West Monona Elementary

Q: Is West Monona Elementary a good school?

West Monona Elementary ranks 310 th of 557 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

West Monona Elementary is a public elementary school in Onawa, Iowa, serving 325 students in grades PK-5 as part of the West Monona Community School District. The school has a relatively homogeneous student population, with 85.85% of students identifying as White, which is higher than nearby Mapleton Elementary School and Westwood Elementary School, but lower than Whiting Elementary School.

Academically, West Monona Elementary has shown mixed performance compared to the state and nearby schools. Its proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics were generally on par with or slightly above the state averages, but below the performance of Mapleton Elementary and Westwood Elementary in several grade levels. The school also has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 38.82% to 48.21% over the past three school years, which is higher than Mapleton Elementary but lower than Whiting Elementary.

In terms of resources, West Monona Elementary spent $13,471 per student in the 2018-2019 school year, which is higher than the spending at Westwood Elementary but lower than Mapleton Elementary and Whiting Elementary. The school has also had a higher student-teacher ratio, ranging from 11.7 to 14.3 over the past three school years, compared to the nearby schools. These factors, along with the school's mixed academic performance, suggest that West Monona Elementary may benefit from exploring strategies to improve student-teacher interactions, targeted interventions, and professional development for teachers.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

611 4th Street
Onawa, IA 51040

(712) 433-1393

District: West Monona Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
310^th of 557 Iowa Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,471

Students who attend West Monona Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	West Monona Middle School
High:	West Monona High School

Student/teacher ratio: 14.4

Number of students: 342

Racial breakdown:

White:

85.7%

American Indian:

5.8%

Two or more races:

4.1%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 46.8%

See top rated Iowa elementary schools

Compare West Monona Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details West Monona Elementary ranks worse than 55.7% of elementary schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 53.18. (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 (85.7%), American Indian (5.8%), two or more races (4.1%). (See more...)

Compare Details 46.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at West Monona Elementary is 14.4. (See more...)

Compare West Monona Elementary employs 23.6 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at West Monona Elementary is $13,471.

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

West Monona Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks West Monona Community School District 165^th of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

What do you think?

Your rating for West Monona Elementary?

(Ranking FAQ)

Rank History for West Monona Elementary

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IA State Percentile
2015	34.25	476^th	616	22.7%
2016	29.28	486^th	599	18.9%
2017	26.83	465^th	574	19.0%
2018	35.25	422^nd	567	25.6%
2019	36.63	427^th	603	29.2%
2021	52.94	303^rd	567	46.6%
2022	57.13	273^rd	574	52.4%
2023	52.87	307^th	565	45.7%
2024	53.18	310^th	557	44.3%

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

We're sorry, but no reviews have been submitted for West Monona Elementary.

If you have first-hand knowledge about West Monona Elementary, submit a rating!

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for West Monona Elementary

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2014	306	5	6	5	5	2	5	334
2015	318	8	5	4	4	2	8	349
2016	290	8	1	5	6	2	9	321
2017	271	4	1	8	6	1	11	302
2018	250	5	1	3	7	1	12	279
2019	259	6	1	4	10	1	17	298
2020	250	2	2	5	17	0	20	296
2021	254	2	2	8	20	0	21	307
2022	260	2	1	8	21	0	12	304
2023	279	2	0	9	21	0	14	325
2024	293	1	0	13	20	1	14	342

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 West Monona Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	334	26.5	12.5	50.9
2015	349	26.0	13.4	50.7
2016	321	24.0	13.3	49.2
2017	302	22.8	13.2	50.7
2018	279	23.9	11.6	48.4
2019	298	24.5	12.1	52.3
2020	296	24.6	12.0	47.3
2021	307	24.0	12.7	48.2
2022	304	25.9	11.7	38.8
2023	325	22.5	14.3	46.8
2024	342	23.6	14.4	46.8

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 West Monona Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	334	26.5	12.5	50.9
2015	349	26.0	13.4	50.7
2016	321	24.0	13.3	49.2
2017	302	22.8	13.2	50.7
2018	279	23.9	11.6	48.4
2019	298	24.5	12.1	52.3
2020	296	24.6	12.0	47.3
2021	307	24.0	12.7	48.2
2022	304	25.9	11.7	38.8
2023	325	22.5	14.3	46.8
2024	342	23.6	14.4	46.8

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 West Monona Elementary

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$617 (4.6%)	$12,854 (95.4%)	$13,471

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on West Monona 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 427^th of 603 Elementary schools	Ranks 307^th of 565 Elementary schools	16.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (West Monona Elementary)	63.3	64.6	1.3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (West Monona Community School District)	63.3	64.6	1.3%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	65.3	66.3	1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (West Monona Elementary)	53.1	70.8	17.7%
3rd Grade Mathematics (West Monona Community School District)	53.1	70.8	17.7%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	71.7	75.3	3.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (West Monona Elementary)	75.8	81.8	6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (West Monona Community School District)	75.8	81.8	6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	70.5	73.1	2.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (West Monona Elementary)	72.7	56.4	16.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (West Monona Community School District)	72.7	56.4	16.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	72.5	72.9	0.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (West Monona Elementary)	69.8	84.2	14.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (West Monona Community School District)	69.8	84.2	14.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	67.3	68.3	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (West Monona Elementary)	41.9	60.5	18.6%
5th Grade Mathematics (West Monona Community School District)	41.9	60.5	18.6%
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	298	325	9.1%
African American	6	2	66.7%
American Indian	10	21	110%
Asian	1	0	100%
Hispanic	4	9	125%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	259	279	7.7%
Two or More Races	17	14	17.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	52.3%	46.8%	5.6%

Schools Near West Monona 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
West Monona Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	611 4th Street	Onawa	51040	Monona County	West Monona Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(712) 433-1393	342	24	14.4	46.8%	293 (85.7%)	1 (0.3%)	13 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.8%)	1 (0.3%)	14 (4.1%)	53.2	310^th of 557 public elementary schools	44.3%		52.9	307^th of 565 public elementary schools	45.7%	3	68.4	71.4	76.8		68.4	51.0	71.4		76.8	$13,471	$617	$12,854
Whiting Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	606 West St	Whiting	51063	Monona County	Whiting Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(712) 455-2468	81	9	9.0	72.8%	51 (63.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (17.3%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (13.6%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (6.2%)								(n/a)	46.2				30.8					$11,347	$706	$10,641
Westwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1000 Rebel Way	Sloan	51055	Woodbury County	Westwood Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(712) 428-3200	331	30	10.8	43.2%	299 (90.3%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.6%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.8%)	66.9	185^th of 557 public elementary schools	66.8%		66.7	185^th of 565 public elementary schools	67.3%		79.5	90.7	77.8	76.5	75.0	72.1	74.1	79.4	68.5	$12,135	$534	$11,601
Mapleton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	501 South 7th	Mapleton	51034	Monona County	Maple Valley-Anthon Oto Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(712) 881-1319	179	15	11.6	60.3%	173 (96.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.7%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.1%)	69.8	162^nd of 557 public elementary schools	70.9%		53.8	297^th of 565 public elementary schools	47.4%	135	63.9	79.2	82.6		91.7	75.0	82.6		65.2	$16,504	$818	$15,685

Frequently Asked Questions about West Monona Elementary

What schools do graduates of West Monona Elementary attend?

Students who attend West Monona Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : West Monona Middle School
High : West Monona High School

How many students attend West Monona Elementary?

In the 2023-24 school year, 342 students attended West Monona Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of West Monona Elementary?

Students at West Monona Elementary are 86% White, 6% American Indian, 4% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic.

Is West Monona Elementary a good school?

West Monona Elementary ranks 310^th of 557 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What district is West Monona Elementary in?

West Monona Community School District

Rate West Monona Elementary!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

IAIowa Elementary School Rankings

IAIowa District Rankings

Schools in Onawa, IA

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for West Monona Elementary!

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.