The top reported proficiency rate is 79% in English language arts. The lowest is 57% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Andrew Elementary School
Andrew Elementary School is a regular public school serving prekindergarten through sixth grade in the small, historically rooted town of Andrew, Iowa, a community in central Jackson County that has seen a long-term population decline. The school is the sole elementary building for the Andrew Community School District and is integrated into the compact town center, with the school building located on South Marion Street. Because the district does not operate its own high school, students in grades seven and above are served elsewhere, and state testing data reflects only the grades that are present in the building.
Academically, the school posts results that place it favorably among its peers. On the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress, overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits in the top quartile relative to other districts in Jackson County. In reading and English language arts, a strong majority of students met or exceeded the proficiency benchmark. Mathematics results were also solid, with a clear majority of students performing at or above the proficient level. Science results, while still above the county midpoint, were lower than the school’s own marks in math and ELA. A parent may want to ask the school about science instruction to understand how the curriculum there matches what is tested.
The student body is small and predominantly white, with modest racial and ethnic diversity; small populations of Asian, Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students are also enrolled. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a share below the national average. Special education and English learner enrollment counts were not reported in the available data, so families seeking information on those programs should contact the school directly.
The town of Andrew itself is compact, with a population that has trended downward over recent decades. The built environment is a mix of modest residential streets and a few civic buildings, including the city park, the public library housed inside City Hall, and the school. There is no downtown commercial district to speak of, and most residents likely commute to larger towns such as Bellevue or Maquoketa for work. Housing values in the area are well below state and national benchmarks, and the local housing market has seen price increases in the past year, though the overall cost of entry remains low compared to much of Iowa.
No major district-level changes such as property-tax shifts, referendums, or curriculum overhauls were reported in recent public information, and the district brief did not identify any lasting parent-relevant changes. The school does not have a graduation rate, as it does not serve high school grades, and no chronic absenteeism data was available for this analysis.
Andrew Elementary offers a straightforward academic pathway for families in this rural, depopulating community. The test results are solid, the setting is small and integrated into town life, and the housing market is affordable. For families whose children will eventually need a high school, the district’s open-enrollment arrangement with Bellevue or Maquoketa is a key consideration. The school fits a family looking for a small, rural elementary experience with above-average academic outcomes relative to the local area, in a town where the economic and demographic pressures are toward contraction rather than growth.
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