North Union Elementary

North Union Elementary in Fenton, Iowa serves 125 students in prekindergarten through fifth grade. The school runs a student-teacher ratio of 8.9:1, meaning each teacher works with fewer than nine students on average — a level of individual attention rarely found in public education. The school's academic performance stands out sharply against Iowa peers.

North Union ranks second out of 1,280 public schools statewide and second out of 662 elementary schools in Iowa, placing it at the very top of the state's public school system. Its composite score of 9.5 out of 10 earns an Exceptional rating, with an academic score of 9.7 and a growth score of 9.4. That growth figure matters: it reflects how much students are advancing year over year, not just where they start.

Together, these numbers tell a consistent story. North Union outperforms 100 percent of Iowa public schools across the metrics tracked here. For families comparing elementary options in the region, few schools in the state can match this combination of small class sizes, strong academic achievement, and demonstrated student growth.

It is a compact school with measurable results that rank among the best Iowa public education has to offer.

With an enrollment of 125 students, North Union Elementary 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.

With a student-teacher ratio of 8.9:1, North Union Elementary offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

Located in a rural area, North Union Elementary 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.