Elementary Schools in Iowa City Community School District

The Iowa City Community School District encompasses 21 elementary schools serving students from pre-kindergarten through 5th grade. This diverse district located in Iowa City, Iowa, demonstrates a wide range of academic performance among its elementary schools.

Several schools stand out as top performers within the district, including Wickham Elementary, ranked 6th out of 576 Iowa elementary schools, and Lincoln Elementary and Bohumil Shimek Elementary, both ranked in the top 111 schools statewide. These high-performing schools boast exceptional test scores, with over 90% proficiency in core subjects. In contrast, other schools in the district, such as Kirkwood Elementary, struggle with lower proficiency rates, particularly in 3rd grade English Language Arts at just 33.3%.

The district-wide average chronic absenteeism rate of 21.6% is a significant concern, and there appears to be a correlation between high poverty levels, as measured by free and reduced-price lunch rates, and lower academic performance. Schools with the highest poverty levels, such as Grant Wood, Kirkwood, and Hills Elementary, tend to have the weakest test scores. Addressing the challenges faced by economically disadvantaged students should be a priority for the district as it works to ensure more equitable outcomes across all its elementary schools.