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Needs Improvement

#1202 of 1,280 schools in IA

Duncombe Elementary School

Elementary School · Fort Dodge Comm School District · Fort Dodge, IA

A Fort Dodge Comm School District elementary school where students score 12 points below what's typical for similar communities.

1620 6th Ave. North, Fort Dodge, IA 50501

  • Math 43% vs IA 75% (2025)
  • Reading 45% vs IA 72% (2025)
  • 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress3.6Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.39 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics2.2Needs Improvement30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency43.3% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency45% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg-33.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-24.1 pts
Overall Proficiency44% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)57% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected-12.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile6th
Resources & Environment4.0Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.1:1
District spending per student$13,013
Chronic Absenteeism31.7%

Students at Duncombe Elementary School score 44% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 57%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 ISASP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.

Math Proficiency43%(2025 ISASP)
School
State
75%(2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency45%(2025 ISASP)
School
State
72%(2025 ISASP)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency is down 23 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 44% recently.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
67%
ELA
67%
2010
Math
67%
ELA
72%
2011
Math
62%
ELA
62%
2012
Math
62%
ELA
62%
2013
Math
52%
ELA
62%
2014
Math
47%
ELA
47%
2015
Math
57%
ELA
57%
2016
Math
62%
ELA
62%
2017
Math
52%
ELA
67%
2018
Math
52%
ELA
57%
2019
Math
52%
ELA
57%
2020*
Math
52%
ELA
42%
2021*
Math
52%
ELA
42%
2022
Math
45%
ELA
48%
2025
Math
43%
ELA
45%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 54% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 55% (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

70.3%

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 Duncombe 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 58Somewhat Walkable
  • Transit 20Minimal Transit
  • Bike 53Bikeable
  • City Safety: High4,310/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Fort Dodge), 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

$66,130

Median home value

$139,700

Median rent

$779/mo

College educated

20.5%

Homeownership

66.9%

Poverty rate

12.7%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 50501; 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
St Edmond Catholic SchoolPrivate · tuition5.3privatePK–120.4 mi548Compare →
St Edmond Catholic SchoolPrivate · tuition5.0privatePK–120.4 mi548Compare →
Cooper Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified3.11–50.8 mi238Compare →
Feelhaver Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified4.01–50.8 mi221Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

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

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

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

Fort Dodge Comm School District

Schools in district
7
Rank in district
#4 of 7
District spending per student
$13,013NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
15.5%Census SAIPE · 2024

Duncombe Elementary School is listed in Fort Dodge Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Duncombe Elementary School

Duncombe Elementary School is a public elementary school in Fort Dodge, IA, part of Fort Dodge Comm School District, serving approximately 454 students in grades 1st-5th with a 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.3 out of 10 and ranks #1,202 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 54% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Duncombe Elementary School

What grades does Duncombe Elementary School serve?

Duncombe Elementary School serves students in grades 1st through 5th.

How many students attend Duncombe Elementary School?

Duncombe Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 454 students.

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

The student-teacher ratio at Duncombe Elementary School 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 Duncombe Elementary School rank in IA?

Duncombe Elementary School ranks #1,202 of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is Duncombe Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Duncombe Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.3 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 Duncombe Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Duncombe Elementary School has 54% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Duncombe Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is Duncombe Elementary School a Title I school?

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

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

70.3% of students at Duncombe 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
1st – 5th
Enrollment
454
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
30
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Town
County
Webster County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
31.7%
Area population (ZIP 50501)
28,633
Area average commute
17.9 min
Area median age
39.3
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 50501; 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

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