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Very Good

#314 of 1,280 schools in IA

Top 25% in state

Helen a Hansen Elementary School

Elementary School · Cedar Falls Comm School District

616 Holmes Dr, Cedar Falls, IA 50613

Enrollment

565

Student-Teacher

17.1:1

Score

7.7

Grades

Pre-K – 6th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Iowa schools

#314 of 1,280

In Cedar Falls

#4 of 10

public schools

In district

#4 of 10

Cedar Falls Comm School District

Equity

9.2 / 10

Excellent

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Helen a Hansen Elementary School

7.7/10

Elementary School in Cedar Falls · grades Pre-K – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Holmes Junior High School

6.1/10

0.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Cedar Falls High School

6.3/10

0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Helen a Hansen Elementary School

Helen a Hansen Elementary School is a public elementary school in Cedar Falls, IA, part of Cedar Falls Comm School District. Helen a Hansen Elementary School serves approximately 565 students, and covers grades Pre-K-6th, and has a 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Helen a Hansen Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10 and ranks #314 of 1,280 schools in IA.

Structured state assessment records for Helen a Hansen Elementary School show 90% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 88% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.4 pts above district
  • This school 7.7 · Very Good
  • District avg 7.3
  • IA avg 6.5

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.3Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.22 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics8.9Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency88% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency90.5% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg+11.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+21.4 pts
Overall Proficiency89% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)85% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected+3.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile83th
Resources & Environment4.4Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio17.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,625
Chronic Absenteeism8.8%

Helen a Hansen Elementary School — Students at Helen a Hansen Elementary School score 89% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 85%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

17%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 89.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
74.1% (2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency 88.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
72.6% (2025 ISASP)

Based on 37 test records from IA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2009
Math
95%
ELA
90%
2010
Math
90%
ELA
84%
2011
Math
92%
ELA
80%
2012
Math
92%
ELA
85%
2013
Math
92%
ELA
88%
2014
Math
96%
ELA
95%
2015
Math
96%
ELA
91%
2016
Math
94%
ELA
92%
2017
Math
92%
ELA
90%
2018
Math
89%
ELA
84%
2019
Math
89%
ELA
84%
2020*
Math
84%
ELA
87%
2021*
Math
84%
ELA
87%
2022
Math
82%
ELA
88%
2025
Math
87.9%
ELA
90.4%

* 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 Helen a Hansen Elementary School Compares

See how Helen a Hansen Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.7/10
76th percentile in IA
Academic
8.9/10
Excellent
Growth
8.3/10
Excellent
Environment
4.4/10
Below Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
17%
Teaching Staff
17:1 student-teacher ratio
33 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
8.8%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

616 Holmes Dr, Cedar Falls, IA 50613

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Helen a Hansen Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Orchard Hill Elementary School (rated 7.9/10, 3.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Southdale Elementary School (rated 7.8/10, 2.5 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, North Cedar Elementary School (rated 7.7/10, 1.9 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Cedar Falls, see our Cedar Falls schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 7.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Holmes Junior High School Cedar Falls 0.1 mi 6.1
Cedar Falls High School Cedar Falls 0.5 mi 6.3
Lincoln Elementary School Cedar Falls 1.0 mi 6.2
ST PATRICK CATHOLIC SCHOOL Cedar Falls 1.1 mi 7.6
North Cedar Elementary School Cedar Falls 1.9 mi 7.7
Peet Junior High School Cedar Falls 1.9 mi 8.1
Bess Streeter Aldrich Elementary Cedar Falls 2.8 mi 7.3
Southdale Elementary School Cedar Falls 2.5 mi 7.8
Cedar Heights Elementary School Cedar Falls 2.8 mi 6.6
Orchard Hill Elementary School Cedar Falls 3.2 mi 7.9
Central Middle School Waterloo 4.4 mi 7.5
Fred Becker Elementary School Waterloo 4.8 mi 6.5
Lincoln Elementary School Waterloo 5.5 mi 6.9
WATERLOO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Waterloo 6.4 mi 5.8
Janesville Elementary School Janesville 8.1 mi 5.7
Janesville Junior-Senior High School Janesville 8.1 mi 6.4
Kingsley Elementary School Waterloo 6.6 mi 7.3
ST EDWARD SCHOOL Waterloo 6.9 mi 6.3
Hoover Middle School Waterloo 7.2 mi 7.2
Lou Henry Elementary School Waterloo 7.2 mi 5.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 50613 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$75,642

Median Home Value

$258,300

Median Rent

$1,176/mo

Population

43,680

College Educated

48.3%

Homeownership

64.7%

Avg Commute

14.2 min

Poverty Rate

14.7%

Median Age

30.4

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Cowles Elementary School Des Moines, IA 7.7
Northeast Elementary School Glenwood, IA 7.7
Novak Elementary School Marion, IA 7.7
West Lyon Elementary School Inwood, IA 7.7
Alexander Elementary Iowa City, IA 7.8
Center Point-Urbana Primary School Center Point, IA 7.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Helen a Hansen Elementary School

What grades does Helen a Hansen Elementary School serve?

Helen a Hansen Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.

How many students attend Helen a Hansen Elementary School?

Helen a Hansen Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 565 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Helen a Hansen Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Helen a Hansen Elementary School is 17.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Helen a Hansen Elementary School rank in IA?

Helen a Hansen Elementary School ranks #314 of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is Helen a Hansen Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Helen a Hansen Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 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 Helen a Hansen Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Helen a Hansen Elementary School has 90% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 88% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Helen a Hansen Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is Helen a Hansen Elementary School a Title I school?

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

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Helen a Hansen Elementary School?

17.0% of students at Helen a Hansen 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
41 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
18 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
63 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
565
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
33
Free/Reduced Lunch
17.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Black Hawk County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
8.8%

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