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Dexter Elementary School

Q: Is Dexter Elementary School a good school?

Dexter Elementary School ranks 276 th of 576 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 3-5

276^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 576 Iowa Elementary Schools

Better than 52% of Iowa elementary schools

Summary

Dexter Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades 3-5 in the West Central Valley Community School District in Dexter, Iowa. With 181 students, the school has seen fluctuations in its statewide ranking, currently standing at 276th out of 576 Iowa elementary schools with a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Dexter Elementary consistently outperforms the state average in ISASP (Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress) test scores for English Language Arts and Mathematics across grades 3-5. For example, in 2024-2025, 83.3% of 4th graders at Dexter were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 76% statewide. However, the school has relatively high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 21.6% to 25% in recent years, which is higher than the state average and the nearby West Central Valley Community School District schools, such as Stuart Elementary (21.6% in 2023-2024).

Dexter Elementary also has a higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 38.67% to 48.92% in recent years, compared to the nearby West Central Valley Community School District schools. Additionally, the school spends $13,118 per student, which is higher than the nearby Stuart Elementary ($11,381 per student) and the state average. These factors suggest that Dexter Elementary may serve a more economically disadvantaged population, which could be a contributing factor to the school's performance and attendance challenges.

186

Students ?

13.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,118

Per pupil spending ?

43.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

803 Washington Street
Dexter, IA 50070

(515) 789-4480

District: West Central Valley Community School District

Students who attend Dexter Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	West Central Valley Middle School
High:	West Central Valley High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

89.2%

Hispanic:

4.8%

Two or more races:

3.8%

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At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 100th percentile in 2014 → 52nd in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the Iowa median (52nd percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 100th-percentile peak (2014) to 52nd (2025)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school74%

District avg74%

Iowa avg71%

276^th of 576

Iowa public elementary schools ?

Top 48%▼ down 24 pts since 2015

From top 24% (2015) to top 48% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Iowa Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

178^th of 313West Central Valley 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	58.1	276 of 576	52.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	40.2	405 of 603	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2016	74.0	130 of 599	78.3%	★★★★☆
2015	72.8	146 of 616	76.3%	★★★★☆
2014	90.6	2 of 603	99.7%	★★★★★
2013	67.0	188 of 624	69.9%	★★★★☆
2012	42.8	434 of 626	30.7%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Iowa (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics75%~ state avg

English Language Arts73%~ state avg

Science72%+8 vs state

★

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Schools Near Dexter Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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 Mathematics 3rd Grade	ISASP Mathematics 4th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 5th Grade	ISASP Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Dexter Elementary School	Public	3-5	803 Washington Street	Dexter	50070	Dallas County	West Central Valley Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 789-4480	186	14	13.3	43.5%	166 (89.2%)	3 (1.6%)	9 (4.8%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (3.8%)	58.1	276^th of 576 public elementary schools	52.1%					(n/a)	71.4	83.3	63.9	83.9	77.3	65.6	72.1	$13,118	$1,177	$11,941
Stuart Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	320 N.E. 3rd St	Stuart	50250	Guthrie County	West Central Valley Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 523-1018	211	16	13.2	37.4%	186 (88.2%)	2 (0.9%)	19 (9.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.4%)								(n/a)								$11,381	$1,104	$10,277
Earlham Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	535 N Chestnut Ave	Earlham	50072	Madison County	Earlham Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 758-2213	328	27	12.1	20.1%	312 (95.1%)	2 (0.6%)	7 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.5%)	82.8	49^th of 576 public elementary schools	91.5%		77.7	85^th of 557 public elementary schools	84.7%	36	76.6	90.9	82.6	91.5	92.7	91.3	71.7	$12,602	$589	$12,013
Meadow View Elementary	Public	2-4	1300 S. 15th Street	Adel	50003	Dallas County	Adel DeSoto Minburn Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 993-4283	520	40	13.0	19.6%	467 (89.8%)	6 (1.2%)	29 (5.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.3%)	78.2	93^rd of 576 public elementary schools	83.9%		76.4	99^th of 557 public elementary schools	82.2%	6	79.9	87.0		85.4	85.3
Adel Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-1	1608 Grove St.	Adel	50003	Dallas County	Adel DeSoto Minburn Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 993-4285	403	31	12.9	16.1%	364 (90.3%)	6 (1.5%)	20 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.0%)								(n/a)								$11,491	$454	$11,038
Van Meter Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	520 1st Ave	Van Meter	50261	Dallas County	Van Meter Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 996-2221	578	35	16.4	8.1%	538 (93.1%)	2 (0.3%)	14 (2.4%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (3.6%)	91.3	11^th of 576 public elementary schools	98.1%		86.9	28^th of 557 public elementary schools	95.0%	17	93.2	94.5	89.5	98.9	89.0	89.7	87.4	$11,667	$403	$11,263
Panorama Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	401 Panther Drive	Panora	50216	Guthrie County	Panorama Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 755-2021	306	24	13.0	31.7%	287 (93.8%)	2 (0.7%)	9 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.6%)	41.3	395^th of 576 public elementary schools	31.4%		38.9	395^th of 557 public elementary schools	29.1%		60.4	69.8	57.8	75.5	81.4	66.7	60.0	$13,546	$512	$13,034
Winterset Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-3	404 S 2nd Ave	Winterset	50273	Madison County	Winterset Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 462-1551	488	33	14.8	32.8%	444 (91.0%)	1 (0.2%)	22 (4.5%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (3.7%)								(n/a)	66.7			78.4				$13,297	$684	$12,613
Dallas Center Elementary	Public	K-4	1205 13th St	Dallas Center	50063	Dallas County	Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 992-3838	169	15	11.6	23.7%	158 (93.5%)	2 (1.2%)	6 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.8%)	86.6	30^th of 576 public elementary schools	94.8%		72.6	129^th of 557 public elementary schools	76.8%	99	84.2	93.5		97.4	84.8			$13,581	$653	$12,928
Sugar Creek Elementary School	Public	K-5	965 Ashworth RD	Waukee	59263	Dallas County	Waukee Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(515) 987-5160	630	37	16.9	18.6%	424 (67.3%)	52 (8.3%)	45 (7.1%)	72 (11.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (5.7%)	74	128^th of 576 public elementary schools	77.8%		73.8	120^th of 557 public elementary schools	78.5%	8	82.0	86.0	72.5	87.0	86.0	86.3	66.7

Frequently Asked Questions about Dexter Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Dexter Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : West Central Valley Middle School
High : West Central Valley High School

How many students attend Dexter Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 186 students attended Dexter Elementary School.

What district is Dexter Elementary School in?

West Central Valley Community School District

What is the racial makeup of Dexter Elementary School?

Students at Dexter Elementary School are 89% White, 5% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 2% African American.

Is Dexter Elementary School a good school?

Dexter Elementary School ranks 276^th of 576 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Dexter Elementary School!

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Latest Iowa data All new data »

2024–25 graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 ISASP test scoresAug 20, 2025

2023–24 graduation ratesApr 1, 2025

2017–18 through 2023–24 attendance dataNov 15, 2024

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.