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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

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 metrics
Student Progress6.8Above Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data4
Annual Change+0.73 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.0Exceptional30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency84.5%
Reading/ELA Proficiency74.5%
Math vs. State Avg+7.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+5.4 pts
Overall Proficiency80%
Expected (poverty-adj.)69%
vs. Expected+10.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile84th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment9.3Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,344

Morning Sun Elementary School — Students at Morning Sun Elementary School score 80% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 69%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

39.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 81.3%
School
State
74.1%
ELA Proficiency 75.9%
School
State
72.6%

Based on 15 test records from IA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2019
Math
84.5%
ELA
64.5%
2021*
Math
84.5%
ELA
74.5%
2022
Math
84.5%
ELA
74.5%
2025
Math
78.9%
ELA
79.5%

* 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.

Overall Score
8.0/10
91th percentile in IA
Academic
9.0/10
9.0/10
Growth
6.8/10
Above average
Environment
9.3/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
39%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
10 teachers

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 mi
School Distance Rating
Wapello Senior High School Wapello 6.6 mi 6.8
Wapello Junior High School Wapello 6.6 mi 6.1
Wapello Elementary School Wapello 6.8 mi 7.4
Mediapolis Elementary School Mediapolis 7.3 mi 7.5
Mediapolis High School Mediapolis 7.3 mi 4.8
Mediapolis Middle School Mediapolis 7.3 mi 7.1
Winfield Elementary School Winfield 10.1 mi 5.4
Winfield-Mt Union Jr-Sr High School Winfield 10.1 mi 4.9
Columbus Community High School Columbus Junction 13.5 mi 8.1
Columbus Community Junior High School Columbus Junction 13.5 mi 6.7
Roundy Elementary School Columbus Junction 13.6 mi 7.2
Louisa-Muscatine Elementary Letts 14.8 mi 8.0
Louisa-Muscatine JR/SR High School Letts 14.8 mi 6.0
New London Jr-Sr High School New London 14.2 mi 4.8
Clark Elementary School New London 14.3 mi 7.2
Danville Elementary School Danville 16.6 mi 8.0
Danville Junior-Senior High School Danville 16.6 mi 5.4
New Boston Elem School New Boston 14.4 mi 4.3
Aldo Leopold Intermediate School Burlington 19.1 mi 6.8
West Burlington Elem School West Burlington 19.5 mi 4.7

Neighborhood 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
22 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
32 Somewhat Bikeable
County Safety
Average (514/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

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
Data Year
2023–2024

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 methodology

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