Excellent
#115 of 1,280 schools in IA
Top 9% in state
Morning Sun Elementary School
Elementary School · Morning Sun Comm School District
PO BOX 129 311 Division St, Morning Sun, IA 52640
Enrollment
127
Student-Teacher
12.7:1
Score
8.0
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
127
Student-Teacher
12.7:1
Score
8.0
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
Iowa elementary schools
#90 of 662
Equity
9.3 / 10
Exceptional
About Morning Sun Elementary School
Morning Sun Elementary School serves 127 students from prekindergarten through sixth grade in the small rural community of Morning Sun, Iowa. With 10 full-time teachers, the school maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.7:1, allowing for personalized attention in smaller classroom settings. The school demonstrates strong academic performance, earning a MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10 and ranking 106th out of 1,288 Iowa elementary schools, placing it in the 92nd percentile statewide.
Students show solid achievement across core subjects, with 74% scoring proficient or above in English Language Arts and reading, and an impressive 84% reaching proficiency in mathematics. As a regular public school in Louisa County, Morning Sun Elementary operates in a close-knit community where the median household income is $73,264 and the poverty rate remains low at 5.8%. The area's median home value of $124,500 reflects the affordable rural lifestyle that characterizes this region.
Morning Sun Elementary provides students with the benefits of small-school education while maintaining competitive academic standards. The school sits in Iowa's remote rural countryside, where students experience the unique advantages of learning in a tight-knit community environment surrounded by the agricultural landscape of southeastern Iowa.
What Parents Should Know
With an enrollment of 127 students, Morning Sun Elementary School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.
Located in a rural area, Morning Sun 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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Morning Sun Elementary School — Students at Morning Sun Elementary School score 80% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 69%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
39.4%
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: 6.8/10.
How Morning Sun Elementary School Compares
See how Morning Sun Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 84.5% (2019) to 84.5% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 64.5% (2019) to 74.5% (2022).
Location
PO BOX 129 311 Division St, Morning Sun, IA 52640
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Morning Sun Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Louisa-Muscatine Elementary (rated 8.0/10, 14.8 miles away, in nearby Letts), with a very similar rating. Another option is Danville Elementary School (rated 8.0/10, 16.6 miles away, in nearby Danville), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Mediapolis Elementary School (rated 7.5/10, 7.3 miles away, in nearby Mediapolis), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Morning Sun, see our Morning Sun schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 19.5 miNeighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 52640 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$70,000
Median Home Value
$126,000
Median Rent
$820/mo
Population
1,201
College Educated
13.9%
Homeownership
88.9%
Avg Commute
23 min
Poverty Rate
10.4%
Median Age
47.4
Community Profile
The community surrounding Morning Sun Elementary School has a median household income of $70,000. It is a community where 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $126,000, with a median rent of $820/month. The area has a poverty rate of 10.4%. The average commute for residents is 23 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 |
|---|---|
| Odebolt Elementary-Odebolt Odebolt, IA | 8.0 |
| Sylvia Enarson Elementary School Villisca, IA | 8.0 |
| Central City Elementary School Central City, IA | 8.1 |
| Ireton Elementary School Ireton, IA | 7.9 |
| North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center Lowden, IA | 7.9 |
| Remsen-Union Elementary School Remsen, IA | 8.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Morning Sun Elementary School
What grades does Morning Sun Elementary School serve?
Morning Sun Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Morning Sun Elementary School?
Morning Sun Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 127 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Morning Sun Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Morning Sun Elementary School is 12.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Morning Sun Elementary School rank in IA?
Morning Sun Elementary School is ranked #115 out of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Morning Sun Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Morning Sun Elementary School has a composite rating of 8.0 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 Morning Sun Elementary School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Morning Sun Elementary School has 81.3% math proficiency and 75.9% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Morning Sun Elementary School a charter school?
No, Morning Sun Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Morning Sun Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Morning Sun Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Morning Sun Elementary School?
39.4% of students at Morning Sun 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
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 127
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 10
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 39.4%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Louisa County
- Phone
- (319) 868-7701
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Morning Sun Comm School District- District Enrollment
- 127
- Schools in District
- 1
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $14,702
- District Rank
- #1 of 1
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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