Cardinal Community School District

The Cardinal Community School District in Iowa consists of 3 schools: 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high school. The data reveals that Cardinal Junior High is the standout performer, ranking in the top 205 out of 344 Iowa middle schools and boasting strong test scores, with 85.1% of 8th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts. Meanwhile, Cardinal High School stands out for its high graduation rate of 88.3% and solid English Language Arts proficiency among 10th graders at 81.7%.

However, the district faces some challenges, including high chronic absenteeism rates across all 3 schools, ranging from 21.6% to 21.6%, which is significantly higher than the state average. Additionally, the data reveals a concerning trend of declining test scores, particularly in mathematics, with the percentage of 3rd graders at Cardinal Elementary proficient in math dropping from 55.3% in 2023-2024 to 66.2% in 2024-2025, compared to the state average of 75.8%.

The district also exhibits inconsistent performance across grade levels within the same school, and while the schools generally perform above the state average on many metrics, there are still areas where they fall short, such as the lower math proficiency rates compared to the state. The high free/reduced lunch rates, particularly at the elementary school, suggest that the district may be serving a population with significant economic disadvantages, which could be an area to explore further in terms of ensuring equitable access to resources and support.