The top reported proficiency rate is 94% in Science. The lowest is 80% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Bedford Elementary School
Bedford Elementary School is the sole elementary school in the Bedford Community School District, serving students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in the small Taylor County seat of Bedford, Iowa. The town itself is a low‑density rural county seat centered on a traditional courthouse square, with a population that has been gradually declining in recent years. The school sits within this close‑knit community, where civic anchors like the county courthouse, a public library, and Bibbins Park shape daily life. Families here operate in a setting where most destinations are a short drive or walk away, and where the school is one of the central institutions.
On state assessments administered in the 2024‑25 school year, Bedford Elementary recorded strong results. In mathematics, the share of students scoring at the proficient level or above was well into the solid range, and in science it was even higher. English language arts proficiency, while also above the midpoint among tested subjects, came in at a somewhat lower level. Across all three subjects, the school’s composite proficiency index placed it above the midpoint when compared with other districts in Taylor County, a small cohort of two districts. Because this is the only year of data available, there is no trend to report, so it is not yet possible to say whether these results represent a stable pattern or a single high‑water mark. Participation rates on the tests were high, meaning the results reflect nearly all enrolled students.
Enrollment at the school is modest, serving just over two hundred and fifty children across seven grade levels from pre‑kindergarten through fifth grade. The student body is overwhelmingly white, with a very small Hispanic population and a handful of children identifying as two or more races. More than half of the students qualify for free or reduced‑price meals, a rate that signals a substantial share of families with lower household income. Data on students with individualized education plans and English learners were not reported in the available source, so a parent who needs information on special education services or language support would want to follow up directly with the school.
No chronic absenteeism rate, discipline data, or teacher staffing ratios were available for this school. Because it serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to consider. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and no Title I status was listed.
Housing in the Bedford area is notably affordable. Home values are well below both the state and national medians, though they have been rising at a pace that outpaces the national rate. Rents have also been increasing, consistent with broader trends. The local unemployment rate has been stable at a moderate level. For families moving into the area, the combination of low housing costs and a small‑town environment is a practical draw, though the gradual population decline and absence of major new development projects suggest a steady rather than growing local economy.
Bedford Elementary sits in a district where publicly reported information about recent changes or strategic initiatives was thin; the available data showed largely directory‑level details, so a parent interested in curriculum shifts, building improvements, or enrollment projections may find it best to contact the district office directly.
This is a school that delivers strong academic results in a small, rural setting with a low‑poverty indicator by national standards but a notable share of students from lower‑income households. The math and science proficiency rates are strengths, while the ELA result, though solid, is the area where scores dip relative to the school’s own high marks. Families who value a tight‑knit community, an affordable housing market, and a school where nearly all students participate in state testing and where most meet proficiency benchmarks will find Bedford Elementary a grounded fit. Those seeking larger program breadth, ethnic diversity, or detailed reports on student support services should look into what the school offers directly, because those dimensions are not documented here.
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