Louisa-muscatine Comm School District, IA

Original Research by School Decision on Louisa-muscatine Comm School District

The Louisa-Muscatine Comm School District serves a rural section of southeastern Iowa, covering parts of Louisa and Muscatine counties. The district enrolls students from preschool through twelfth grade across two schools: a single elementary school and a combined junior-senior high school. The overall enrollment is moderate for a district of this grade span, and the student body is heavily white, with a Hispanic population that makes up the largest minority group. Information on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are English learners was not available from the data reviewed.

On the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress, the district’s performance in the tested elementary and middle school grades places it above the midpoint among Louisa County’s three districts. In both math and English language arts, the share of students scoring at or above the proficient level was roughly the same, and the district’s overall proficiency index—a combined measure across subjects—falls above the county median but below the highest district in the county. Science results, available for a narrower set of grades, show a slightly lower proficiency rate than for math and English. Participation rates on the assessments were very high, which means the results offer a reliable picture of how students across these grade levels are performing.

The graduation rate for the district was not reported in the data, so a parent or resident would need to check directly with the district for that measure. Chronic absenteeism, however, was reported. The district’s chronic absenteeism rate falls above the midpoint among Louisa County’s districts, meaning a larger share of students are missing a significant number of school days compared to the county’s better-performing peer on this metric. This is an area a family may wish to ask about.

The district’s per-pupil current spending is in the lower range relative to the other districts in the county. This is a straightforward statement of spending position, not a judgment of quality; it reflects how much the district allocates per student from its operating budget, and a parent may want to understand how that funding level translates into class sizes, course offerings, and support services.

The two schools in the district are organized by grade band. The elementary school serves the younger grades, and the junior-senior high school serves grades seven through twelve, so students transition once between buildings. No data was available on course access, such as Advanced Placement, dual-credit, or career and technical education programs. Similarly, no information on staffing ratios, teacher qualifications, or disciplinary metrics was provided. A family with specific interests in advanced coursework, vocational pathways, or school climate would need to follow up with the district.

The housing context in the area shows a range of home values across the seven ZIP codes that contribute to the district, reflecting a mix of small towns and rural properties. The weighted average home value is slightly below the state benchmark for Iowa, and notably below the national median, making the area more affordable than many parts of the country. Rent data is limited, with pricing information available for only one ZIP code in the district, so the rental picture is incomplete. The estimated monthly mortgage payment, based on typical rates, is modest relative to national norms, and the estimated cost of renting is lower than a mortgage for a median-priced home here.

The district brief did not identify any recent curriculum changes, referendum outcomes, property-tax shifts, or major program launches. Available sources provided general profile and fiscal data but no reportable shifts in instruction or funding that would alter a family’s assessment of the district’s current trajectory. For a parent deciding whether this district fits, the key known quantities are solid state test performance relative to the county’s other districts, a spending level that is on the lower side locally, a moderate chronic absenteeism concern, and a setting of small-town and rural communities with below-average housing costs. The gaps in graduation data, program offerings, and support services mean that a thorough call or visit to the district office would be necessary to complete the picture.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

810

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 9%

Black 0%

White 88%

Two+ 2%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

57%

79%

Gr 4

72%

87%

Gr 5

78%

74%

Gr 6

76%

80%

Gr 7

71%

84%

Gr 8

73%

95%

Gr 38

71%

84%

Math

Gr 3

64%

79%

Gr 4

72%

92%

Gr 5

74%

85%

Gr 6

64%

85%

Gr 7

76%

78%

Gr 8

55%

93%

Gr 38

67%

86%

Science

Gr 5

65%

62%

Gr 8

64%

85%

Gr 38

64%

74%

Schools in this District

2 schools are officially reported under this district.

Louisa-Muscatine Elementary

Louisa-Muscatine JR/SR High School

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

1 grade reported

79%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

79%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

70%

Grades 3-8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$227,017

Year-over-year change+8.2%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$156K to $276K

vs. state typical0.97x

vs. national typical0.62x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
52754		$257K	+9.2%	57.7%
52761	Muscatine	$189K	+7.5%	23.4%
52653		$162K	+5.3%	9.3%
52738	Columbus Junction	$188K	+6.7%	7.1%
52749	Fruitland	$276K	+7.0%	1.9%
52752	Grandview	$156K	+5.0%	0.4%
52766	Nichols	$200K	+7.3%	0.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$798/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
52761	Muscatine	$798	—	23.4%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,146/mo

Home price / national median income2.7x

Annual rent / national median income11.4%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$347/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.