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Baxter Elementary School

Q: Is Baxter Elementary School a good school?

Baxter Elementary School ranks 154 th of 576 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

154^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 576 Iowa Elementary Schools

Better than 73% of Iowa elementary schools

Summary

Baxter Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades PK-5 in the Baxter Community School District in Baxter, Iowa. With 226 students, the school is ranked 154 out of 576 Iowa elementary schools for the 2024-2025 school year and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Baxter Elementary consistently outperforms the state average in ISASP test scores across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in 2024-2025, 81.5% of 3rd graders were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 67.9%. In mathematics, 88.9% of 3rd graders were proficient or better, compared to the state average of 75.8%. When compared to nearby schools like Prairie City Elementary, Mitchellville Elementary, and West Marshall Elementary, Baxter generally outperforms its peers in test scores, particularly in mathematics.

However, the school has experienced a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, from 12.3% in 2022-2023 to 21.6% in 2023-2024, which is an area of concern. Additionally, the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch has increased from 22.75% in 2021-2022 to 28.32% in 2023-2024, suggesting the school serves a higher proportion of economically disadvantaged students. Baxter's higher spending per student of $16,144 in 2018-2019 and relatively low student-teacher ratio may contribute to its academic success, but the school should focus on strategies to improve attendance and support the needs of its growing population of economically disadvantaged students.

209

Students ?

19.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,144

Per pupil spending ?

30.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

202 E State
Baxter, IA 50028

(641) 227-3102

District: Baxter Community School District

Students who attend Baxter Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Baxter High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

92.3%

Hispanic:

4.3%

Two or more races:

1.9%

See top rated Iowa elementary schools

Compare Baxter Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 39th percentile in 2015 → 73rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Iowa average (80% vs 71% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 34 percentile points since 2015

✓Above the Iowa median (73rd percentile)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school80%

District avg80%

Iowa avg71%

154^th of 576

Iowa public elementary schools ?

Top 27%▲ up 34 pts since 2015

From bottom 39% (2015) to top 27% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Iowa Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

160^th of 313Baxter 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	71.6	154 of 576	73.3%	★★★★☆
2024	58.3	268 of 557	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.0	306 of 565	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	54.4	293 of 574	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	68.1	173 of 567	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	61.7	250 of 603	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	44.6	373 of 567	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2017	55.9	306 of 574	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2016	36.9	456 of 599	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	51.5	374 of 616	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2014	59.0	293 of 603	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2013	40.2	458 of 624	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	38.0	474 of 626	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Iowa (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics84%+10 vs state

English Language Arts81%+10 vs state

Science66%~ state avg

★

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Schools Near Baxter 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
Baxter Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	202 E State	Baxter	50028	Jasper County	Baxter Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 227-3102	209	11	19.3	30.1%	193 (92.3%)	2 (1.0%)	9 (4.3%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.9%)	71.6	154^th of 576 public elementary schools	73.3%		58.3	268^th of 557 public elementary schools	51.9%	114	81.5	86.8	72.4		88.9	89.5	72.4		65.5	$16,144	$695	$15,449
Thomas Jefferson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	112 Thomas Jefferson Dr	Newton	50208	Jasper County	Newton Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 792-2498	380	26	14.5	45.0%	325 (85.5%)	5 (1.3%)	27 (7.1%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.3%)	60.7	258^th of 576 public elementary schools	55.2%		56.3	284^th of 557 public elementary schools	49.0%	26	72.1	75.9			85.3	74.1				$15,022	$900	$14,122
Collins-Maxwell Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	416 Fourth Avenue	Collins	50055	Story County	Collins-Maxwell Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 385-2446	182	17	10.9	41.2%	169 (92.9%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.7%)	80.1	74^th of 576 public elementary schools	87.2%		72.5	130^th of 557 public elementary schools	76.7%	56	46.2	89.7	97.0		69.2	86.2	90.9		90.9	$14,450	$518	$13,932
Emerson Hough Elementary School	Public	K-4	700 N 4th Ave East	Newton	50208	Jasper County	Newton Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 792-3982	336	27	12.2	57.1%	251 (74.7%)	14 (4.2%)	37 (11.0%)	4 (1.2%)	3 (0.9%)	3 (0.9%)	24 (7.1%)	37.1	421^st of 576 public elementary schools	26.9%		45.7	357^th of 557 public elementary schools	35.9%	64	69.4	71.2			69.4	62.1				$16,675	$1,246	$15,429
Woodrow Wilson Elementary School	Public	K-4	801 S 8th Ave West	Newton	50208	Jasper County	Newton Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 792-7311	306	20	15.4	57.5%	241 (78.8%)	7 (2.3%)	25 (8.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	31 (10.1%)	58.2	275^th of 576 public elementary schools	52.3%		61.1	237^th of 557 public elementary schools	57.5%	38	75.8	75.5			82.3	69.8				$14,588	$415	$14,173
Colfax-Mingo Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	20 West Broadway	Colfax	50054	Jasper County	Colfax-Mingo Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 674-3465	399	30	13.2	42.9%	351 (88.0%)	4 (1.0%)	30 (7.5%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	10 (2.5%)	51.3	321^st of 576 public elementary schools	44.3%		49.2	336^th of 557 public elementary schools	39.7%	15	65.2	80.9	74.5	64.0	87.0	80.9	70.6	68.0	59.6	$10,304	$451	$9,854
East Marshall Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	201 E Weissenberger	Laurel	50141	Marshall County	East Marshall Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 476-3342	242	20	12.1	45.5%	209 (86.4%)	1 (0.4%)	27 (11.2%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	44.1	376^th of 576 public elementary schools	34.7%		50.8	322^nd of 557 public elementary schools	42.2%	54	64.7	73.5	73.8		73.5	75.5	61.9		54.8	$12,045	$693	$11,353
West Marshall Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	207 3rd St SW	State Center	50247	Marshall County	West Marshall Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 483-2671	412	29	14.3	33.3%	369 (89.6%)	1 (0.2%)	26 (6.3%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.7%)	69.1	181^st of 576 public elementary schools	68.6%		68.6	177^th of 557 public elementary schools	68.2%	4	81.8	80.3	77.8		90.9	74.2	77.8		70.4	$10,443	$372	$10,072
Mitchellville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	308 Elm Ave NW	Mitchellville	50169	Polk County	Southeast Polk Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 967-4274	255	19	13.4	31.0%	227 (89.0%)	4 (1.6%)	8 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.5%)	90.9	14^th of 576 public elementary schools	97.6%		86.9	27^th of 557 public elementary schools	95.2%	13	82.1	93.8	97.3		89.7	93.8	97.3		91.9	$16,832	$385	$16,447
Prairie City Elementary School	Public	3-5	309 East Plainsmen Road	Prairie City	50228	Jasper County	PCM Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 994-8222	240	17	14.1	27.5%	221 (92.1%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.6%)	3 (1.3%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.3%)	50.6	326^th of 576 public elementary schools	43.4%		65.8	192^nd of 557 public elementary schools	65.5%	134	72.9	73.7	69.0		81.4	73.7	60.6		66.2	$14,507	$597	$13,910

Frequently Asked Questions about Baxter Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Baxter Elementary School?

Students at Baxter Elementary School are 92% White, 4% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Baxter Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Baxter Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Baxter High School

How many students attend Baxter Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 209 students attended Baxter Elementary School.

Is Baxter Elementary School a good school?

Baxter Elementary School ranks 154^th of 576 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Baxter Elementary School in?

Baxter Community School District

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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.