Below Average
#1109 of 1,280 schools in IA
Carson Elementary
Elementary School · Riverside Comm School District · Carson, IA
A Riverside Comm School District elementary school where students score 14 points below what's typical for similar communities.
PO BOX 218 330 Pleasant St, Carson, IA 51525
- Math 53% vs IA 75% (2025)
- Reading 52% vs IA 72% (2025)
- 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Carson Elementary score 53% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 66%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 7 points since 2020, to 53% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 71% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 68% (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
52.2%
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 Carson 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 24Car-Dependent
- Bike 35Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Low180/100K
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
$79,034
Median home value
$192,900
Median rent
$696/mo
College educated
26.8%
Homeownership
81.6%
Poverty rate
5.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 51525; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
0 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
No verified same-level alternatives
The available nearby set has no same-level school with a verified grade span.
Riverside Comm School District
- Schools in district
- 3
- Rank in district
- #2 of 3
- District spending per student
- $13,498NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 10.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
Carson Elementary is listed in Riverside Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Carson Elementary
Carson Elementary is a public elementary school in Carson, IA, part of Riverside Comm School District, serving approximately 136 students in grades 3rd-5th with a 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.2 out of 10 and ranks #1,109 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 71% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 68% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Carson Elementary
What grades does Carson Elementary serve?
Carson Elementary serves students in grades 3rd through 5th.
How many students attend Carson Elementary?
Carson Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 136 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Carson Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Carson Elementary is 15.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Carson Elementary rank in IA?
Carson Elementary ranks #1,109 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Carson Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Carson Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.2 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 Carson Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Carson Elementary has 71% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 68% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Carson Elementary a charter school?
No, Carson Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Carson Elementary a Title I school?
No, Carson Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Carson Elementary?
52.2% of students at Carson 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
- 136
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 9
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Pottawattamie County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 21.3%
- Phone
- (712) 484-2291
- Area population (ZIP 51525)
- 977
- Area average commute
- 31.7 min
- Area median age
- 44.6
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 51525; 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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