Excellent
#139 of 1,280 schools in IA
Top 11% in state
Ballard East Elementary
Elementary School · Ballard Comm School District · Cambridge, IA
A Ballard Comm School District elementary school where students score 6 points below what's typical for similar communities.
505 W 4th St, Cambridge, IA 50046
- Math 85% vs IA 75% (2025)
- Reading 73% vs IA 72% (2025)
- 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Ballard East Elementary score 79% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 85%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency has held near 79% across the 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 81% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 78% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 35 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
18.3%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Ballard East Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 5Car-Dependent
- Bike 32Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Low77/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$91,944
Median home value
$225,000
Median rent
$1,005/mo
College educated
34%
Homeownership
89.1%
Poverty rate
5.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 50046; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
0 in Ballard Comm School District
No verified same-level alternatives
The available nearby set has no same-level school with a verified grade span.
Ballard Comm School District
- Schools in district
- 4
- Rank in district
- #2 of 4
- District spending per student
- $12,339NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 4.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
Ballard East Elementary is listed in Ballard Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Ballard East Elementary
Ballard East Elementary is a public elementary school in Cambridge, IA, part of Ballard Comm School District, serving approximately 431 students in grades 3rd-5th with a 12.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10 and ranks #139 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 81% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 78% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Ballard East Elementary
What grades does Ballard East Elementary serve?
Ballard East Elementary serves students in grades 3rd through 5th.
How many students attend Ballard East Elementary?
Ballard East Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 431 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ballard East Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Ballard East Elementary is 12.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Ballard East Elementary rank in IA?
Ballard East Elementary ranks #139 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Ballard East Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Ballard East Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Ballard East Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Ballard East Elementary has 81% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 78% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Ballard East Elementary a charter school?
No, Ballard East Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Ballard East Elementary a Title I school?
No, Ballard East Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Ballard East Elementary?
18.3% of students at Ballard East Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 3rd – 5th
- Enrollment
- 431
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 34
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Story County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 11.1%
- Phone
- (515) 220-4306
- Area population (ZIP 50046)
- 1,696
- Area average commute
- 26.8 min
- Area median age
- 40.3
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 50046; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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