The top reported proficiency rate is 79% in Math. The lowest is 55% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Mark Twain Elementary School
Mark Twain Elementary School is a regular public school in Bettendorf, Iowa, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It sits within the Bettendorf Community School District, a system that covers central, northern, and western parts of this Quad Cities suburb. Bettendorf itself is a predominantly residential city with a commercial and industrial riverfront along the Mississippi River, shaped by manufacturing history and recent infrastructure investment, including a major bridge project that has spurred downtown redevelopment. The city has seen steady population growth, and the housing market here is more expensive than the typical Iowa home but remains below the national median, a factor that matters to families considering relocation.
On state assessments, the school’s performance pattern is mixed. A strong majority of students met proficiency benchmarks in math, and nearly as many participated in testing. In reading and English language arts, a smaller majority reached proficiency, while results in science were lower, with just over half of tested students scoring at the proficient level. These are the only test results available for this school; because it serves only elementary grades, there is no high school graduation rate or advanced coursework to report, and data on chronic absenteeism and special education or English learner populations were not included in the available records. A parent may want to ask the school directly about how it supports students who are not yet reaching proficiency, particularly in science and reading.
When compared to other districts within Scott County, Mark Twain’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits below the midpoint of the group. The county comparison set includes several districts, so this places the school on the lower side of a range that spans lower-performing and higher-performing neighbors. This is a meaningful piece of context for families weighing options within the county.
The student body is diverse in its composition. White students make up the majority, while students who are Hispanic or Black each account for a notable share, and a smaller portion identify as two or more races. About half of the students come from households with incomes low enough to qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a share that reflects a substantial economic range within the school community. The enrollment itself is moderate for an elementary school of this grade span, with classes across kindergarten through fifth grade and a pre-kindergarten program that adds to the mix.
Programmatic offerings and specific academic pathways are not described in the available data, so it is not possible to speak to enrichment or specialized curricula here. The lack of such information may simply mean it was not compiled in the source, not that the school lacks them. Similarly, civil rights topics such as discipline patterns and staffing ratios were absent from the record.
For a parent or resident, Mark Twain Elementary presents as a neighborhood school set in a growing suburban city with a solid industrial and commercial base. Its math results stand out as a strength, while reading and science outcomes suggest room for growth. The overall proficiency picture, relative to other districts in the county, is on the lower side, which a family considering this school may wish to investigate further with the school itself. The community context offers a stable housing market and a city that has invested in its downtown and infrastructure. The school serves a diverse and economically mixed student population, typical of a public elementary school in a mid-sized metropolitan area.
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