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Central City Elementary School

Q: Is Central City Elementary School a good school?

Central City Elementary School ranks 256 th of 576 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

256^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 576 Iowa Elementary Schools

Better than 56% of Iowa elementary schools

Summary

Central City Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 174 students in grades K-5 in Central City, Iowa, which is part of the Central City Community School District. While the school has some strengths, such as a relatively low student-teacher ratio, it faces several challenges that are impacting student outcomes.

One key concern is the school's chronic absenteeism rates, which have risen significantly from 10.1% in 2022-2023 to 21.6% in 2023-2024, notably higher than the state average of 17.0%. Additionally, the school's test scores are generally below state averages, particularly in English Language Arts, where only 57.7% of 3rd graders were proficient or better in 2024-2025, compared to the state average of 67.9%. However, the school's math scores are more competitive, with 5th graders outperforming the state average (87.5% vs. 71.5%).

When compared to nearby schools, such as Westfield Elementary and Echo Hill Elementary, both part of the Linn-Mar Community School District, Central City Elementary School generally performs below the average, particularly in terms of test scores and school rankings. The school's statewide ranking has steadily declined over the past several years, from 188 out of 574 Iowa elementary schools in 2016-2017 to 256 out of 576 in 2024-2025. Addressing the underlying issues, such as high chronic absenteeism and supporting students from low-income families, could be crucial in improving student outcomes at Central City Elementary School.

170

Students ?

9.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,538

Per pupil spending ?

33.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

400 Barber Street
Central City, IA 52214

(319) 438-6181

District: Central City Community School District

Students who attend Central City Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Central City High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.1%

Hispanic:

2.9%

Two or more races:

2.9%

See top rated Iowa elementary schools

Compare Central City Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 43rd percentile in 2015 → 56th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 13 percentile points since 2015

✓Above the Iowa median (56th percentile)

✓Small classes — about 9 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school75%

District avg75%

Iowa avg71%

256^th of 576

Iowa public elementary schools ?

Top 44%▲ up 13 pts since 2015

From bottom 43% (2015) to top 44% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Iowa Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

229^th of 313Central City Community School District among Iowa districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Iowa percentile	Rating
2025	61.0	256 of 576	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.1	300 of 557	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.4	369 of 565	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	48.1	342 of 574	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	32.9	422 of 567	25.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	40.0	406 of 603	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	60.0	259 of 567	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2017	69.2	188 of 574	67.2%	★★★☆☆
2016	58.5	295 of 599	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2015	53.0	352 of 616	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2014	46.8	400 of 603	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2013	55.1	331 of 624	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2012	60.3	274 of 626	56.2%	★★★☆☆

By subject vs Iowa (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics82%+8 vs state

English Language Arts75%+4 vs state

Science59%-5 vs state

★

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Schools Near Central City Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ISASP English Language Arts (2025)				ISASP Mathematics (2025)				ISASP Science (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISASP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 4th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 5th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 6th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 3rd Grade	ISASP Mathematics 4th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 5th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 6th Grade	ISASP Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Central City Elementary School	Public	K-5	400 Barber Street	Central City	52214	Linn County	Central City Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(319) 438-6181	170	18	9.2	33.5%	160 (94.1%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.9%)	61	256^th of 576 public elementary schools	55.6%		55.1	300^th of 557 public elementary schools	46.1%	44	57.7	82.8	81.3		76.9	79.3	87.5		59.4	$15,538	$711	$14,827
Alburnett Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	131 Roosevelt Street	Alburnett	52202	Linn County	Alburnett Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(319) 842-2261	395	26	15.0	12.2%	387 (98.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.5%)	59.5	265^th of 576 public elementary schools	54.0%		72.1	141^st of 557 public elementary schools	74.7%	124	72.3	86.0	66.7		80.0	89.5	68.3		61.9	$11,673	$279	$11,394
North Linn Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3033 Lynx Drive	Troy Mills	52344	Linn County	North Linn Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(319) 224-3291	281	20	14.0	23.5%	267 (95.0%)	3 (1.1%)	5 (1.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.8%)	68.3	188^th of 576 public elementary schools	67.4%		68.9	175^th of 557 public elementary schools	68.6%	13	61.0	88.9	77.8		82.9	75.0	86.7		75.6	$11,811	$443	$11,368
Echo Hill Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	400 Echo Hill Road	Marion	52302	Linn County	Linn-Mar Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 730-3560	536	31	17.2	7.3%	422 (78.7%)	11 (2.1%)	18 (3.4%)	65 (12.1%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.2%)	91.3	10^th of 576 public elementary schools	98.3%		88.5	18^th of 557 public elementary schools	96.8%	8	92.4	92.2			94.6	94.1				$12,860	$361	$12,500
Springville Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	400 Academy Street	Springville	52336	Linn County	Springville Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(319) 854-6195	294	21	14.0	25.5%	283 (96.3%)	4 (1.4%)	4 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	70.5	169^th of 576 public elementary schools	70.7%		75.8	106^th of 557 public elementary schools	81.0%	63	83.9	78.0	75.0	81.3	87.1	80.5	81.3	75.0	81.3	$11,511	$346	$11,165
Linn Grove Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	2301 50th St	Marion	52302	Linn County	Linn-Mar Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(319) 730-3500	385	28	13.7	44.4%	261 (67.8%)	38 (9.9%)	40 (10.4%)	10 (2.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (9.1%)	37.7	417^th of 576 public elementary schools	27.6%		57.2	280^th of 557 public elementary schools	49.7%	137	55.6	78.1			61.9	72.6				$13,263	$642	$12,621
Indian Creek Elementary School	Public	K-4	2900 Indian Creek Rd	Marion	52302	Linn County	Linn-Mar Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 447-3270	354	25	14.1	16.1%	285 (80.5%)	15 (4.2%)	15 (4.2%)	17 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (6.2%)	80.4	69^th of 576 public elementary schools	88.0%		77	90^th of 557 public elementary schools	83.8%	21	84.6	87.2			89.7	81.8				$12,023	$439	$11,584
Novak Elementary School	Public	K-4	401 29th Avenue	Marion	52302	Linn County	Linn-Mar Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(319) 447-3300	347	29	12.1	26.5%	269 (77.5%)	22 (6.3%)	19 (5.5%)	2 (0.6%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (9.5%)	68.8	183^rd of 576 public elementary schools	68.2%		63.4	218^th of 557 public elementary schools	60.9%	35	84.6	80.6			92.3	72.2				$13,619	$930	$12,689
Wilkins Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	2127 27th St	Marion	52302	Linn County	Linn-Mar Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(319) 447-3380	348	28	12.6	41.1%	270 (77.6%)	19 (5.5%)	21 (6.0%)	4 (1.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (9.5%)	50.4	329^th of 576 public elementary schools	42.9%		36.2	408^th of 557 public elementary schools	26.8%	79	67.9	80.7			73.2	70.2				$13,799	$613	$13,186
Westfield Elementary School	Public	K-4	901 E Main St	Robins	52328	Linn County	Linn-Mar Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 447-3350	445	32	13.9	19.1%	237 (53.3%)	37 (8.3%)	18 (4.0%)	129 (29.0%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (4.9%)	76.5	112^th of 576 public elementary schools	80.6%		85.7	31^st of 557 public elementary schools	94.4%	81	83.1	83.7			83.1	85.7				$12,897	$287	$12,610

Frequently Asked Questions about Central City Elementary School

Is Central City Elementary School a good school?

Central City Elementary School ranks 256^th of 576 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Central City Elementary School?

Students at Central City Elementary School are 94% White, 3% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

What district is Central City Elementary School in?

Central City Community School District

How many students attend Central City Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 170 students attended Central City Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Central City Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Central City Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Central City High School

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Iowa Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.