The top reported proficiency rate is 87% in Math. The lowest is 81% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Audubon Elementary School
Audubon Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade in the town of Audubon, a small rural county seat in western Iowa. The town has an agricultural character and has seen a steady population decline over many decades, with a notable share of residents age sixty-five or older. The school is part of the Audubon Community School District, and its building is situated within the traditional grid of the town center, where civic functions including the county courthouse and city hall are also located. The community has a recreation center, a public library, and a few annual events that draw residents together, such as a festival in April and an August event called Operation T-bone.
The student body at this elementary school is almost entirely white, with a very small number of Hispanic students and an even smaller number of students who identify as two or more races. About two-fifths of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that places the school within a typical range for a rural Iowa district serving a town with a declining population base. Enrollment is distributed fairly evenly across the grades, which is consistent with a stable elementary program in a small community.
On state assessments administered through the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress, a large majority of students scored at the proficient level or above in both math and English language arts. The proficiency rate in math was a bit higher than in English language arts, and participation in testing was high. Because the school only has one year of assessment data available in the current format, it is not possible to see a trend over time. The school serves only through fourth grade, so there is no graduation rate to report, and no college readiness or career pathway metrics apply at this level.
The data does not include information on special education services or English learner supports, so it is not clear what share of students receive those services. Similarly, there is no information on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or staffing ratios. A parent who wants to understand the school’s approach to supporting students with disabilities or its climate around attendance and behavior would need to ask the school directly.
Housing in the area is modestly priced compared to the state and national benchmarks. The typical home value in the zip code that serves Audubon is well below the statewide typical value. Monthly mortgage costs, based on current interest rates, are relatively moderate, which may matter to families considering a move to the area.
For a family weighing this school, the picture is of a small, rural elementary building where academic performance on state tests is solid. The student population is racially homogeneous and economically mixed in a way that is typical for the region. The town itself is quiet and has limited commercial activity, with a long-term population decline that may affect the district’s enrollment trajectory. The district did not have any recent parent-relevant changes publicly reported, so the school environment appears stable rather than in transition. This school fits a family looking for a straightforward elementary program in a close-knit, small-town setting where housing is affordable and the community is centered on local institutions rather than rapid growth or new development.
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