Excellent
#143 of 1,280 schools in IA
Top 11% in state
North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center
Elementary School · North Cedar Comm School District · Lowden, IA
A North Cedar Comm School District elementary school where students score 10 points above what's typical for similar communities.
PO BOX 250 703 Park Avenue, Lowden, IA 52255
- Math 86% vs IA 74% (2025)
- Reading 80% vs IA 73% (2025)
- 16:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center score 83% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 73%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 19 points since 2020, reaching 83% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 77% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 73% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 37 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
39.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 35Car-Dependent
- Bike 37Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Low250/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$60,625
Median home value
$137,900
Median rent
$933/mo
College educated
23.1%
Homeownership
77.6%
Poverty rate
12.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 52255; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
1 in North Cedar Comm School District
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Cedar Mechanicsville Elem CtrEnrollment path unverified | 8.2 | PK–6 | Not available | 142 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
North Cedar Comm School District
- Schools in district
- 3
- Rank in district
- #1 of 3
- District spending per student
- $16,697NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 10.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center is listed in North Cedar Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center
North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center is a public elementary school in Lowden, IA, part of North Cedar Comm School District, serving approximately 176 students in grades Pre-K-6th with a 16:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10 and ranks #143 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 77% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 73% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center
What grades does North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center serve?
North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center?
North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center has an enrollment of approximately 176 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center?
The student-teacher ratio at North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center is 16:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center rank in IA?
North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center ranks #143 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center's MySchoolScout rating?
North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 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 North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center?
Based on loaded state assessment records, North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center has 77% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 73% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center a charter school?
No, North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center a Title I school?
No, North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center?
39.2% of students at North Cedar Lowden Elementary Center qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 176
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 11
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Cedar County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 13.1%
- Phone
- (563) 941-5383
- Area population (ZIP 52255)
- 1,100
- Area median age
- 41.2
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 52255; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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