The top reported proficiency rate is 76% in Math. The lowest is 71% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Franklin Elementary School
Franklin Elementary School serves second through fourth graders in Boone, Iowa, as part of the Boone Community School District. Because the school covers only these three intermediate elementary grades, families should expect a focused transition from primary-level learning toward the upper-elementary curriculum that follows. There is no testing data for kindergarten or first grade here, nor is there a graduation rate — both are expected given the grade band and the school’s regular public school classification.
On the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP), Franklin’s students as a whole show strong academic results. In both math and English language arts, a strong majority of tested students perform at or above the state’s proficiency standard. The school’s combined performance across subjects places it above the midpoint relative to the four school districts in Boone County. That suggests Franklin provides a solid academic foundation for children in these grades, with no indication of a pronounced weakness in either subject. The participation rate on the assessments was very high, which adds to the reliability of the results.
The student body is predominantly white, with a modest share of Hispanic students and small numbers of Black, Asian, and multiracial students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a community with a notable segment of lower-income households. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available in the state reporting, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about how those populations are supported.
Franklin is one of several elementary buildings in the district. A recent district-wide change reshaped the elementary landscape: voters passed a referendum in 2021, and the new Ledges Elementary School opened in fall 2023, replacing two older schools and consolidating enrollment across fewer buildings. That shift altered attendance boundaries for many families in Boone and means the district’s elementary network is now more streamlined than in past years.
Boone itself is the county seat, a micropolitan center with a strong railroad heritage and a traditional downtown core. Major employers include Fareway’s business offices, Union Pacific Railroad, Des Moines Area Community College’s local campus, and the county government. The city’s population is essentially flat, with minimal growth in recent years, and median home values in the area are in line with the state average and well below the national median. Rent is similarly moderate relative to the broader housing market, making Boone an affordable place for families compared to many parts of Iowa and the country. The community hosts large annual events such as Pufferbilly Days and the Farm Progress Show, and offers parks and recreational amenities including J.B. McHose Park and nearby Ledges State Park.
No information was available on school discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, staffing ratios, or program offerings such as gifted services or specials, so those aspects are gaps a parent would want to explore during a school visit. The district’s recent elementary consolidation and the stability of Boone’s housing market and population suggest a community that is not growing quickly but is settled, with established institutions and a straightforward elementary school system. For a family looking at second through fourth grade, Franklin Elementary provides a reliable academic experience in a traditional small-city school setting, with performance that sits comfortably among the stronger schools in the county.
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