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Average

#876 of 1,280 schools in IA

Sawyer Elementary School

Elementary School · Ames Comm School District

4316 Ontario St, Ames, IA 50010

Enrollment

375

Student-Teacher

12.5:1

Score

5.5

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Iowa schools

#876 of 1,280

In Ames

#6 of 8

public schools

In district

#6 of 8

Ames Comm School District

School environment

8.9 / 10

Excellent

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Sawyer Elementary School

5.5/10

Elementary School in Ames · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Edwards Elementary School

6.2/10

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

Ames Middle School

5.7/10

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

About Sawyer Elementary School

Sawyer Elementary School is a public elementary school in Ames, IA, part of Ames Comm School District. Sawyer Elementary School serves approximately 375 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 12.5:1 student-teacher ratio. Sawyer Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.5 out of 10 and ranks #876 of 1,280 schools in IA.

Structured state assessment records for Sawyer Elementary School show 76% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 76% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 5.5 · Average
  • District avg 5.7
  • IA avg 6.5

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.1Below Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.22 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics5.7Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency73.6% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency72.4% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg-3.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+3.3 pts
Overall Proficiency73% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)76% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected-2.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile39th
Resources & Environment8.9Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,372
Chronic Absenteeism17.3%

Sawyer Elementary School — Students at Sawyer Elementary School score 73% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 76%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

35.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 76.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
74.6% (2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency 75.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
72.3% (2025 ISASP)

Based on 35 test records from IA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2009
Math
81%
ELA
82%
2010
Math
83%
ELA
85%
2011
Math
82%
ELA
72%
2012
Math
83%
ELA
78%
2013
Math
82%
ELA
81%
2014
Math
87%
ELA
87%
2015
Math
92%
ELA
92%
2016
Math
87%
ELA
87%
2017
Math
82%
ELA
82%
2018
Math
62%
ELA
62%
2019
Math
62%
ELA
62%
2020*
Math
62%
ELA
62%
2021*
Math
62%
ELA
62%
2022
Math
67%
ELA
72%
2025
Math
73.6%
ELA
72.4%

* 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: 4.1/10.

How Sawyer Elementary School Compares

See how Sawyer Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.5/10
32th percentile in IA
Academic
5.7/10
Average
Growth
4.1/10
Below Average
Environment
8.9/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
35%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
30 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
17.3%

Location

4316 Ontario St, Ames, IA 50010

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Sawyer Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Roland-Story Elementary School (rated 8.4/10, 11.8 miles away, in nearby Story City), which scores notably higher. Another option is Ballard East Elementary (rated 8.3/10, 11.5 miles away, in nearby Cambridge), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Gilbert Elementary School (rated 8.2/10, 5.2 miles away, in nearby Gilbert), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Ames, see our Ames schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 11.5 mi
School Distance Rating
Edwards Elementary School Ames 1.3 mi 6.2
Ames Middle School Ames 1.5 mi 5.7
Ames High School Ames 2.3 mi 5.2
ST CECILIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Ames 2.7 mi 7.2
Fellows Elementary School Ames 2.6 mi 6.3
AMES CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Ames 3.2 mi 6.5
Northwood Pre-School Ames 3.2 mi 4.3
Meeker Elementary School Ames 3.3 mi 5.6
Gilbert Elementary School Gilbert 5.2 mi 8.2
Gilbert High School Gilbert 5.2 mi 7.1
Gilbert Intermediate School Gilbert 5.4 mi 4.6
Gilbert Middle School Gilbert 5.5 mi 8.1
Mitchell Elementary School Ames 5.0 mi 6.3
United Community School Boone 5.1 mi 5.1
Ballard High School Huxley 9.7 mi 6.7
Ballard West Elementary Slater 10.4 mi 8.2
Ballard Middle School Huxley 10.1 mi 8.4
Roland-Story High School Story City 11.6 mi 6.3
Roland-Story Elementary School Story City 11.8 mi 8.4
Ballard East Elementary Cambridge 11.5 mi 8.3

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 50010 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$65,701

Median Home Value

$243,200

Median Rent

$981/mo

Population

33,428

College Educated

59.1%

Homeownership

54.1%

Avg Commute

16.7 min

Poverty Rate

17.9%

Median Age

29.2

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Aurora Heights Elementary School Newton, IA 5.5
Bluff Elementary School Clinton, IA 5.5
Fillmore Elementary School Davenport, IA 5.5
ORANGE CITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Orange City, IA 5.5
Pekin Elementary School Packwood, IA 5.5
Prairie Heights Elementary School Cedar Rapids, IA 5.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Sawyer Elementary School

What grades does Sawyer Elementary School serve?

Sawyer Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Sawyer Elementary School?

Sawyer Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 375 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Sawyer Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Sawyer Elementary School is 12.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Sawyer Elementary School rank in IA?

Sawyer Elementary School ranks #876 of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is Sawyer Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Sawyer Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.5 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 Sawyer Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Sawyer Elementary School has 76% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 76% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Sawyer Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is Sawyer Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Sawyer Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Sawyer Elementary School?

35.2% of students at Sawyer 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
23 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
52 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
375
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
30
Free/Reduced Lunch
35.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Story County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
17.3%

District

Ames Comm School District
District Enrollment
4,735
Schools in District
8
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,372
District Rank
#6 of 8

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