Very Good
#313 of 1,280 schools in IA
Top 24% in state
Cardinal Junior High
Middle School · Cardinal Comm School District
4045 Ashland Road, Eldon, IA 52554
Enrollment
301
Student-Teacher
16.7:1
Score
7.7
Grades
5th – 8th
Enrollment
301
Student-Teacher
16.7:1
Score
7.7
Grades
5th – 8th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
Iowa schools
#313 of 1,280
In Eldon
#1 of 3
public schools
In district
#1 of 3
Cardinal Comm School District
Academic growth
9.9 / 10
Excellent
Shortlisting around Cardinal Junior High?
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Cardinal Junior High
Middle School in Eldon · grades 5th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Cardinal High School
0.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Cardinal Elementary
0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Cardinal Junior High
Cardinal Junior High is a public middle school in Eldon, IA, part of Cardinal Comm School District. Cardinal Junior High serves approximately 301 students, and covers grades 5th-8th, and has a 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio. Cardinal Junior High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10 and ranks #313 of 1,280 schools in IA.
Structured state assessment records for Cardinal Junior High show 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2017-2025) and 68% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2017-2025).
- This school 7.7 · Very Good
- IA avg 6.7
What Parents Should Know
Cardinal Junior High sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Cardinal Junior High — Students at Cardinal Junior High score 74% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 66%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
53.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)
Based on 22 test records from IA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 9.9/10.
How Cardinal Junior High Compares
See how Cardinal Junior High performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Programs & Offerings
Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more
Location
4045 Ashland Road, Eldon, IA 52554
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Cardinal Junior High may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. SETON CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 7.9/10, 9.8 miles away, in nearby Ottumwa), with a very similar rating. Another option is OTTUMWA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (rated 7.1/10, 11.1 miles away, in nearby Ottumwa), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Cardinal High School (rated 7.0/10), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Eldon, see our Eldon schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 16.8 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Cardinal High School Eldon | 0.0 mi | 7.0 |
| Cardinal Elementary Eldon | 0.2 mi | 6.7 |
| Ottumwa Virtual Learning Ottumwa | 9.3 mi | 1.6 |
| Wilson Elementary School Ottumwa | 9.2 mi | 4.8 |
| Ottumwa High School Ottumwa | 9.5 mi | 3.7 |
| SETON CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Ottumwa | 9.8 mi | 7.9 |
| Horace Mann Elementary School Ottumwa | 10.3 mi | 5.3 |
| Douma Elementary School Ottumwa | 10.2 mi | 5.3 |
| Van Buren County Community School District Douds Center Keosauqua | 11.7 mi | 6.5 |
| James Elementary School Ottumwa | 10.7 mi | 5.0 |
| Gateway High School Ottumwa | 10.7 mi | — |
| Eisenhower Elementary School Ottumwa | 11.2 mi | 6.8 |
| Evans Middle School Ottumwa | 10.7 mi | 4.0 |
| Liberty Elementary School Ottumwa | 10.7 mi | 3.2 |
| Pickwick Early Childhood Center Ottumwa | 10.9 mi | 2.6 |
| PEKIN CHILD CARE CENTER Packwood | 14.0 mi | — |
| Pekin Community Junior/ Senior High School Packwood | 14.0 mi | 6.4 |
| Pekin Elementary School Packwood | 14.0 mi | 5.5 |
| OTTUMWA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Ottumwa | 11.1 mi | 7.1 |
| Davis County Elementary Bloomfield | 16.8 mi | 5.9 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 52554 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$56,458
Median Home Value
$94,400
Median Rent
$650/mo
Population
1,221
College Educated
9.4%
Homeownership
85.3%
Avg Commute
30.3 min
Poverty Rate
14.1%
Median Age
46.3
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Shenandoah Middle School Shenandoah, IA | 7.7 |
| ADM Middle School Adel, IA | 7.8 |
| Algona Middle School Algona, IA | 7.8 |
| Perry Middle School Perry, IA | 7.8 |
| Mediapolis Middle School Mediapolis, IA | 7.6 |
| Central DeWitt Middle School De Witt, IA | 7.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Cardinal Junior High
What grades does Cardinal Junior High serve?
Cardinal Junior High serves students in grades 5th through 8th.
How many students attend Cardinal Junior High?
Cardinal Junior High has an enrollment of approximately 301 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cardinal Junior High?
The student-teacher ratio at Cardinal Junior High is 16.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Cardinal Junior High rank in IA?
Cardinal Junior High ranks #313 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Cardinal Junior High's MySchoolScout rating?
Cardinal Junior High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 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 Cardinal Junior High?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Cardinal Junior High has 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2017-2025) and 68% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2017-2025).
Is Cardinal Junior High a charter school?
No, Cardinal Junior High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Cardinal Junior High a Title I school?
No, Cardinal Junior High is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Cardinal Junior High?
53.2% of students at Cardinal Junior High qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 5th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 301
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 18
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 53.2%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Wapello County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 10.6%
- Phone
- (641) 652-7531
Resources & Links
District
Cardinal Comm School District- District Enrollment
- 1,107
- Schools in District
- 3
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,118
- District Rank
- #1 of 3
Other Schools in This District
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