Average
#903 of 1,280 schools in IA
Pence Elementary
Elementary School · Fairfield Comm School District · Fairfield, IA
A Fairfield Comm School District elementary school where students score 3 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1000 South 6th Street, Fairfield, IA 52556
- Math 61% vs IA 76% (2025)
- Reading 68% vs IA 73% (2025)
- 13:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Pence Elementary score 64% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 67%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 9 points since 2020, reaching 64% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 67% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 66% (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 32 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
50.4%
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 Pence Elementary 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 31Car-Dependent
- Bike 42Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Average627/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Fairfield), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$55,528
Median home value
$168,200
Median rent
$877/mo
College educated
46.4%
Homeownership
60.9%
Poverty rate
16%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 52556; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
2 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maharishi SchoolPrivate · tuition | 9.4 | PK–12 | 1.3 mi | 113 | Compare → |
| Singing Cedars SchoolPrivate · tuition | Not rated | K–3 | 2.6 mi | 27 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Fairfield Comm School District
- Schools in district
- 4
- Rank in district
- #3 of 4
- District spending per student
- $14,640NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 19.0%Census SAIPE · 2024
Pence Elementary is listed in Fairfield Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Pence Elementary
Pence Elementary is a public elementary school in Fairfield, IA, part of Fairfield Comm School District, serving approximately 339 students in grades 2nd-4th with a 13:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 out of 10 and ranks #903 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 67% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 66% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Pence Elementary
What grades does Pence Elementary serve?
Pence Elementary serves students in grades 2nd through 4th.
How many students attend Pence Elementary?
Pence Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 339 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pence Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Pence Elementary is 13:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Pence Elementary rank in IA?
Pence Elementary ranks #903 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Pence Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Pence Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 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 Pence Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Pence Elementary has 67% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 66% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Pence Elementary a charter school?
No, Pence Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Pence Elementary a Title I school?
No, Pence Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Pence Elementary?
50.4% of students at Pence 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 2nd – 4th
- Enrollment
- 339
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 26
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Town
- County
- Jefferson County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 11.5%
- Phone
- (641) 472-2957
- Area population (ZIP 52556)
- 11,586
- Area average commute
- 12.9 min
- Area median age
- 45.9
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 52556; 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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