| Index | Forest City | Iowa | National |
| Average Test Scores | 75% | 69% | 48% |
| Student/Teacher ratio | 12:1 | 13:1 | 16:1 |
| Total public schools | 3 | 1,101 | 79,221 |
| Total private schools | 1 | 208 | 24,874 |
| Total post-secondary schools | 1 | 96 | 7,963 |
| Index | Forest City | Iowa | National |
| Completed 8th grade | 89.9% | 89.2% | 84.3% |
| Completed high school | 88.0% | 87.7% | 83.0% |
| Completed some college | 58.1% | 59.8% | 59.4% |
| Completed associate degree | 31.5% | 38.4% | 38.5% |
| Completed bachelors | 20.5% | 27.2% | 30.3% |
| Completed masters | 4.1% | 8.7% | 11.5% |
| Completed professional degree | 1.4% | 2.7% | 3.3% |
| Completed doctorate | 0.3% | 1.1% | 1.3% |
There are a total of 3 public schools, 1 private schools and 1 post-secondary schools in Forest City. Using the proficiency score averages, the average test scores for Forest City, IA schools is 75%. The average student to teacher ratio is 12:1. In Forest City, IA, an average of 89.9% of students have completed 8th grade and an average of 88.0% have completed high school.
| City | Population | Avg. Test Scores | National Avg. |
| Garner, IA | 3,060 | 78% | 63.0% |
| Lake Mills, IA | 2,108 | 75% | 55.6% |
| Ventura, IA | 761 | 74% | 54.2% |
| Britt, IA | 1,761 | 74% | 53.1% |
| Clear Lake, IA | 7,594 | 73% | 52.4% |
| Forest City, IA | 4,117 | 75% | 55.9% |
| City | Population | Avg. Test Scores | National Avg. |
| Broad Brook, CT | 4,118 | 33% | 30.7% |
| Scottdale, PA | 4,116 | 61% | 26.6% |
| Roebling, NJ | 4,120 | 56% | 16.7% |
| Jefferson, IA | 4,121 | 62% | 29.2% |
| Burnham, IL | 4,121 | 10% | 79.2% |
| Forest City, IA | 4,117 | 75% | 55.9% |
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