About Lamoni Community Schools & Our Area

 

Welcome to Lamoni, Iowa


The Community

The city of Lamoni is a healthy community located in south central Iowa, just off I-35. The school district is approximately 89 square miles in size. Its boundaries lie within Decatur and Ringgold counties. The community is often referred to as Iowa's Quilt City because of the Mite Society. The Mite Society is the oldest continuous quilting society in the state of Iowa. Lamoni is located in the Heart of Cattle Country. Livestock and farming are equally important to the economic growth of the community. Lamoni has a newly expanded and paved airport and has a new accredited public library next door to the school. The educational and cultural health of the community is enhanced not only by the public school but also by Graceland University whose main campus has been located in Lamoni since 1895. Graceland offers 43 undergraduate degree programs and graduate degrees in nursing, education and religion. Seventeen percent of Graceland students, on the Lamoni campus, are international students, which brings a rich diversity to campus life. Lamoni and Graceland students alike enjoy the excitement and enrichment of athletic events, music, theatre and art presentations that the university provides for the community. A local clinic, a dentist, a county hospital, 14 miles away, a chiropractic and fitness center care for the physical health of the community. The mixture of religious beliefs found within the community's three churches also enriches small town life. The community is also proud of its recreational programs. A newly renovated city park hosts summer baseball and softball leagues and has a swimming pool. Other recreational facilities include a 9-hole golf course and country club, a movie theater, and year-round tennis and handball courts. Outdoor enthusiasts can also enjoy camping and other outdoor activities at nearby Slip Bluff and Nine Eagles parks, as well as a newly developed walking/bicycle trail that begins in the town of Lamoni.


The School District

The school consists of three centers -- elementary school, middle school, and high school -- and had a 2008/2009 PreK-12 enrollment of 376 students, with 36 teachers and 38 support staff. The administrative team of the district included a superintendent/PreK-5 principal and a 6-12 principal. Twenty-two percent of the school's faculty held advanced degrees, with average years of experience at 12.79 years. The teacher-pupil ratio in the district is 10:1. The elementary school is a regional and state leader in curriculum development. It was one of the first schools in the state to develop a natural approach to reading and writing instruction. The faculty has also added manipulatives to the math curriculum and adopted cooperative learning across several grade levels. The elementary school is fortunate to have three state funded preschool classrooms that can serve up to 58 children. The preschool has a collaborative agreement with many partners such as Funshine Learning Center, Graceland University, Triumph, and Southwestern Community College. The middle school has a variety of special features including team planning, exploratory courses, and age appropriate social activities. A new high school was completed in December of 2007, which offers a great environment for students to attend. The high school offers an excellent array of courses on the home campus and through cooperative programs with the North Central Vocational Center in Bethany, Missouri, an alternative school at Mt Ayr Community Schools and Graceland University. The district is a member of the South Central Consortium network team, which includes 7 member schools. The Consortium is a result of a grant received from the New Iowa Schools Development Corporation (NISCD) and is an attempt to offer expanded/extended-learning opportunities for students through cooperative efforts among member schools. The school enjoys strong community support and an active booster club.


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