Diagonal Comm School District, IA

Original Research by School Decision on Diagonal Comm School District

Diagonal Comm School District serves a small, rural community in Ringgold County, Iowa, with a single pre-K through 12th grade campus that in practice operates as two buildings—an elementary school and a combined junior-senior high school. The district enrolls a very small student body, which gives it the feel of a tightly knit school system where most students know one another and staff can offer individualized attention. Nearly all students identify as white, and the district reports no English learners or students receiving special education services in its available data; a parent might want to confirm with the school whether those counts are zero or simply unreported.

Academically, the district performs well on Iowa’s state assessments. Math and English language arts proficiency rates are strong, with a large majority of tested students meeting or exceeding grade-level expectations. Science results are also healthy, though a bit lower than the other two subjects. Because the grades tested are only 3 through 8, the data does not cover high school level performance, and no graduation rate is available in the public record—a gap that can reflect the small high school cohort, but one a family should ask about directly. The district offers no information about advanced coursework, dual credit, or career programs, so it is not possible to gauge the breadth of secondary pathways from the reported data.

The housing market around the district is very affordable by both state and national standards. Home values in the surrounding area are notably lower than the Iowa median, and the monthly mortgage cost for a typical home is modest. This is a part of southern Iowa where the cost of living is low, and the district’s small enrollment suggests a stable but not growing population. No recent district-level changes such as bond measures, boundary shifts, or curriculum overhauls were found in public sources; the only personnel note was a principal resignation, which does not signal a structural shift.

For families considering this district, the core strengths are a safe, close-knit environment and solid academic proficiency in the elementary and middle grades. The trade-off is limited program breadth and the absence of public data on key indicators like free or reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education services, and graduation rates. A parent would want to visit the school and ask about high school course offerings, postsecondary preparation, and support for any student who needs extra help. The district is best suited for those who value a small, rural school where the community is central to daily life and where housing is unusually affordable.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

107

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Black 1%

White 99%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 38

70%

77%

Math

Gr 38

70%

73%

Science

Gr 38

—

80%

Schools in this District

2 schools are officially reported under this district.

Diagonal Elementary School

Diagonal Junior-Senior High School

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

1 grade reported

71%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

74%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

69%

Grades 3-8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$116,256

Year-over-year change+7.5%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$115K to $144K

vs. state typical0.49x

vs. national typical0.32x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
50840	Clearfield	$115K	+7.5%	1.9%
50854	Mount Ayr	$144K	+7.8%	0.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$587/mo

Home price / national median income1.4x

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.