Average
#632 of 1,280 schools in IA
Top 49% in state
Diagonal Elementary School
Elementary School · Diagonal Comm School District
403 W 2nd Street, Diagonal, IA 50845
Enrollment
58
Student-Teacher
9.7:1
Score
6.4
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
58
Student-Teacher
9.7:1
Score
6.4
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Diagonal
#1 of 2
public schools
Iowa elementary schools
#362 of 662
In district
#1 of 2
Diagonal Comm School District
School environment
9.9 / 10
Exceptional
About Diagonal Elementary School
Diagonal Elementary School serves 58 students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in the small community of Diagonal, Iowa. This public elementary school has earned impressive recognition, ranking 36th out of 1,288 schools statewide and placing in the 97th percentile with a strong 8.1 out of 10 rating. The school's academic performance is particularly noteworthy, with 90% of students achieving proficiency or above in mathematics and 70% meeting proficiency standards in English Language Arts and reading.
With just 6 full-time equivalent teachers, Diagonal Elementary maintains an excellent student-teacher ratio of 9.7 to 1, allowing for personalized attention and small class sizes that clearly benefit student learning. The school draws from a close-knit rural community where the median household income is $68,523 and median home values are $106,800. About 20% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, while the local poverty rate stands at 14.9%.
The tight-knit nature of this small school community, with fewer than 60 students total, creates an environment where teachers can know each child individually. Diagonal Elementary sits in remote rural Ringgold County, where the zip code population of just over 800 residents reflects the genuine small-town character that defines this high-performing school's setting.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 58 students, Diagonal Elementary School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
With a student-teacher ratio of 9.7:1, Diagonal Elementary School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.
Located in a rural area, Diagonal Elementary School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.
Score Breakdown
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Diagonal Elementary School — Students at Diagonal Elementary School score 80% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 64%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
48.3%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores IA EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 6 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: 3.2/10.
How Diagonal Elementary School Compares
See how Diagonal Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 69.5% (2019) to 90% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 90% (2019) to 69.5% (2022).
Location
403 W 2nd Street, Diagonal, IA 50845
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Diagonal Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. WORTH CO. ELEMENTARY (rated 8.6/10, 22.6 miles away, in nearby Grant City), which scores notably higher. Another option is Creston Elementary School (rated 7.5/10, 18.6 miles away, in nearby Creston), which scores notably higher. Additionally, East Union Elementary (rated 6.9/10, 17.3 miles away, in nearby Afton), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Diagonal, see our Diagonal schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 24.2 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Diagonal Junior-Senior High School Diagonal | 0.1 mi | 5.9 |
| Mount Ayr Elementary Mount Ayr | 8.7 mi | 6.0 |
| Mount Ayr High School Mount Ayr | 8.8 mi | 7.7 |
| Lenox Elementary School Lenox | 12.1 mi | 6.3 |
| Lenox High School Lenox | 12.1 mi | 7.6 |
| ST MALACHY SCHOOL Creston | 17.1 mi | 5.1 |
| Creston Early Childhood Center Creston | 17.9 mi | 6.4 |
| MAYFLOWER HERITAGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Creston | 18.2 mi | 6.3 |
| Creston High School Creston | 18.3 mi | 7.5 |
| Creston Middle School Creston | 18.6 mi | 8.1 |
| Creston Elementary School Creston | 18.6 mi | 7.5 |
| East Union Elementary Afton | 17.3 mi | 6.9 |
| East Union Middle-High School Afton | 17.3 mi | 6.7 |
| WORTH CO. ELEMENTARY Grant City | 22.6 mi | 8.6 |
| WORTH CO. HIGH Grant City | 22.7 mi | 7.4 |
| Orient Elementary School Orient | 27.4 mi | 3.9 |
| Orient-Macksburg Senior High School Orient | 27.4 mi | 6.1 |
| Bedford High School Bedford | 22.0 mi | 8.8 |
| Bedford Elementary School Bedford | 22.0 mi | 6.3 |
| Southwest Valley High school Corning | 24.2 mi | 7.8 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 50845 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$70,781
Median Home Value
$104,300
Median Rent
$838/mo
Population
820
College Educated
18.6%
Homeownership
89.9%
Poverty Rate
13.7%
Median Age
40.6
Community Profile
The community surrounding Diagonal Elementary School has a median household income of $70,781. It is a community where 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $104,300, with a median rent of $838/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.7%. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| DANBURY CATHOLIC SCHOOL Danbury, IA | 6.4 |
| NEWTON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Newton, IA | 6.4 |
| AMES CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Ames, IA | 6.5 |
| DES MOINES ADVENTIST SCHOOL Des Moines, IA | 6.5 |
| ST THOMAS AQUINAS SCHOOL Webster City, IA | 6.5 |
| ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL Denison, IA | 6.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Diagonal Elementary School
What grades does Diagonal Elementary School serve?
Diagonal Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Diagonal Elementary School?
Diagonal Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 58 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Diagonal Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Diagonal Elementary School is 9.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Diagonal Elementary School rank in IA?
Diagonal Elementary School is ranked #632 out of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Diagonal Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Diagonal Elementary School has a composite rating of 6.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Diagonal Elementary School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Diagonal Elementary School has 69.7% math proficiency and 76.3% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Diagonal Elementary School a charter school?
No, Diagonal Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Diagonal Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Diagonal Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Diagonal Elementary School?
48.3% of students at Diagonal 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.
Explore More Schools
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 58
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 9.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 6
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 48.3%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Ringgold County
- Phone
- (641) 734-5331
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Diagonal Comm School District- District Enrollment
- 107
- Schools in District
- 2
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $17,085
- District Rank
- #1 of 2
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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