Average
#563 of 1,280 schools in IA
Top 44% in state
Harding Elementary School
Elementary School · Mason City Comm School District · Mason City, IA
A Mason City Comm School District elementary school where students score 10 points above what's typical for similar communities.
1239 N. Rhode Island Ave, Mason City, IA 50401
- Math 72% vs IA 76% (2025)
- Reading 72% vs IA 73% (2025)
- 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Harding Elementary School score 72% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 62%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 18 points since 2020, reaching 72% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 62% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 63% (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 32 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
61.1%
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Harding 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 25Car-Dependent
- Transit 19Minimal Transit
- Bike 35Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,561/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Mason City), 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
$63,807
Median home value
$134,100
Median rent
$868/mo
College educated
21.9%
Homeownership
68.2%
Poverty rate
10%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 50401; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.6 | PK–4 | 1.3 mi | 307 | Compare → |
| North Iowa Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.6private | PK–12 | 1.3 mi | 71 | Compare → |
| Hoover Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.9 | PK–4 | 1.9 mi | 346 | Compare → |
| Roosevelt Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.4 | PK–4 | 2.0 mi | 365 | Compare → |
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.
Mason City Comm School District
- Schools in district
- 9
- Rank in district
- #2 of 9
- District spending per student
- $15,155NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 14.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Harding Elementary School is listed in Mason City Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Harding Elementary School
Harding Elementary School is a public elementary school in Mason City, IA, part of Mason City Comm School District, serving approximately 357 students in grades Pre-K-4th with a 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 out of 10 and ranks #563 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 63% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Harding Elementary School
What grades does Harding Elementary School serve?
Harding Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 4th.
How many students attend Harding Elementary School?
Harding Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 357 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Harding Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Harding Elementary School is 13.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Harding Elementary School rank in IA?
Harding Elementary School ranks #563 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Harding Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Harding Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.8 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 Harding Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Harding Elementary School has 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 63% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Harding Elementary School a charter school?
No, Harding Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Harding Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Harding Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Harding Elementary School?
61.1% of students at Harding 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 – 4th
- Enrollment
- 357
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 27
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Town
- County
- Cerro Gordo County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 22.1%
- Phone
- (641) 421-4406
- Area population (ZIP 50401)
- 28,818
- Area average commute
- 13.9 min
- Area median age
- 42.5
Official sources & links
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 50401; 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
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