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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

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

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress3.2Fair50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data3
Annual Change-0.88 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2022
TrendStable
Academics9.3Exceptional30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency90%
Reading/ELA Proficiency69.5%
Overall Proficiency80%
Expected (poverty-adj.)64%
vs. Expected+15.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile89th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment9.9Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio9.7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$15,200

Diagonal Elementary School — Students at Diagonal Elementary School score 80% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 64%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

48.3%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IA EDFACTS (2021-22)

Math Proficiency 69.7%
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 76.3%
School
State
N/A

Based on 6 test records from IA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
69.5%
ELA
90%
2021*
Math
49.5%
ELA
69.5%
2022
Math
90%
ELA
69.5%

* 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.

Overall Score
6.4/10
51th percentile in IA
Academic
9.3/10
9.3/10
Growth
3.2/10
Below average
Environment
9.9/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
48%
Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
6 teachers

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

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
Data Year
2023–2024

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 methodology

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