Central Elementary

Q: Is Central Elementary a good school?

Central Elementary ranks 152 nd of 557 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Central Elementary is a public elementary school located in Elkader, Iowa, serving grades PK-6 with a total enrollment of 263 students. The school is part of the Central Community School District, which is ranked 156 out of 309 districts in Iowa and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Central Elementary consistently outperforms the state average in ISASP (Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress) test scores across all grade levels and subjects. For example, in 2023-2024, the school had 90% of 3rd graders proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 64.2%. The school's performance is also significantly higher than the Central Community School District average, indicating that Central Elementary is a strong performer within its own district. The school spends $15,237 per student, which is higher than the state average and some nearby schools, such as Edgewood-Colesburg Elementary School ($11,286 per student) and McGregor Intermediate School ($8,864 per student).

While Central Elementary has maintained a strong academic performance, the school has a predominantly white student population, with over 90% of students identifying as white in recent years. This is in contrast to some nearby schools, such as Cora B Darling Elementary, which has a much more diverse student body with only 23.4% white students. Additionally, Central Elementary has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 37.35% to 46.77% in recent years, which is higher than the state average and suggests a significant population of economically disadvantaged students.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

400 1st Street NW
Elkader, IA 52043

(563) 245-1472

District: Central Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
152^nd of 557 Iowa Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $15,237

Students who attend Central Elementary usually attend:

High:

Central Middle School/High School

Student/teacher ratio: 15.1

Number of students: 277

Racial breakdown:

White:

89.9%

Hispanic:

5.1%

Two or more races:

5.1%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 50.5%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Central Elementary ranks better than 72.7% of elementary schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 70.81. (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 (89.9%), Hispanic (5.1%), two or more races (5.1%). (See more...)

Compare Details 50.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Central Elementary is 15.1. (See more...)

Compare Central Elementary employs 18.3 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Central Elementary is $15,237.

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

Central Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Central Community School District 156^th of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Central Elementary

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	60.90	265^th	626	57.7%
2013	61.37	264^th	624	57.7%
2014	56.61	312^th	603	48.3%
2015	58.58	292^nd	616	52.6%
2016	33.69	465^th	599	22.4%
2017	36.22	433^rd	574	24.6%
2018	56.52	291^st	567	48.7%
2019	45.19	372^nd	603	38.3%
2021	56.50	273^rd	567	51.9%
2022	69.56	179^th	574	68.8%
2023	61.18	232^nd	565	58.9%
2024	70.81	152^nd	557	72.7%

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 Central Elementary

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	269	1	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	270
1989	269	0	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	270
1990	274	1	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	275
1991	242	1	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	243
1992	241	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	241
1993	218	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	218
1994	197	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	197
1995	195	0	0	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	196
1996	195	0	0	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	196
1997	188	2	0	0	2	n/a	n/a	0	192
1998	191	2	0	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	194
1999	188	2	0	1	1	n/a	n/a	0	192
2000	186	3	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	-18	171
2001	168	1	1	0	2	n/a	n/a	0	172
2002	149	0	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	151
2003	149	0	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	151
2004	148	0	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	150
2005	260	0	2	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	263
2006	255	0	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	257
2007	263	1	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	266
2008	244	1	2	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	248
2009	271	2	1	0	1	n/a	n/a	0	275
2010	273	1	0	1	2	1	2	0	280
2011	220	1	0	1	0	1	2	0	225
2012	239	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	241
2013	241	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	243
2014	239	0	0	5	0	0	2	0	246
2015	233	0	0	7	0	0	4	0	244
2016	232	0	0	7	0	0	3	0	242
2017	207	0	0	6	0	0	4	0	217
2018	193	0	0	2	0	0	5	0	200
2019	147	0	1	3	0	0	5	0	156
2020	212	1	1	6	0	0	7	0	227
2021	208	4	1	9	0	0	7	0	229
2022	232	4	0	8	0	0	5	0	249
2023	242	4	0	9	0	0	8	0	263
2024	249	0	0	14	0	0	14	0	277

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 Central Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	270	13.7	19.7	n/a
1989	270	13.9	19.4	4.4
1990	275	14.7	18.7	5.5
1991	243	13.7	17.7	5.8
1992	241	13.0	18.5	5.4
1993	218	12.4	17.6	5.5
1994	197	11.4	17.3	6.1
1995	196	11.6	16.9	22.4
1996	196	11.6	16.9	22.4
1997	192	11.6	16.6	17.7
1998	194	12.1	16.0	18.6
1999	192	12.7	15.1	29.7
2000	171	11.4	15.0	28.6
2001	172	11.6	14.8	37.2
2002	151	10.5	14.4	37.7
2003	151	10.5	14.4	37.7
2004	150	10.7	14.0	38
2005	263	20.2	13.0	36.5
2006	257	18.5	13.9	39.3
2007	266	20.0	13.3	36.1
2008	248	20.7	12.0	33.5
2009	275	18.5	14.9	33.8
2010	280	19.3	14.5	35.4
2011	225	18.2	12.3	38.7
2012	241	16.8	14.3	40.7
2013	243	16.9	14.3	40.7
2014	246	14.9	16.5	35.8
2015	244	15.0	16.2	34.4
2016	242	15.0	16.1	33.9
2017	217	17.2	12.5	39.6
2018	200	14.3	13.9	30.5
2019	156	15.2	10.2	35.9
2020	227	15.1	15.0	35.2
2021	229	15.1	15.1	41.9
2022	249	15.0	16.5	37.3
2023	263	17.2	15.2	46.8
2024	277	18.3	15.1	50.5

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 Central Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	270	13.7	19.7	n/a
1989	270	13.9	19.4	4.4
1990	275	14.7	18.7	5.5
1991	243	13.7	17.7	5.8
1992	241	13.0	18.5	5.4
1993	218	12.4	17.6	5.5
1994	197	11.4	17.3	6.1
1995	196	11.6	16.9	22.4
1996	196	11.6	16.9	22.4
1997	192	11.6	16.6	17.7
1998	194	12.1	16.0	18.6
1999	192	12.7	15.1	29.7
2000	171	11.4	15.0	28.6
2001	172	11.6	14.8	37.2
2002	151	10.5	14.4	37.7
2003	151	10.5	14.4	37.7
2004	150	10.7	14.0	38
2005	263	20.2	13.0	36.5
2006	257	18.5	13.9	39.3
2007	266	20.0	13.3	36.1
2008	248	20.7	12.0	33.5
2009	275	18.5	14.9	33.8
2010	280	19.3	14.5	35.4
2011	225	18.2	12.3	38.7
2012	241	16.8	14.3	40.7
2013	243	16.9	14.3	40.7
2014	246	14.9	16.5	35.8
2015	244	15.0	16.2	34.4
2016	242	15.0	16.1	33.9
2017	217	17.2	12.5	39.6
2018	200	14.3	13.9	30.5
2019	156	15.2	10.2	35.9
2020	227	15.1	15.0	35.2
2021	229	15.1	15.1	41.9
2022	249	15.0	16.5	37.3
2023	263	17.2	15.2	46.8
2024	277	18.3	15.1	50.5

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 Central Elementary

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$509 (3.3%)	$14,727 (96.7%)	$15,237

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Central 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 372^nd of 603 Elementary schools	Ranks 232^nd of 565 Elementary schools	20.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Central Elementary)	73.3	76.7	3.4%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Central Community School District)	73.3	76.7	3.4%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	65.3	66.3	1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Central Elementary)	76.7	90	13.3%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Central Community School District)	76.7	90	13.3%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	71.7	75.3	3.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Central Elementary)	55	66.7	11.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Central Community School District)	55	66.7	11.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	70.5	73.1	2.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Central Elementary)	50	83.3	33.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Central Community School District)	50	83.3	33.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	72.5	72.9	0.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	156	263	68.6%
African American	0	4
American Indian	0	0
Asian	1	0	100%
Hispanic	3	9	200%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	147	242	64.6%
Two or More Races	5	8	60%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	35.9%	46.8%	10.9%

Schools Near Central 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 English Language Arts 6th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 3rd Grade	ISASP Mathematics 4th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 5th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 6th Grade	ISASP Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Central Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	400 1st Street NW	Elkader	52043	Clayton County	Central Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(563) 245-1472	277	18	15.1	50.5%	249 (89.9%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.1%)	70.8	152^nd of 557 public elementary schools	72.7%		61.2	232^nd of 565 public elementary schools	58.9%	80	90.0	73.5	64.5	83.3	97.5	79.4	90.3	66.7	67.7	$15,237	$509	$14,727
Clayton Ridge Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	502 W. Watson Street	Garnavillo	52049	Clayton County	Clayton Ridge Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(563) 964-2321	289	22	13.2	33.2%	266 (92.0%)	6 (2.1%)	11 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	5 (1.7%)	60.3	252^nd of 557 public elementary schools	54.8%		66.4	192^nd of 565 public elementary schools	66.0%	60	63.6	85.7	65.9		76.5	81.6	75.6		58.5	$25,462	$1,129	$24,332
MFL MarMac Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-3	700 S Page St.	Monona	52159	Clayton County	MFL MarMac Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(563) 539-2032	319	23	13.8	32.3%	300 (94.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.9%)								(n/a)	61.7				80.0					$12,542	$631	$11,911
Valley Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	23493 Canoe Rd	Elgin	52141	Fayette County	North Fayette Valley Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(563) 422-3851	191	11	17.5	40.3%	170 (89.0%)	2 (1.0%)	14 (7.3%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.1%)	74.1	116^th of 557 public elementary schools	79.2%		49.3	330^th of 565 public elementary schools	41.6%	214	80.0	82.7			86.7	78.7				$15,786	$707	$15,080
McGregor Intermediate School	Public	4-5	920 W Main St.	Mc Gregor	52157	Clayton County	MFL MarMac Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(563) 873-2250	125	8	16.1	40.0%	119 (95.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.6%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.4%)	53	312^th of 557 public elementary schools	44.0%		51.5	313^th of 565 public elementary schools	44.6%	1		66.2	65.3			73.0	79.6		69.4	$8,864	$248	$8,616
Starmont Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3202 40th St	Arlington	50606	Fayette County	Starmont Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(563) 933-2238	263	23	11.4	40.7%	249 (94.7%)	3 (1.1%)	6 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.9%)	54.1	303^rd of 557 public elementary schools	45.6%		56.9	269^th of 565 public elementary schools	52.4%	34	78.1	70.5	53.7		87.5	81.8	63.4		63.4	$12,905	$832	$12,073
Cora B Darling Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	312 W Post	Postville	52162	Allamakee County	Postville Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(563) 864-7653	350	31	11.3	80.3%	69 (19.7%)	10 (2.9%)	269 (76.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	15.2	488^th of 557 public elementary schools	12.4%		19.3	485^th of 565 public elementary schools	14.2%	3	44.7	59.4	48.6	55.6	55.3	53.1	54.3	48.1	57.1	$14,595	$1,723	$12,871
Postville Early Childhood Preschool/Post St/REC Center	Public	PK	313 West Post Street	Postville	52162	Allamakee County	Postville Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(563) 964-7669	11	1	11.0	36.4%	4 (36.4%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (63.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Postville Early Childhood/Ogden St	Public	PK	210 South Ogden St.	Postville	52162	Allamakee County	Postville Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(563) 864-7651	13	1	14.4	69.2%	4 (30.8%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (69.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Edgewood-Colesburg Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	409 East St	Colesburg	52035	Delaware County	Edgewood-Colesburg Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(563) 856-2415	295	22	13.3	35.9%	283 (95.9%)	1 (0.3%)	9 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)								(n/a)										$11,286	$861	$10,425

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Elementary

What district is Central Elementary in?

Central Community School District

What schools do graduates of Central Elementary attend?

Students who attend Central Elementary usually go on to attend:

High : Central Middle School/High School

How many students attend Central Elementary?

In the 2023-24 school year, 277 students attended Central Elementary.

Is Central Elementary a good school?

Central Elementary ranks 152^nd of 557 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Central Elementary?

Students at Central Elementary are 90% White, 5% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races.

Rate Central Elementary!

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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.