Ballard East Elementary

Q: Is Ballard East Elementary a good school?

Ballard East Elementary ranks 146 th of 557 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Ballard East Elementary is a public elementary school in Cambridge, Iowa, serving 422 students in grades 3-5. The school is part of the Ballard Community School District, which is ranked 52 out of 309 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating.

Ballard East Elementary consistently performs above the state average on ISASP (Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress) tests, with proficiency rates ranging from 62% to 85.4% across different grade levels and subject areas. The school ranks in the top 25% of Iowa elementary schools, earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. Compared to nearby schools, Ballard East generally outperforms its peers in test scores and rankings, suggesting it provides a high-quality education that meets the needs of its students.

While Ballard East Elementary has maintained strong academic performance, the school's student population is predominantly white, with a significantly lower percentage of minority students compared to the state and nearby schools. The school also serves a relatively affluent community, with a low percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch. These demographic and socioeconomic factors may contribute to the school's success, but the school's commitment to student learning and achievement is evident in its impressive test scores and statewide rankings.

Detail:

Public 3-5

505 W 4th St
Cambridge, IA 50046-7741

(515) 220-4306

District: Ballard Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
146^th of 557 Iowa Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,521

Students who attend Ballard East Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Ballard Middle School
High:	Ballard High School

Student/teacher ratio: 12.6

Number of students: 431

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.6%

Hispanic:

4.6%

Two or more races:

2.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 18.3%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Ballard East Elementary ranks better than 73.8% of elementary schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 71.6. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (91.6%), Hispanic (4.6%), two or more races (2.3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 18.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Ballard East Elementary is 12.6. (See more...)

Compare Ballard East Elementary employs 34.1 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Ballard East Elementary is $12,521.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Ballard East Elementary was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Ballard Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Ballard Community School District 52^nd of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Ballard East Elementary

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	63.16	238^th	626	62.0%
2013	48.80	391^st	624	37.3%
2014	46.71	403^rd	603	33.2%
2015	45.65	422^nd	616	31.5%
2016	58.17	299^th	599	50.1%
2017	73.01	136^th	574	76.3%
2018	78.03	84^th	567	85.2%
2019	83.33	66^th	603	89.1%
2021	81.95	70^th	567	87.7%
2022	71.29	158^th	574	72.5%
2023	78.93	92^nd	565	83.7%
2024	71.60	146^th	557	73.8%

See the entire list of Iowa Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Iowa Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

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Reviews:
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Enrollment information for Ballard East Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	343	0	4	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	347
1989	348	0	4	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	352
1990	359	0	4	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	363
1991	327	0	5	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	332
1992	342	1	5	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	348
1993	314	0	3	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	317
1994	288	0	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	290
1995	291	0	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	295
1996	291	0	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	295
1997	280	0	1	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	286
1998	240	0	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	243
1999	273	0	0	9	0	n/a	n/a	0	282
2000	291	0	0	9	0	n/a	n/a	-29	271
2001	278	1	2	12	0	n/a	n/a	0	293
2002	271	1	0	8	0	n/a	n/a	0	280
2003	271	1	0	8	0	n/a	n/a	0	280
2004	289	0	3	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	296
2005	287	2	1	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	296
2006	283	3	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	290
2007	317	4	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	325
2008	318	3	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	325
2009	346	5	3	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	359
2010	342	2	2	7	0	0	8	0	361
2011	363	4	1	6	0	0	7	0	381
2012	375	3	0	10	1	1	5	0	395
2013	360	4	0	11	0	1	5	0	381
2014	346	8	1	11	0	2	7	0	375
2015	318	5	1	13	1	1	3	0	342
2016	330	5	1	16	1	3	3	0	359
2017	342	6	0	11	1	2	1	0	363
2018	380	11	0	8	0	3	3	0	405
2019	365	11	0	9	3	1	2	0	391
2020	377	11	0	9	4	1	4	0	406
2021	343	8	1	10	5	0	8	0	375
2022	376	8	2	10	3	0	7	0	406
2023	386	6	2	20	0	0	8	0	422
2024	395	5	1	20	0	0	10	0	431

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Ballard East Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	347	14.0	24.7	15.9
1989	352	15.0	23.4	9.1
1990	363	14.5	25.0	9.1
1991	332	17.7	18.7	7.2
1992	348	19.0	18.3	7.5
1993	317	17.2	18.4	8.8
1994	290	16.9	17.2	15.9
1995	295	17.3	17.1	17.3
1996	295	17.3	17.1	17.3
1997	286	17.3	16.5	17.1
1998	243	14.9	16.3	16.5
1999	282	15.9	17.7	19.5
2000	271	16.4	16.5	21
2001	293	15.9	18.4	23.2
2002	280	14.0	20.0	14.6
2003	280	14.0	20.0	14.6
2004	296	18.8	15.7	12.2
2005	296	18.4	16.1	17.6
2006	290	21.0	13.8	19.7
2007	325	20.0	16.3	19.1
2008	325	19.3	16.8	14.8
2009	359	22.1	16.2	15.9
2010	361	23.4	15.3	21.6
2011	381	22.0	17.3	22.6
2012	395	25.0	15.7	23
2013	381	25.4	14.9	20.7
2014	375	24.0	15.5	20.3
2015	342	24.0	14.2	21.1
2016	359	24.0	14.9	19.5
2017	363	23.7	15.2	19.3
2018	405	25.7	15.7	13.8
2019	391	28.0	13.9	20.5
2020	406	29.1	13.9	18.5
2021	375	27.0	13.8	15.2
2022	406	30.1	13.4	11.3
2023	422	31.2	13.5	15.9
2024	431	34.1	12.6	18.3

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Ballard East Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	347	14.0	24.7	15.9
1989	352	15.0	23.4	9.1
1990	363	14.5	25.0	9.1
1991	332	17.7	18.7	7.2
1992	348	19.0	18.3	7.5
1993	317	17.2	18.4	8.8
1994	290	16.9	17.2	15.9
1995	295	17.3	17.1	17.3
1996	295	17.3	17.1	17.3
1997	286	17.3	16.5	17.1
1998	243	14.9	16.3	16.5
1999	282	15.9	17.7	19.5
2000	271	16.4	16.5	21
2001	293	15.9	18.4	23.2
2002	280	14.0	20.0	14.6
2003	280	14.0	20.0	14.6
2004	296	18.8	15.7	12.2
2005	296	18.4	16.1	17.6
2006	290	21.0	13.8	19.7
2007	325	20.0	16.3	19.1
2008	325	19.3	16.8	14.8
2009	359	22.1	16.2	15.9
2010	361	23.4	15.3	21.6
2011	381	22.0	17.3	22.6
2012	395	25.0	15.7	23
2013	381	25.4	14.9	20.7
2014	375	24.0	15.5	20.3
2015	342	24.0	14.2	21.1
2016	359	24.0	14.9	19.5
2017	363	23.7	15.2	19.3
2018	405	25.7	15.7	13.8
2019	391	28.0	13.9	20.5
2020	406	29.1	13.9	18.5
2021	375	27.0	13.8	15.2
2022	406	30.1	13.4	11.3
2023	422	31.2	13.5	15.9
2024	431	34.1	12.6	18.3

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Ballard East Elementary

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$249 (2.0%)	$12,272 (98.0%)	$12,521

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Ballard East Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 66^th of 603 Elementary schools	Ranks 92^nd of 565 Elementary schools	5.3%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Ballard East Elementary)	82.4	74.5	7.9%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Ballard Community School District)	82.4	74.5	7.9%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	65.3	66.3	1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Ballard East Elementary)	79	86.2	7.2%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Ballard Community School District)	79	86.2	7.2%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	71.7	75.3	3.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Ballard East Elementary)	88.6	83.6	5%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Ballard Community School District)	88.6	83.6	5%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	70.5	73.1	2.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Ballard East Elementary)	87.9	89.7	1.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Ballard Community School District)	87.9	89.7	1.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	72.5	72.9	0.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Ballard East Elementary)	85.6	76.2	9.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Ballard Community School District)	85.6	76.2	9.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	67.3	68.3	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Ballard East Elementary)	82.2	85.2	3%
5th Grade Mathematics (Ballard Community School District)	82.2	85.2	3%
5th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	69.4	71.3	1.9%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	391	422	7.9%
African American	11	6	45.5%
American Indian	3	0	100%
Asian	0	2
Hispanic	9	20	122.2%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	365	386	5.8%
Two or More Races	2	8	300%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	20.5%	15.9%	4.6%

Schools Near Ballard East Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				ISASP English Language Arts (2024)			ISASP Mathematics (2024)			ISASP Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISASP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 4th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 5th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 3rd Grade	ISASP Mathematics 4th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 5th Grade	ISASP Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Ballard East Elementary	Public	3-5	505 W 4th St	Cambridge	50046	Story County	Ballard Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 220-4306	431	34	12.6	18.3%	395 (91.6%)	5 (1.2%)	20 (4.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.3%)	71.6	146^th of 557 public elementary schools	73.8%		78.9	92^nd of 565 public elementary schools	83.7%	54	62.0	81.7	76.7	85.4	85.2	83.3	69.3	$12,521	$249	$12,272
North Polk Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	311 NE 141st Ave	Alleman	50007	Polk County	North Polk Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 984-3400	379	27	14.1	10.8%	345 (91.0%)	10 (2.6%)	11 (2.9%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.6%)	70.4	157^th of 557 public elementary schools	71.8%		70	167^th of 565 public elementary schools	70.4%	10	65.5	88.2	73.6	84.5	94.1	75.5	64.2	$12,580	$378	$12,202
Mitchell Elementary School	Public	K-5	3521 Jewel Dr	Ames	50010	Story County	Ames Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 239-3775	296	24	12.3	50.7%	166 (56.1%)	48 (16.2%)	47 (15.9%)	9 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (8.8%)	66.2	189^th of 557 public elementary schools	66.1%		78.5	99^th of 565 public elementary schools	82.5%	90	60.0	81.6	83.3	57.5	83.7	81.3	77.1	$12,211	$780	$11,433
Ballard West Elementary	Public	PK, KG-2	105 E Main St	Slater	50244	Story County	Ballard Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 228-3890	456	34	13.4	17.8%	410 (89.9%)	3 (0.7%)	29 (6.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.9%)								(n/a)								$13,797	$324	$13,473
Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	925 H Ave	Nevada	50201	Story County	Nevada Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 382-2383	646	46	14.1	36.5%	545 (84.4%)	3 (0.5%)	70 (10.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (4.2%)	73.1	124^th of 557 public elementary schools	77.7%		87	28^th of 565 public elementary schools	95.0%	96	64.2	79.5		89.9	89.7			$11,518	$1,130	$10,388
Meeker Elementary School	Public	K-5	300 20th Street	Ames	50010	Story County	Ames Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 239-3770	365	31	11.6	38.6%	269 (73.7%)	22 (6.0%)	35 (9.6%)	5 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (8.5%)	63.8	216^th of 557 public elementary schools	61.2%		50.5	322^nd of 565 public elementary schools	43.0%	106	73.3	69.0	79.3	75.6	69.0	77.6	82.8	$13,221	$1,032	$12,190
Rock Creek Elementary	Public	K-5	3800 NW Abilene Rd	Ankeny	50023	Polk County	Ankeny Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 965-9629	733	49	14.9	17.6%	562 (76.7%)	59 (8.0%)	49 (6.7%)	28 (3.8%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	32 (4.4%)	75.9	104^th of 557 public elementary schools	81.3%		79.1	87^th of 565 public elementary schools	84.6%	17	79.5	84.5	81.8	89.3	72.9	84.1	68.2	$11,986	$349	$11,637
Fellows Elementary School	Public	K-5	1235 20th St.	Ames	50010	Story County	Ames Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 239-3765	518	39	13.3	25.1%	315 (60.8%)	29 (5.6%)	60 (11.6%)	76 (14.7%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (6.8%)	76.5	97^th of 557 public elementary schools	82.6%		79.8	80^th of 565 public elementary schools	85.8%	17	54.8	87.8	91.0	75.3	84.1	91.0	89.9	$12,124	$816	$11,308
Ashland Ridge Elementary	Public	K-5	2600 NW Ash Drive	Ankeny	50023	Polk County	Ankeny Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 965-9594	768	45	17.0	10.5%	624 (81.3%)	29 (3.8%)	43 (5.6%)	24 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (6.3%)	81.2	61^st of 557 public elementary schools	89.0%		85.1	38^th of 565 public elementary schools	93.3%	23	82.0	87.1	85.7	85.0	83.3	84.0	71.2	$11,160	$239	$10,921
Edwards Elementary School	Public	K-5	820 Miller Ave	Ames	50014	Story County	Ames Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 239-3760	439	34	13.1	43.1%	254 (57.9%)	75 (17.1%)	47 (10.7%)	28 (6.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (8.0%)	56.2	288^th of 557 public elementary schools	48.3%		54.6	287^th of 565 public elementary schools	49.2%	1	81.7	68.7	72.6	80.0	67.5	71.0	64.5	$12,690	$743	$11,949

Frequently Asked Questions about Ballard East Elementary

What schools do graduates of Ballard East Elementary attend?

Students who attend Ballard East Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Ballard Middle School
High : Ballard High School

What district is Ballard East Elementary in?

Ballard Community School District

Is Ballard East Elementary a good school?

Ballard East Elementary ranks 146^th of 557 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Ballard East Elementary?

In the 2023-24 school year, 431 students attended Ballard East Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Ballard East Elementary?

Students at Ballard East Elementary are 92% White, 5% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 1% African American.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Iowa Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.