Skip to main content

Average

#807 of 1,280 schools in IA

Central Elementary School

Elementary School · Iowa City Comm School District · Coralville, IA

An Iowa City Comm School District elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 6th.

501 6th St, Coralville, IA 52241

  • Math 66% vs IA 75% (2025)
  • Reading 65% vs IA 72% (2025)
  • 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.8Below Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.05 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics5.2Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency65.5% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency65.2% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg-11.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-3.9 pts
Overall Proficiency65% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)64% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected+1.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile34th
Resources & Environment9.1Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.9:1
District spending per student$14,391
Chronic Absenteeism16.8%

Students at Central Elementary School score 65% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 64%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 ISASP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.

Math Proficiency66%(2025 ISASP)
School
State
75%(2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency65%(2025 ISASP)
School
State
72%(2025 ISASP)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 7 points since 2020, reaching 65% in 2025.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
77%
ELA
77%
2010
Math
75%
ELA
74%
2011
Math
74%
ELA
71%
2012
Math
71%
ELA
70%
2013
Math
71%
ELA
75%
2014
Math
74%
ELA
78%
2015
Math
73%
ELA
77%
2016
Math
71%
ELA
74%
2017
Math
66%
ELA
73%
2018
Math
67%
ELA
62%
2019
Math
67%
ELA
62%
2020*
Math
57%
ELA
60%
2021*
Math
57%
ELA
60%
2022
Math
57%
ELA
61%
2025
Math
66%
ELA
65%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 68% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 69% (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 score

Free/reduced lunch

56%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Central Elementary School 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 72Very Walkable
  • Transit 35Some Transit
  • Bike 69Bikeable
  • City Safety: High2,197/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Coralville), 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

$66,508

Median home value

$286,000

Median rent

$1,021/mo

College educated

57.3%

Homeownership

54.3%

Poverty rate

12.3%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 52241; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Kirkwood Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified5.4PK–60.9 mi291Compare →
Hillside Christian SchoolPrivate · tuitionNot ratedK–71.2 mi20Compare →
Lincoln Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified6.6K–61.2 mi231Compare →
Montessori School of Iowa CityPrivate · tuition7.4privatePK–21.2 mi30Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Iowa City Comm School District

Schools in district
29
Rank in district
#18 of 29
District spending per student
$14,391NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
11.8%Census SAIPE · 2024

Central Elementary School is listed in Iowa City Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Central Elementary School

Central Elementary School is a public elementary school in Coralville, IA, part of Iowa City Comm School District, serving approximately 452 students in grades Pre-K-6th with a 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 out of 10 and ranks #807 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 69% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Central Elementary School

What grades does Central Elementary School serve?

Central Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.

How many students attend Central Elementary School?

Central Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 452 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Central Elementary School is 12.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Central Elementary School rank in IA?

Central Elementary School ranks #807 of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is Central Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Central Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 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 Central Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Central Elementary School has 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 69% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Central Elementary School a charter school?

No, Central Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Central Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Central Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Central Elementary School?

56.0% of students at Central Elementary School 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 – 6th
Enrollment
452
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
35
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize Suburb
County
Johnson County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
16.8%
Area population (ZIP 52241)
22,846
Area average commute
20.3 min
Area median age
33.1
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 52241; 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

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.