The top reported proficiency rate is 90% in Math. The lowest is 82% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Paul Norton Elementary School
Paul Norton Elementary School, part of the Bettendorf Community School District in Bettendorf, Iowa, serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade. It is a regular public school and is not a charter school nor a magnet school. The school’s enrollment is substantial for an elementary building, with a student body that is predominantly white, and other racial and ethnic groups represented include Hispanic students, students who identify as two or more races, Black students, and Asian students. About one in seven students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that suggests a relatively low level of economic disadvantage among the student population. Data on the percentage of students with individualized education programs (IEPs) and English learners was not available, so a parent may want to follow up with the school directly regarding special education and language support services.
On state assessments, Paul Norton Elementary posted strong results. In math, the proficiency rate was well above the midpoint among elementary schools in Scott County, placing the school in the top quartile relative to other districts in the county. The same was true for English language arts proficiency, with a rate that was similarly high. In science, the tested population is limited to a specific grade level, and the proficiency rate there was also high. The school had a near-perfect participation rate on these tests, which gives confidence that the results reflect the full student body. Because the data provided reflects only a single year of results, trends over time are not available. State testing data is reported for the grades tested in this grade band (third through fifth), and the results come from the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress.
The school’s performance profile describes a school where the vast majority of students are meeting grade-level expectations. The proficiency index, which is the average of all reported subject-area rates, positions Paul Norton Elementary among the highest-performing schools in its county cohort. For a family moving to the area, this suggests a core academic program that is consistently strong.
Bettendorf is a residential suburb of the Quad Cities, sitting on the Mississippi River across from Moline, Illinois. The city has a history tied to industrial manufacturing—the Bettendorf iron wagon factory and ALCOA’s aluminum mill drove early development—but its current character is largely suburban, with a riverfront corridor that includes a casino, convention center, and the Family Museum. The downtown area has undergone redevelopment related to the I-74 Bridge project, which connected Bettendorf to Moline and spurred new commercial and residential construction. Much of the city’s layout is auto-oriented, with suburban street patterns and limited walkability beyond the riverfront node. The population has been on a steady growth trajectory, and housing values in the area are somewhat above the state median, but still below the national average, suggesting a moderately priced market relative to the country as a whole.
This school is not part of a downtown campus; rather, it sits in a residential section of Bettendorf. The Bettendorf Community School District administers five elementary schools, one middle school, and Bettendorf High School, and Paul Norton is one of the elementary options within that system. Because the district brief was not available, there is no sourced information on recent district-level changes, strategic priorities, or capital projects beyond what the city’s own growth narrative provides. The city’s major employers include Arconic (formerly ALCOA), Alter Companies, and the Isle of Capri casino and hotel, along with educational institutions and the school districts themselves. For a family considering the area, the school sits in a community with a stable economic base and a steady growth pattern, though prospective residents will want to gauge the specific neighborhood walkability and commercial access near the school on their own.
Paul Norton Elementary School offers a straightforward fit for a family seeking a academically strong elementary program in a suburban setting with moderate housing costs relative to the nation. The school’s high proficiency rates across core subjects indicate that most students are meeting benchmarks, and the low rate of economic disadvantage suggests a school community with relatively few of the challenges associated with high-poverty settings. The lack of data on special education and English learner populations means that families with specific needs in those areas should inquire directly. The school’s performance is a clear strength, and the broader Bettendorf context provides a stable, growing community with a mix of residential and industrial history.
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