Excellent
#85 of 1,280 schools in IA
Top 7% in state
Penn Elementary School
Elementary School · Iowa City Comm School District
PO BOX 9 230 N Dubuque St, North Liberty, IA 52317
Enrollment
560
Student-Teacher
17:1
Score
8.6
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
560
Student-Teacher
17:1
Score
8.6
Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
Iowa schools
#85 of 1,280
In North Liberty
#1 of 7
public schools
In district
#2 of 29
Iowa City Comm School District
Academic growth
9.6 / 10
Excellent
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Penn Elementary School
Elementary School in North Liberty · grades Pre-K – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Buford Garner Elementary
0.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Heritage Christian School
0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Penn Elementary School
Penn Elementary School is a public elementary school in North Liberty, IA, part of Iowa City Comm School District. Penn Elementary School serves approximately 560 students, and covers grades Pre-K-6th, and has a 17:1 student-teacher ratio. Penn Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 out of 10 and ranks #85 of 1,280 schools in IA.
Structured state assessment records for Penn Elementary School show 81% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 78% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
- This school 8.6 · Excellent
- District avg 6.6
- IA avg 6.5
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Penn Elementary School — Students at Penn Elementary School score 86% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 87%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
13.2%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)
Based on 35 test records from IA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 9.6/10.
How Penn Elementary School Compares
See how Penn Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Programs & Offerings
Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more
Location
PO BOX 9 230 N Dubuque St, North Liberty, IA 52317
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Penn Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Wickham Elementary (rated 8.7/10, 3.0 miles away, in nearby Coralville), with a very similar rating. Another option is Oak Hill Elementary (rated 8.5/10, 3.7 miles away, in nearby Tiffin), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Christine Grant Elementary (rated 8.1/10, 0.7 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in North Liberty, see our North Liberty schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 6.0 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Buford Garner Elementary North Liberty | 0.4 mi | 6.0 |
| HERITAGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL North Liberty | 0.6 mi | 5.9 |
| Christine Grant Elementary North Liberty | 0.7 mi | 8.1 |
| James Van Allen Elementary School North Liberty | 1.4 mi | 6.9 |
| North Central Junior High School North Liberty | 1.7 mi | 6.8 |
| Liberty High School North Liberty | 1.6 mi | 6.7 |
| North Bend Elementary North Liberty | 2.1 mi | 7.9 |
| PURPLE BLOOM SCHOOL LLC Coralville | 3.1 mi | — |
| Wickham Elementary Coralville | 3.0 mi | 8.7 |
| HILLSIDE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Coralville | 4.0 mi | — |
| MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF IOWA CITY Coralville | 4.0 mi | 7.4 |
| Oak Hill Elementary Tiffin | 3.7 mi | 8.5 |
| Kirkwood Elementary School Coralville | 4.3 mi | 5.4 |
| Tiffin Elementary Tiffin | 3.8 mi | 3.0 |
| Northwest Junior High School Coralville | 4.5 mi | 5.9 |
| Central Elementary School Coralville | 5.1 mi | 5.8 |
| Norman Borlaug Elementary School Coralville | 5.3 mi | 5.3 |
| Clear Creek Amana Middle School Tiffin | 4.7 mi | 7.6 |
| Clear Creek Amana High School Tiffin | 5.0 mi | 5.6 |
| Lincoln Elementary School Iowa City | 6.0 mi | 6.6 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 52317 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$108,156
Median Home Value
$314,700
Median Rent
$1,221/mo
Population
22,392
College Educated
54.1%
Homeownership
70.1%
Avg Commute
23.6 min
Poverty Rate
4.4%
Median Age
32.8
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Central Elementary School Nevada, IA | 8.6 |
| Cody Elementary School Leclaire, IA | 8.6 |
| Crestwood Elementary School Cresco, IA | 8.6 |
| Mount Ayr Elementary Mount Ayr, IA | 8.6 |
| Poyner Elementary Evansdale, IA | 8.6 |
| West Elementary School Treynor, IA | 8.6 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Penn Elementary School
What grades does Penn Elementary School serve?
Penn Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Penn Elementary School?
Penn Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 560 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Penn Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Penn Elementary School is 17:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Penn Elementary School rank in IA?
Penn Elementary School ranks #85 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Penn Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Penn Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.6 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 Penn Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Penn Elementary School has 81% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 78% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Penn Elementary School a charter school?
No, Penn Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Penn Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Penn Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Penn Elementary School?
13.2% of students at Penn 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.
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 560
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 33
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 13.2%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize Suburb
- County
- Johnson County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 5.7%
- Phone
- (319) 688-1150
Resources & Links
District
Iowa City Comm School District- District Enrollment
- 14,776
- Schools in District
- 29
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $14,391
- District Rank
- #2 of 29
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