The top reported proficiency rate is 56% in Math. The lowest is 40% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Richard O. Jacobson Elementary School
Richard O. Jacobson Elementary School is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in Belmond, Iowa, part of the Belmond-Klemme Community School District. The school sits in a small, rural city where agriculture, healthcare, and light manufacturing anchor the economy and where recent community investments include a new elementary building, high school renovations, a new hospital, and other civic improvements. The school is relatively new, built as part of that wave of capital projects.
The student body reflects a mix of backgrounds, with a majority of students identified as White and a substantial share identified as Hispanic. Small numbers of Black, American Indian, and multiracial students round out the enrollment. About half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a standard measure of economic need. This composition gives the school a degree of demographic diversity that is notable for a small rural community, though the peer environment is predominantly White and Hispanic.
Academically, the school participates in Iowa’s statewide assessments, the ISASP. In the most recent testing year, math proficiency was higher than English language arts proficiency, with a majority of students meeting the standard in math. In reading, about half of students met the benchmark, while science results, tested only at certain grade levels, were lower. Because only one year of test data was available, there is no trend to report. Overall, when combining all tested subjects, the school’s proficiency index placed it in the bottom quarter among the three districts in Wright County. A parent may want to ask the school about the reading and science results and what specific supports are in place to address those areas.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to consider. Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, and staffing were not available for this report. Families seeking a fuller picture of school climate and daily operations may wish to inquire directly with the school about attendance patterns and behavioral expectations.
Because the school is an elementary campus, its academic program is focused on foundational skills. No data on program offerings such as advanced coursework, specials, or extracurriculars was provided. The school is a feeder to the district’s middle and high school, so families planning for the long term would need to look at those secondary options separately.
The housing market in Belmond is affordable relative to the state as a whole, with home values lower than the Iowa median. The area has seen some population decline over the longer term, but recent infrastructure investment—new municipal buildings, a housing subdivision, and business expansions—suggests a community working to stabilize and attract families.
The district itself had few publicly reported recent changes; a strategic planning initiative launched in fall 2025 but has not yet produced measurable outcomes that a parent could act on.
For a family considering this school, the fit is likely strongest for those who value a small-town setting, a relatively new facility, and a school that is central to a community that has made visible reinvestments in itself. The academic picture is mixed, with math as a relative strength and literacy and science as areas where the school is still working to lift performance. Families with concerns about academic rigor may want to explore the school’s approach to reading instruction and intervention before enrolling.
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