Ballard Comm School District, IA

Original Research by School Decision on Ballard Comm School District

Ballard Comm School District serves the communities of Cambridge, Huxley, Kelley, and Slater, along with parts of the surrounding area in Story County, Iowa. It is a unified district covering preschool through twelfth grade, and its enrollment is spread across four neighborhood schools: Ballard East Elementary, Ballard West Elementary, Ballard Middle School, and Ballard High School.

The district’s state testing results, from the ISASP for grades three through eight, show a student body that is performing well in core subjects. In math, the rate of students scoring proficient or above placed the district above the midpoint among Story County’s districts. The proficiency rate in English language arts was solid as well. Science results for that grade band similarly reflected a strong academic foundation, with a substantial majority of students meeting the state's proficiency standards. The district’s overall proficiency index, which averages these subjects together, also landed above the midpoint when compared to the other five districts in Story County.

The student population is predominantly white, with a small share of students identified as Hispanic, and even smaller shares for other racial and ethnic groups. Data on the share of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch was not available, nor were figures on students with disabilities or English learners, so a parent may want to ask the district directly about the range of student support services and how they are allocated. Chronic absenteeism was reported at a rate that fell above the midpoint among county districts. This is an area a parent may want to explore further with the school to understand the context.

Ballard’s per-pupil spending sits in the lower range among Story County’s districts. The district’s size, roughly a medium-sized enrollment for a PK-12 entity in the county, means that class sizes and resource allocation are likely manageable, though the lower spending figure is something a family might inquire about when considering the depth of arts, athletics, and elective offerings at the high school level. The district’s course access and program data were not provided, so a full picture of available pathways, such as Advanced Placement, dual credit, or career and technical education, is not available here.

The housing market in the district’s attendance area reflects a range of options. Home values vary across the different zip codes, with higher values in some parts of Huxley and Kelley and more modest values in others. Rents are available but the data on rental prices is partial, covering only a few zip codes within the district. Compared to the national median home value, Ballard-area homes are moderately priced, and compared to the Iowa state benchmark, they are above the state’s average. The estimated monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home runs higher than the typical rent, which is common in many markets right now. Families moving into the district should expect a suburban and small-town housing environment, with Ames and Polk City offering additional options at the edges of the district’s coverage area.

Overall, Ballard Comm School District presents as a solid academic option within Story County, with state test results that are above the middle of the pack. Its relatively homogeneous student body and lower spending profile are factual characteristics, not judgments. A family considering Ballard will want to confirm that its course and extracurricular offerings match their student’s interests, but the core academic picture is one of consistent, above-average performance.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

1,960

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 5%

Black 1%

White 91%

Asian 0%

Two+ 2%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

52%

72%

Gr 4

71%

78%

Gr 5

55%

79%

Gr 6

68%

92%

Gr 7

82%

90%

Gr 8

82%

83%

Gr 38

67%

82%

Math

Gr 3

78%

87%

Gr 4

77%

84%

Gr 5

66%

90%

Gr 6

68%

94%

Gr 7

82%

93%

Gr 8

77%

84%

Gr 38

74%

89%

Science

Gr 5

55%

70%

Gr 8

77%

84%

Gr 38

63%

77%

Schools in this District

4 schools are officially reported under this district.

Ballard High School

Ballard Middle School

Ballard West Elementary

Ballard East Elementary

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

1 grade reported

86%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

80%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

75%

Grades 3-8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$323,760

Year-over-year change+1.9%

Range across 8 ZIP codes$288K to $428K

vs. state typical1.38x

vs. national typical0.88x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (8 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
50046	Cambridge	$324K	-0.4%	29.6%
50134	Kelley	$343K	+3.7%	21.1%
50124	Huxley	$346K	+1.6%	20.2%
50244	Slater	$293K	+1.3%	11.7%
50156	Madrid	$288K	+6.5%	8.4%
50010	Ames	$294K	+2.6%	7.6%
50014	Ames	$313K	+3.1%	1.2%
50226	Polk City	$428K	+0.6%	0.3%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,060/mo

Year-over-year change+2.9%

Range across 4 ZIP codes$1,045 to $1,620/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (4 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
50124	Huxley	$1,050	—	20.2%
50010	Ames	$1,069	+2.9%	7.6%
50014	Ames	$1,045	+3.4%	1.2%
50226	Polk City	$1,620	—	0.3%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,634/mo

Home price / national median income3.9x

Annual rent / national median income15.2%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$574/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$234,891 (+3.9% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.