Excellent
#213 of 1,280 schools in IA
Top 17% in state
Centennial Elementary
Elementary School · Southeast Polk Comm School District · Altoona, IA
A Southeast Polk Comm School District elementary school where students score 8 points above what's typical for similar communities.
910 7th Ave SE, Altoona, IA 50009
- Math 87% vs IA 75% (2025)
- Reading 78% vs IA 72% (2025)
- 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Centennial Elementary score 82% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 74%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 8 points since 2020, reaching 82% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 83% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 81% (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
37.4%
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 Centennial 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 69Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 46Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,154/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Altoona), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$90,393
Median home value
$261,800
Median rent
$1,201/mo
College educated
33.2%
Homeownership
70.3%
Poverty rate
7.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 50009; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.4 | PK–5 | 0.6 mi | 423 | Compare → |
| Clay ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.4 | PK–5 | 1.4 mi | 670 | Compare → |
| Willowbrook ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.9 | PK–5 | 1.5 mi | 546 | Compare → |
| Mitchellville ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 9.5 | PK–5 | Not available | 244 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Southeast Polk Comm School District
- Schools in district
- 11
- Rank in district
- #4 of 11
- District spending per student
- $12,583NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 9.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Centennial Elementary is listed in Southeast Polk Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Centennial Elementary
Centennial Elementary is a public elementary school in Altoona, IA, part of Southeast Polk Comm School District, serving approximately 409 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 out of 10 and ranks #213 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 83% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 81% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Centennial Elementary
What grades does Centennial Elementary serve?
Centennial Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Centennial Elementary?
Centennial Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 409 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Centennial Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Centennial Elementary is 12.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Centennial Elementary rank in IA?
Centennial Elementary ranks #213 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Centennial Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Centennial Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 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 Centennial Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Centennial Elementary has 83% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 81% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Centennial Elementary a charter school?
No, Centennial Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Centennial Elementary a Title I school?
No, Centennial Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Centennial Elementary?
37.4% of students at Centennial 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
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 409
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 32
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Polk County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 14.4%
- Phone
- (515) 967-2109
- Area population (ZIP 50009)
- 21,992
- Area average commute
- 23.5 min
- Area median age
- 36.7
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 50009; 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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