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Very Good

#136 of 1,280 schools in IA

Top 11% in state

Based on limited data

John Cline Elementary School

Elementary School · Decorah Community School District

101 Claiborne Drive, Decorah, IA 52101

Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on IA statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

310

Student-Teacher

11.9:1

Score

7.9

Grades

Kindergarten – 2nd

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Decorah

#2 of 4

public schools

Iowa elementary schools

#103 of 662

In district

#2 of 4

Decorah Community School District

School environment

9.4 / 10

Exceptional

About John Cline Elementary School

John Cline Elementary School serves 310 students in kindergarten through second grade in Decorah, Iowa, with a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.9 to 1 across 26 full-time equivalent teachers. The school has earned recognition as a strong performer in Iowa's educational landscape, ranking #201 out of 1,288 elementary schools statewide and placing in the 84th percentile with a MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10. This public elementary school focuses exclusively on the early foundational years of education, providing specialized attention to young learners during these crucial developmental stages.

The smaller class sizes allow teachers to give individualized attention to help students build essential reading, writing, and math skills that will serve as the foundation for their academic journey. Located on Claiborne Drive, the school serves a stable community where the median household income is $64,302 and 39% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The area maintains a relatively low poverty rate of 11.2%, contributing to a supportive environment for student learning.

John Cline Elementary operates in Decorah, a remote town in Winneshiek County that offers a close-knit community atmosphere where families and educators can work together to support student success during these important early elementary years.

Score Breakdown

Partial Profile · 2/3 metrics
Student ProgressNot Available

Requires 2+ years of test data

Academics6.3Above Average49%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.·Area estimate · Based on IA state average
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment9.4Exceptional51%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,834

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

24.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Component weights adjusted due to data availability.

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

How John Cline Elementary School Compares

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

Overall Score
7.9/10
90th percentile in IA
Academic
6.3/10
6.3/10
Environment
9.4/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
25%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
26 teachers

Location

101 Claiborne Drive, Decorah, IA 52101

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering John Cline Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. MABEL-CANTON ELEMENTARY (rated 8.9/10, 14.8 miles away, in nearby Mabel), which scores slightly higher. Another option is SPRING GROVE ELEMENTARY (rated 8.7/10, 19.1 miles away, in nearby Spring Grove), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, East Campus Elementary School (rated 8.4/10, 15.4 miles away, in nearby Waukon), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Decorah, see our Decorah schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 18.7 mi
School Distance Rating
Decorah High School Decorah 0.1 mi 6.1
NE IOWA MONTESSORI SCHOOL Decorah 0.3 mi 6.6
Decorah Middle School Decorah 0.3 mi 8.0
Carrie Lee Elementary Decorah 0.4 mi 6.0
CROSSROADS ACADEMY Decorah 0.4 mi
ST BENEDICT SCHOOL Decorah 0.6 mi 6.0
KINDERHAUS Decorah 1.0 mi
South Winneshiek High School Calmar 9.5 mi 7.3
South Winneshiek Elementary School Ossian 11.3 mi 7.9
South Winneshiek Middle School Ossian 11.3 mi 7.0
MABEL-CANTON SECONDARY Mabel 14.8 mi 6.4
MABEL-CANTON ELEMENTARY Mabel 14.8 mi 8.9
VALLEY VIEW Mabel 16.0 mi
SPRING GROVE ELEMENTARY Spring Grove 19.1 mi 8.7
SPRING GROVE SECONDARY Spring Grove 19.1 mi 6.5
Waukon High School Waukon 14.9 mi 7.0
Waukon Middle School Waukon 15.0 mi 7.6
West Campus Elementary School Waukon 15.1 mi 7.8
East Campus Elementary School Waukon 15.4 mi 8.4
Postville Early Childhood/Ogden St Postville 18.7 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 52101 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$70,046

Median Home Value

$249,500

Median Rent

$813/mo

Population

12,539

College Educated

39%

Homeownership

74.3%

Avg Commute

16.7 min

Poverty Rate

8.9%

Median Age

42.6

Community Profile

The community surrounding John Cline Elementary School has a median household income of $70,046. It is an area where 39% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $249,500, with a median rent of $813/month. The local poverty rate of 8.9% is relatively low. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 17 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
Eddyville Elementary Eddyville, IA 7.9
Franklin Elementary School Muscatine, IA 7.9
Hinton Elementary School Hinton, IA 7.9
Hoover Elementary School Council Bluffs, IA 7.9
North Hill Elementary School Burlington, IA 7.9
Novak Elementary School Marion, IA 7.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about John Cline Elementary School

What grades does John Cline Elementary School serve?

John Cline Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 2nd.

How many students attend John Cline Elementary School?

John Cline Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 310 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at John Cline Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at John Cline Elementary School is 11.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does John Cline Elementary School rank in IA?

John Cline Elementary School is ranked #136 out of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is John Cline Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

John Cline Elementary School has a composite rating of 7.9 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.

Is John Cline Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is John Cline Elementary School a Title I school?

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

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

24.8% of students at John Cline 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
82 Very Walkable
Bike Score
84 Very Bikeable
City Safety
Average (343/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 2nd
Enrollment
310
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
26
Free/Reduced Lunch
24.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Town
County
Winneshiek County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Decorah Community School District
District Enrollment
1,640
Schools in District
5
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,870
District Rank
#2 of 4

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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