Below Average
#1093 of 1,280 schools in IA
Longfellow Elementary School
Elementary School · Belle Plaine Comm School District
707 7th St, Belle Plaine, IA 52208
Enrollment
287
Student-Teacher
17.9:1
Score
4.8
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
287
Student-Teacher
17.9:1
Score
4.8
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Belle Plaine
#2 of 2
public schools
Iowa elementary schools
#566 of 662
In district
#2 of 2
Belle Plaine Comm School District
Equity
8.2 / 10
Very strong
About Longfellow Elementary School
Longfellow Elementary School is a regular public elementary school located in the rural community of Belle Plaine, Iowa. The school serves students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade and has an enrollment of 287 students. With a student-teacher ratio of 17.9:1, Longfellow provides a supportive learning environment with 16 full-time equivalent teachers.
Academically, the school performs in line with its ranking at the state level, where it is placed 34th percentile out of 1288 schools in Iowa. MySchoolScout’s rating for Longfellow is 4.7 out of 10, reflecting areas with room for improvement but also highlighting strengths like proficiency rates: 71% of students are proficient or above in ELA/Reading, 72% in Math, and 69% in Science. Longfellow Elementary School is nestled in a rural setting where the community values close-knit relationships and support for local education.
What Parents Should Know
Located in a rural area, Longfellow Elementary School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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Longfellow Elementary School — Students at Longfellow Elementary School score 72% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 64%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
48.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)
Based on 15 test records from IA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 3.5/10.
How Longfellow Elementary School Compares
See how Longfellow Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 72% (2019) to 72% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 77% (2019) to 72% (2022).
Location
707 7th St, Belle Plaine, IA 52208
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Longfellow Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Brooklyn-Guernsey-Malcom Elementary School (rated 8.2/10, 13.7 miles away, in nearby Brooklyn), which scores notably higher. Another option is Dysart-Geneseo Elementary School (rated 7.8/10, 19.4 miles away, in nearby Dysart), which scores notably higher. Additionally, H-L-V Elementary School (rated 7.7/10, 11.2 miles away, in nearby Victor), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Belle Plaine, see our Belle Plaine schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 22.8 miNeighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 52208 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$71,336
Median Home Value
$119,700
Median Rent
$773/mo
Population
2,921
College Educated
17.1%
Homeownership
79.2%
Avg Commute
24.5 min
Poverty Rate
6.4%
Median Age
49.8
Community Profile
The community surrounding Longfellow Elementary School has a median household income of $71,336. It is a community where 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $119,700, with a median rent of $773/month. The local poverty rate of 6.4% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 25 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 |
|---|---|
| East Mills Elementary School Hastings, IA | 4.8 |
| Helen Lemme Elementary School Iowa City, IA | 4.8 |
| Jefferson Elementary School Des Moines, IA | 4.8 |
| Northeast Hamilton Elementary School Webster City, IA | 4.8 |
| SETON CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PEOSTA CENTER Peosta, IA | 4.8 |
| ST PIUS X CATHOLIC SCHOOL Urbandale, IA | 4.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Longfellow Elementary School
What grades does Longfellow Elementary School serve?
Longfellow Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Longfellow Elementary School?
Longfellow Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 287 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Longfellow Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Longfellow Elementary School is 17.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Longfellow Elementary School rank in IA?
Longfellow Elementary School is ranked #1093 out of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Longfellow Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Longfellow Elementary School has a composite rating of 4.8 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 Longfellow Elementary School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Longfellow Elementary School has 71.8% math proficiency and 70.7% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Longfellow Elementary School a charter school?
No, Longfellow Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Longfellow Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Longfellow Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Longfellow Elementary School?
48.8% of students at Longfellow 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.
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- High (1,962/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Belle Plaine). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 287
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 16
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 48.8%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Benton County
- Phone
- (319) 444-3002
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Belle Plaine Comm School District- District Enrollment
- 490
- Schools in District
- 2
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $13,919
- District Rank
- #2 of 2
Other Schools in This District
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 methodologyRelated reading
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