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Excellent

#2 of 1,280 schools in IA

Top 1% in state

North Union Elementary

Elementary School · North Union Comm School District

308 310th Street, Fenton, IA 50539

Enrollment

125

Student-Teacher

8.9:1

Score

9.8

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Iowa schools

#2 of 1,280

In district

#1 of 2

North Union Comm School District

Equity

10.0 / 10

Excellent

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North Union Elementary

9.8/10

Elementary School in Fenton · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

North Kossuth Elementary School

9.3/10

12.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

North Union Middle School

8.6/10

12.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About North Union Elementary

North Union Elementary is a public elementary school in Fenton, IA, part of North Union Comm School District. North Union Elementary serves approximately 125 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 8.9:1 student-teacher ratio. North Union Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.8 out of 10 and ranks #2 of 1,280 schools in IA.

Structured state assessment records for North Union Elementary show 82% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025) and 82% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025).

What's said publicly about North Union Elementary

Sources: School's website

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.

North Union Elementary is part of the North Union Community School District, located 35 miles east of the Iowa Great Lakes region 1 . The district shares grades 6-12 with the neighboring North Kossuth School District, and the two districts also share all athletic programs 1 . Combined enrollment for both districts is approximately 700 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade 1 . The district operates multiple campuses: a high school in Armstrong, a middle school in Swea City, and elementary schools in both Swea City and Fenton 1 . North Union High School students utilize a 1:1 Chromebook learning environment 1 . The district describes itself as a high-achieving academic institution with strong community support, emphasizing project-based learning and technology integration 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. www.nuwarriors.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy
How it compares3.3 pts above IA schools
  • This school 9.8 · Excellent
  • IA avg 6.5

What Parents Should Know

At 125 students, North Union Elementary is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

At 8.9:1 students to teachers, North Union Elementary sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

North Union Elementary sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.8Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data10
Annual Change+0.63 pts/yr
Data Period2014–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.7Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency85.4% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency89.5% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg+8.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+20.4 pts
Overall Proficiency87% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)64% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected+23.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile96th
Resources & Environment9.7Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio8.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,855
Chronic Absenteeism16.8%

North Union Elementary — Students at North Union Elementary score 87% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 64%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

56%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 81.8% (multi-year average, 2014-2025)
School
State
74.6% (2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency 82.4% (multi-year average, 2014-2025)
School
State
72.3% (2025 ISASP)

Based on 25 test records from IA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2014
Math
87%
ELA
72%
2015
Math
82%
ELA
77%
2016
Math
87%
ELA
82%
2017
Math
82%
ELA
82%
2018
Math
67%
ELA
77%
2019
Math
67%
ELA
77%
2020*
Math
84.5%
ELA
84.5%
2021*
Math
84.5%
ELA
84.5%
2022
Math
84.5%
ELA
84.5%
2025
Math
85.4%
ELA
89.5%

* 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: 9.8/10.

How North Union Elementary Compares

See how North Union Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
9.8/10
100th percentile in IA
Academic
9.7/10
Excellent
Growth
9.8/10
Excellent
Environment
9.7/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
56%
Teaching Staff
9:1 student-teacher ratio
14 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
16.8%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

308 310th Street, Fenton, IA 50539

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering North Union Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. North Kossuth Elementary School (rated 9.3/10, 12.5 miles away, in nearby Swea City), with a comparable rating. Another option is Bryant Elementary School (rated 8.5/10, 12.3 miles away, in nearby Algona), a more accessible option. Additionally, Lucia Wallace Elementary School (rated 8.3/10, 12.9 miles away, in nearby Algona), a more accessible option. For more schools in Fenton, see our Fenton schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 18.6 mi
School Distance Rating
North Kossuth Elementary School Swea City 12.5 mi 9.3
North Union Middle School Swea City 12.5 mi 8.6
Bryant Elementary School Algona 12.3 mi 8.5
LITTLE MUSTANGS LEARNING CENTER Armstrong 13.6 mi
North Union High School Armstrong 13.8 mi 8.6
SETON GRADE SCHOOL Algona 12.5 mi 5.6
Lucia Wallace Elementary School Algona 12.9 mi 8.3
BISHOP GARRIGAN CAMPUS Algona 12.6 mi 6.7
Algona High School Algona 13.1 mi 5.2
Algona Middle School Algona 13.1 mi 7.8
Bertha Godfrey Elementary School Algona 13.0 mi 4.4
West Bend-Mallard Elementary School West Bend 17.8 mi 7.8
West Bend-Mallard Middle School West Bend 17.8 mi 6.7
West Bend-Mallard High School West Bend 17.8 mi 5.3
EMMETSBURG CATHOLIC SCHOOL Emmetsburg 16.5 mi 7.3
West Elementary School Emmetsburg 16.4 mi 7.8
Emmetsburg High School Emmetsburg 16.7 mi 5.4
Emmetsburg Middle School Emmetsburg 16.7 mi 8.2
Twin Rivers Elementary School Bode 24.2 mi 6.1
Graettinger-Terril High School Graettinger 18.6 mi 5.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 50539 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$64,271

Median Home Value

$71,100

Median Rent

$710/mo

Population

470

College Educated

20.6%

Homeownership

92.6%

Poverty Rate

7.4%

Median Age

51.3

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
New Albin Elementary School Lansing, IA 9.8
Johnston Elementary School Hopkinton, IA 9.6
Remsen-Union Elementary School Remsen, IA 9.4
North Kossuth Elementary School Swea City, IA 9.3
Salem Elementary School Mt. Pleasant, IA 9.2
Schaller-Crestland Elementary Schaller, IA 9.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about North Union Elementary

What grades does North Union Elementary serve?

North Union Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend North Union Elementary?

North Union Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 125 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at North Union Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at North Union Elementary is 8.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does North Union Elementary rank in IA?

North Union Elementary ranks #2 of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is North Union Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

North Union Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.8 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 Union Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, North Union Elementary has 82% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025) and 82% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025).

Is North Union Elementary a charter school?

No, North Union Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is North Union Elementary a Title I school?

No, North Union Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for North Union Elementary?

56.0% of students at North Union Elementary 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
3 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
33 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
125
Student-Teacher Ratio
8.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
14
Free/Reduced Lunch
56.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Remote Rural
County
Kossuth County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
16.8%

District

North Union Comm School District
District Enrollment
311
Schools in District
2
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,855
District Rank
#1 of 2

Other Schools in This District

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