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Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 50201

Coming soon: We're expecting this year's test scores from the Iowa Department of Education any day now — new rankings will be posted the moment they're released!

Coming soon: This year's test scores are expected from the Iowa Department of Education any day now — new rankings will follow the moment they're released!

At a glance

School

632

Students

5-star school

Top rankedCentral Elementary School22^nd of 576 Iowa elementary schools

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Biggest riser

Central Elementary School up 102 spots statewide this year

See the top-ranked Iowa schools →

Summary:

The 50201 zip code area is home to a single outstanding elementary school, Central Elementary School, which serves 646 students from the Nevada Community School District. This school has consistently earned a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating exceptional academic performance and a strong educational program.

Central Elementary School's test scores are significantly above the state averages, particularly in mathematics, with over 94% of 3rd graders scoring proficient or better in the 2024-2025 school year, compared to the state average of 75.8%. The school's chronic absenteeism rate of 21.6% in 2023-2024 is slightly higher than the state's target of 10%, but still lower than the district average. Additionally, the school's per-student spending of $11,518 in 2018-2019 is higher than the national average, suggesting a strong investment in the school's resources.

Overall, Central Elementary School stands out as a high-performing institution that is effectively serving the educational needs of its diverse student population, with over one-third of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The school's consistent academic achievements, particularly in mathematics, and its investment in resources make it a standout elementary school in the 50201 zip code area.

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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)		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 (2025)	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 Mathematics 3rd Grade	ISASP Mathematics 4th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	925 H Ave	Nevada	50201	Story County	Nevada Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 382-2383	632	46	13.7	40.5%	515 (81.5%)	4 (0.6%)	84 (13.3%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (4.4%)	87.4	22^nd of 576 public elementary schools	96.2%		73.1	124^th of 557 public elementary schools	77.7%	102	89.8	86.7	94.3	92.0	$11,518	$1,130	$10,388

Cities Near Zip Code 50201

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Nevada	0.21 mi	3	97^th
Colo	6.89 mi	1	312^th
Ames	7.95 mi	8	199^th
Maxwell	9.25 mi	1	274^th
Cambridge	9.48 mi	1	152^nd

See the top IA Iowa cities

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.