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Very Good

#35 of 157 private schools in IA

Top 22% of private schools

St Joseph Catholic School

Elementary School

1430 14TH ST, Marion, IA 52302

Private

Enrollment

123

Student-Teacher

8.4:1

Score

7.1

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Data vintage2021-22

How this school compares

Iowa private schools

#35 of 157

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St Joseph Catholic School

7.1/10

Elementary School in Marion · grades Pre-K – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Vernon Middle School

6.4/10

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

Indian Creek Elementary School

7.4/10

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

About St Joseph Catholic School

St Joseph Catholic School is a private elementary school in Marion, IA. St Joseph Catholic School serves approximately 123 students, and covers grades Pre-K-8th, and has a 8.4:1 student-teacher ratio. St Joseph Catholic School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 out of 10 and ranks #35 of 157 private schools in IA.

Structured state assessment records for St Joseph Catholic School show 94% math proficiency (2025 ISASP) and 91% reading/ELA proficiency (2025 ISASP).

How it compares0.6 pts above IA schools
  • This school 7.1 · Very Good
  • IA avg 6.5

What Parents Should Know

At 123 students, St Joseph Catholic School 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 8.4:1 students to teachers, St Joseph Catholic School sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

St Joseph Catholic School is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How St Joseph Catholic School compares to 13 public schools serving similar grades in Marion, IA

Student-Teacher Ratio
8.4:1
This School
vs
13.7:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
123
This School
vs
446
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.1
This School
vs
7.1
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 89.4% vs 0%
Hispanic 4.9% vs 0%
Black 3.3% vs 0%
Asian 2.4% vs 0%
St Joseph Catholic School Marion Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
St Joseph Catholic School (this school) 7.1
Vernon Middle School 6.4
Wilkins Elementary School 6.1
Indian Creek Elementary School 7.4
Novak Elementary School 7.7
Longfellow Elementary 7.2
Francis Marion Intermediate School 7.0
Starry Elementary School 4.7
Excelsior Middle School 8.1
Boulder Peak Intermediate School 7.8
Linn Grove Elementary School 4.5
Oak Ridge Middle School 8.1
Hazel Point Intermediate School 8.7
Echo Hill Elementary 8.5

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

Preliminary

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in IA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A 8.6 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 8.4:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B- 4.6 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6.9 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,193.7
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B 5.9 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 20%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.1 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 123
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in IA

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 94.0% (2025 ISASP)
School
State
74.0% (2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency 90.8% (2025 ISASP)
School
State
74.6% (2025 ISASP)

Based on 14 test records from IA state assessments. About our data

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 89.4%
Hispanic 4.9%
Black 3.3%
Asian 2.4%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

1430 14TH ST, Marion, IA 52302

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering St Joseph Catholic School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Echo Hill Elementary (rated 8.5/10, 2.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Novak Elementary School (rated 7.7/10, 0.8 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, SUMMIT SCHOOLS (rated 7.5/10, 2.9 miles away, in nearby Cedar Rapids), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Marion, see our Marion schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Vernon Middle School Marion 0.7 mi 6.4
Indian Creek Elementary School Marion 0.8 mi 7.4
Linn-Mar High School Marion 0.9 mi 5.0
Novak Elementary School Marion 0.8 mi 7.7
Francis Marion Intermediate School Marion 0.9 mi 7.0
Wilkins Elementary School Marion 0.7 mi 6.1
Longfellow Elementary Marion 0.8 mi 7.2
Starry Elementary School Marion 1.2 mi 4.7
Marion High School Marion 1.2 mi 5.0
Excelsior Middle School Marion 1.3 mi 8.1
Bowman Woods Elementary School Cedar Rapids 1.7 mi 6.1
Boulder Peak Intermediate School Marion 1.9 mi 7.8
Oak Ridge Middle School Marion 2.3 mi 8.1
Hazel Point Intermediate School Marion 2.5 mi 8.7
Echo Hill Elementary Marion 2.5 mi 8.5
Linn Grove Elementary School Marion 2.1 mi 4.5
CEDAR VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Cedar Rapids 3.3 mi 7.3
Kenwood Leadership Academy School Cedar Rapids 2.9 mi 4.5
SUMMIT SCHOOLS Cedar Rapids 2.9 mi 7.5
Harding Middle School Cedar Rapids 3.0 mi 6.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 52302 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$87,463

Median Home Value

$232,900

Median Rent

$963/mo

Population

42,732

College Educated

39.1%

Homeownership

77.5%

Avg Commute

19.1 min

Poverty Rate

7.2%

Median Age

40.7

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Central Springs Elementary School - Nora Springs Nora Springs, IA 7.1
Earlville Elementary School Earlville, IA 7.1
Stanton Elementary School Stanton, IA 7.1
WILLOWWIND SCHOOL Iowa City, IA 7.1
Paton-Churdan Elementary Churdan, IA 7.0
SHELBY COUNTY CATHOLIC SCHOOL Harlan, IA 7.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about St Joseph Catholic School

What grades does St Joseph Catholic School serve?

St Joseph Catholic School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend St Joseph Catholic School?

St Joseph Catholic School has an enrollment of approximately 123 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at St Joseph Catholic School?

The student-teacher ratio at St Joseph Catholic School is 8.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does St Joseph Catholic School rank in IA?

St Joseph Catholic School ranks #35 of 157 private schools in IA.

What is St Joseph Catholic School's MySchoolScout rating?

St Joseph Catholic School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 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 St Joseph Catholic School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, St Joseph Catholic School has 94% math proficiency (2025 ISASP) and 91% reading/ELA proficiency (2025 ISASP).

Is St Joseph Catholic School a private school?

Yes, St Joseph Catholic School is a private coeducational school with a Roman Catholic affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is St Joseph Catholic School a religious school?

St Joseph Catholic School has a Roman Catholic religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
60 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
38 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
123
Gender Split
53% M / 47% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
8.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
15
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Roman Catholic
School Day
6.9 hours
Days Per Year
173 days
Setting
Midsize Suburb
County
Linn County

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