2000	$7 MM	$5 MM
1999	$7 MM	$5 MM
1998	$7 MM	$5 MM
1997	$6 MM	$4 MM
1996	$6 MM	$4 MM
1995	$5 MM	$4 MM

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Spending

$9 MM

$8,048 MM

View Data

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	South O'brien Community School District	Iowa
2023	$9 MM	$11 MM
2022	$8 MM	$11 MM
2021	$9 MM	$11 MM
2020	$8 MM	$11 MM
2019	$9 MM	$10 MM
2018	$9 MM	$10 MM
2017	$10 MM	$10 MM
2016	$9 MM	$10 MM
2015	$7 MM	$7 MM
2014	$8 MM	$8 MM
2012	$7 MM	$8 MM
2011	$7 MM	$8 MM
2010	$7 MM	$7 MM
2009	$7 MM	$7 MM
2008	$7 MM	$7 MM
2007	$7 MM	$6 MM
2006	$9 MM	$6 MM
2005	$6 MM	$6 MM
2004	$6 MM	$6 MM
2003	$7 MM	$6 MM
2002	$7 MM	$6 MM
2001	$7 MM	$6 MM
2000	$6 MM	$5 MM
1999	$7 MM	$5 MM
1998	$6 MM	$5 MM
1997	$6 MM	$4 MM
1996	$5 MM	$4 MM
1995	$6 MM	$4 MM

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Revenue / Student

$18,039

$16,468

View Data

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	South O'brien Community School District	Iowa
2023	$17,476	$15,936
2022	$15,187	$14,700
2021	$17,385	$16,172
2020	$15,187	$14,700
2019	$14,122	$14,749
2018	$14,950	$14,230
2017	$15,183	$14,844
2016	$15,251	$14,113
2015	$11,623	$11,259
2014	$12,731	$13,301
2012	$12,145	$12,751
2011	$11,548	$12,165
2010	$11,494	$11,259
2009	$12,024	$11,087
2008	$11,126	$10,485
2007	$10,921	$10,103
2006	$10,329	$9,628
2005	$10,056	$9,167
2004	$9,671	$8,727
2003	$8,973	$8,857
2002	$8,599	$8,158
2001	$7,768	$7,654
2000	$8,406	$7,180
1999	$8,043	$6,993
1998	$7,604	$6,548

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Spending / Student

$16,091

$16,042

View Data

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	South O'brien Community School District	Iowa
2023	$15,589	$15,133
2022	$13,486	$14,340
2021	$15,508	$15,357
2020	$13,486	$14,340
2019	$13,825	$14,216
2018	$14,668	$13,767
2017	$15,601	$14,379
2016	$14,100	$14,161
2015	$10,927	$11,298
2014	$11,717	$12,593
2012	$11,022	$12,000
2011	$10,793	$11,589
2010	$10,806	$11,298
2009	$10,748	$10,614
2008	$10,277	$9,706
2007	$9,793	$9,439
2006	$12,778	$9,204
2005	$8,980	$8,457
2004	$8,333	$8,450
2003	$9,490	$8,908
2002	$8,946	$8,409
2001	$8,096	$7,961
2000	$7,838	$7,433
1999	$8,050	$7,234
1998	$6,896	$6,713

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Best South O'brien Community School District Public Schools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)

Location

Quick Facts

Rank: #11.

South O'brien Elementary Sch Primghar Center

(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
:

Top 30%

Add to Compare

155 3rd St Ne
Primghar, IA 51245
(712) 957-3755

Gr: PK-6 | 316 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 7%

Rank: #22.

South O'brien Secondary School

(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 78%)
:

Top 50%

Add to Compare

307 W Groesbeck
Paullina, IA 51046
(712) 949-3454

Gr: 7-12 | 242 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 9%

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to South O'brien Community School District?

South O'brien Community School District manages 2 public schools serving 558 students.

What is the rank of South O'brien Community School District?

South O'brien Community School District is ranked #103 out of 325 school districts in Iowa (top 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Iowa school districts for: Highest science proficiency (Top 20%)

What is the racial composition of students in South O'brien Community School District?

92% of South O'brien Community School District students are White, 6% of students are Hispanic, and 2% of students are Two or more races.

What is the student/teacher ratio of South O'brien Community School District?

South O'brien Community School District has a student/teacher ratio of 13:1, which is lower than the Iowa state average of 14:1.

What is South O'brien Community School District's spending/student ratio?

The school district's spending/student of $16,091 is higher than the state median of $16,042. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2025-26)

District size: 2 schools
Grades: PK-12
Enrollment: 558 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
Minority Enrollment: 8%
: 85% (Top 30% in IA)
: Top 50%
: 74% (Top 50%)
: 77% (Top 30%)
: 70-74% (Top 20%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education