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Excellent

#56 of 1,280 schools in IA

Top 4% in state

Edwards Elementary School

Elementary School · Ames Comm School District

820 Miller Ave, Ames, IA 50014

Enrollment

439

Student-Teacher

13.3:1

Score

8.3

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Ames

#1 of 8

public schools

Iowa elementary schools

#49 of 662

In district

#1 of 8

Ames Comm School District

Equity

9.0 / 10

Exceptional

About Edwards Elementary School

Edwards Elementary School is a public elementary school in Ames, IA, part of the Ames Comm School District. The school serves approximately 439 students in grades Kindergarten – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 13.3:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3/10, placing it in the 95.7th percentile among IA schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 73% proficiency in math, 1 points below the state average and 71% in reading/language arts, 2 points below the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (8.3/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $57,372, where 69% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a small city setting.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.3Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data4
Annual Change+1.53 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendImproving
Academics8.7Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency77%
Reading/ELA Proficiency77%
Math vs. State Avg+0.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+7.9 pts
Overall Proficiency77%
Expected (poverty-adj.)67%
vs. Expected+10.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile80th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment7.6Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,740

Edwards Elementary School — Students at Edwards Elementary School score 77% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 67%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

43.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 73.3%
School
State
74.6%
ELA Proficiency 70.6%
School
State
72.3%

Based on 13 test records from IA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

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

2019
Math
67%
ELA
62%
2021*
Math
72%
ELA
67%
2022
Math
77%
ELA
77%
2025
Math
74.6%
ELA
72.6%

* 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: 8.3/10.

How Edwards Elementary School Compares

See how Edwards Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.3/10
96th percentile in IA
Academic
8.7/10
8.7/10
Growth
8.3/10
Above average
Environment
7.6/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
43%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
33 teachers

Location

820 Miller Ave, Ames, IA 50014

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Edwards Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Sawyer Elementary School (rated 8.0/10, 1.3 miles away), with a comparable rating. Another option is Meeker Elementary School (rated 7.4/10, 4.0 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, ST CECILIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 7.2/10, 3.7 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Ames, see our Ames schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 11.3 mi
School Distance Rating
Ames Middle School Ames 0.8 mi 6.3
Sawyer Elementary School Ames 1.3 mi 8.0
Ames High School Ames 3.2 mi 5.9
AMES CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Ames 3.2 mi 6.5
Fellows Elementary School Ames 3.5 mi 7.1
ST CECILIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Ames 3.7 mi 7.2
Northwood Pre-School Ames 4.2 mi 4.0
Meeker Elementary School Ames 4.0 mi 7.4
Mitchell Elementary School Ames 4.7 mi 6.7
United Community School Boone 4.7 mi 6.9
Gilbert Elementary School Gilbert 6.5 mi 4.6
Gilbert High School Gilbert 6.5 mi 6.2
Gilbert Intermediate School Gilbert 6.7 mi 4.4
Gilbert Middle School Gilbert 6.8 mi 6.3
Ballard West Elementary Slater 9.2 mi 6.3
Ballard High School Huxley 8.7 mi 5.6
Ballard Middle School Huxley 9.1 mi 7.0
Ballard East Elementary Cambridge 10.8 mi 5.4
Madrid High School Madrid 11.3 mi 4.8
Madrid Junior High School Madrid 11.3 mi 7.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 50014 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$57,372

Median Home Value

$312,700

Median Rent

$1,083/mo

Population

31,429

College Educated

68.6%

Homeownership

36.9%

Avg Commute

16.3 min

Poverty Rate

29.7%

Median Age

23.2

Community Profile

The community surrounding Edwards Elementary School has a median household income of $57,372. It is a well-educated community where 69% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $312,700, with a median rent of $1,083/month. The area has a poverty rate of 29.7%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 16 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Alta Elementary School Alta, IA 8.3
Anson Elementary School Marshalltown, IA 8.3
Central Lyon Elementary School Rock Rapids, IA 8.3
Forest City Elementary School Forest City, IA 8.3
Nixon Elementary School Hiawatha, IA 8.3
Crestwood Elementary School Cresco, IA 8.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Edwards Elementary School

What grades does Edwards Elementary School serve?

Edwards Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Edwards Elementary School?

Edwards Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 439 students.

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

The student-teacher ratio at Edwards Elementary School is 13.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Edwards Elementary School rank in IA?

Edwards Elementary School is ranked #56 out of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is Edwards Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Edwards Elementary School has a composite rating of 8.3 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 Edwards Elementary School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Edwards Elementary School has 73.3% math proficiency and 70.6% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Edwards Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is Edwards Elementary School a Title I school?

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

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

43.1% of students at Edwards 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 →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
43 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
53 Bikeable
City Safety
High (1,657/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Ames). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
439
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
33
Free/Reduced Lunch
43.1%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Story County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Ames Comm School District
District Enrollment
4,735
Schools in District
8
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,372
District Rank
#1 of 8

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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