The top reported proficiency rate is 82% in Math. The lowest is 76% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Lucia Wallace Elementary School
Lucia Wallace Elementary School is a regular public school in Algona, Iowa, serving only third and fourth graders. It sits within the Algona Community School District and operates as one of the district’s elementary buildings. The enrollment is about the size you would expect for a school covering just two grade levels: large enough for multiple classrooms per grade, but not a sprawling elementary. The school draws from Algona itself and the surrounding rural area, including the community of Lu Verne after a recent district merger.
Algona is a small county-seat community in north-central Iowa, the largest town in Kossuth County. It has a traditional downtown along State Street with retail and restaurants, a grid street pattern, and a mix of older neighborhoods and newer development near the highway. The population has seen a modest decline in recent years, and the housing market reflects a relatively affordable small-town Midwest setting—home values and rents are lower than state and national averages, making the area accessible for many families. Most residents drive to work, which is typical for a community of this density. The town functions as a regional center for healthcare and professional services.
Parents looking at Lucia Wallace should be aware that the school district underwent a notable change in 2023, when the Lu Verne Community School District merged into Algona CSD following voter approval the year before. That consolidation expanded the district’s boundaries and student population, and it may continue to affect class sizes, busing, and building usage. For families in both the former Lu Verne area and Algona proper, the merger is a recent and lasting shift.
Academically, Lucia Wallace’s state testing results come from the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress. Students in third and fourth grade take these assessments, and the school’s performance is positive. In math, a large majority of students meet state proficiency standards. In English language arts, the share is also strong, though slightly lower than math. Participation rates were very high, so the results reflect nearly the entire student body. Because the data covers just one school year, there is no multi-year trend to examine yet. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages math and reading performance, places it above the midpoint relative to the two school districts in Kossuth County. That is a solid showing, though it is not the top of the county.
The student population is predominantly white, with a Hispanic minority making up a modest share and very small numbers of Asian and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. Just over a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that a substantial portion of families have lower household incomes. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported, so families with children who receive those services may want to contact the school directly to learn about supports.
Because Lucia Wallace serves only grades three and four, there is no graduation rate to report and no high school course access data. Chronic absenteeism and discipline data were also missing from the available records. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and its Title I status was not provided. Its grade band means the focus is squarely on core elementary instruction; there are no AP, dual-credit, or career pathways, as those are not relevant at this level.
For a family in the Algona area, Lucia Wallace Elementary offers a straightforward, grade-specific setting with solid academic results in the tested subjects. The community is a small, affordable county seat with a stable if slowly declining population. The district’s recent merger is something to be aware of, as it may continue to shape the school’s enrollment and resources. Parents seeking more detailed information on special education, staffing ratios, or after-school programs will need to follow up with the school or district office, as those areas were not covered in the available data.
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