The top reported proficiency rate is 85% in English language arts. The lowest is 74% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Brooklyn-guernsey-malcom Elementary School
Brooklyn-Guernsey-Malcom Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in Brooklyn, Iowa, as part of the BGM Community School District. The district is a primarily rural, single-building campus that houses all grades pre-K through twelve, a structure that gives the elementary school a direct connection to the older grades and shared facilities. Recent public reporting shows the district completed a major addition to the building, including new secondary classrooms, an auditorium, a practice gym, and a weight room, which also benefits the elementary portion of the school by expanding the overall campus space.
The town of Brooklyn is a small, compact rural community set just north of Interstate 80 in Poweshiek County. It brands itself as the Community of Flags, anchored by a hilltop display of all fifty state flags and an oversized American flag near the Brooklyn Museum. The downtown includes a community-run Flag Store with antique and craft vendors. The population has seen modest growth over the past two decades, and the housing stock has low vacancy rates. The area is primarily residential with a small commercial core, and the school campus sits somewhat apart from the downtown center. The town has a medical clinic, and the nearest hospital is in Grinnell.
The student body at the elementary school is large enough to fill multiple sections per grade, with enrollment distributed fairly evenly from kindergarten through sixth grade and a pre-kindergarten program. The student population is predominantly white, with a small share of Hispanic students and very small numbers of Black and multiracial students. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a notable but not dominant share. Data on students with individualized education plans and English learners was not available.
State assessment results from the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress, which covers grades three through six, show the school performing solidly. On the English language arts test, a strong majority of students met or exceeded the proficiency standard. Math proficiency was also at a level a parent would find reassuring, though a bit below the ELA figure. Science, tested only in a single grade within this span, also showed a clear majority of students scoring proficient. Participation in testing was complete, with every enrolled student taking the exams. In a comparison of results among the three school districts in Poweshiek County, the school's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades falls near the middle of the group, just below the county median.
Because the school serves only through sixth grade, there is no graduation rate to report here; that metric would apply to the district's high school program housed in the same building. The school environment data, including chronic absenteeism and discipline statistics, was not available for this report. Course access and staffing information were also absent, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about class sizes and enrichment opportunities.
For a family living in Brooklyn, Guernsey, or Malcom, this is the local public elementary school that feeds directly into the district's secondary grades under the same roof. It offers a full pre-K program, a tested academic record that is solid relative to the immediate county, and a recently expanded building that serves the whole district. The community itself is small, rural, and slow-growing, with a strong civic identity centered on the flag display and a handful of local institutions. Families looking for a larger set of school choices or a more urban environment would not find that here, but those who value a single, community-anchored campus with consistent test participation and performance around the county average may find it a straightforward fit. Any parent considering the school should confirm current details on special education services and English learner support, as those data points are missing from the available records.
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