Alta High School has a 10:1 teacher to student ratio. Alta's graduation rate is 93.3% and 74% of the 2004-2005 ACT participating Seniors scoring 20 or higher on the ACT. Higher level college courses can be taken from Iowa Central Community College and at Buena Vista University. Alta has a National Honor Society program as well as a Junior Engineering Technical Society program. There are many theatrical opportunities at Alta, including Speech, Fall Musical, and a Spring Play performed at the school-owned and operated theater.
School Activities
Alta Speech Program
Despite Alta High School's small size, the Speech program has flourished at Alta. Both Large Group and Individual Speech programs have been very successful. Alta High School participants have frequently been selected for the IHSSA All-State Speech festival for both Large Group and Individual in the past years.
Athletics
Alta's athletic program today is highly successful. Alta's sport programs are: Football, Volleyball, Cross Country, Cheerleading/Danceline, Swimming, Basketball, Wrestling, Track & Field, Golf, Baseball, and Softball. Some of the accomplishment's include: Football: 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 State Playoff Qualifier Cross Country: 2004 State Team Participant, 2005 and 2006 State Qualifiers, 2011 State Qualifiers Volleyball: 2006 NW Conference Champions Basketball :State Runner-up 1971, 1972 State Champions, 1975 State Participants, 2006 State Participants, and more recently, in the 2006-2007 season Alta went undefeated in regular season play, only to fall at the hands of long time rival Aurelia in tournament play. Track: 2006 & 2007 Conference Champions. Alta girls' track has had success with the 2004, 2005 400m and 2005 400m hurdles 1A State Champion. Golf: 2005 NW Conference Champions
Music
Alta has a historically strong music program with notable directors including Reginald Schive. The strengths have been jazz band, marching band, and numerous Division I ranked choirs and concert bands, although this information is outdated.
Miscellaneous information
The Alta High School building has been operating since 1916.
Until the 2003-2004 school year, the 7th and 8th grades were also located at the high school. The 2003-2004 school year marked the opening of Alta Middle School.
Current issues at hand include the renovation of the High School and the school sharing with Aurelia starting in Fall 2010.
