The top reported proficiency rate is 75% in Math. The lowest is 65% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Erskine Elementary School
Erskine Elementary School is a regular public school in Cedar Rapids serving kindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Cedar Rapids Community School District. The school is situated in the 52403 zip code, a residential area of the city on the southeast side of the Cedar River. Cedar Rapids itself is a mid-sized city that functions as the economic hub of Eastern Iowa, with a strong industrial base centered on grain processing and major employers such as Collins Aerospace, CRST, and Aegon. The metropolitan area has seen steady growth over time, and the city continues to navigate recovery and infrastructure changes following a major flood some years ago. The district has been in a period of active change, having opened several new elementary schools in recent years as part of a facilities master plan while closing or consolidating older buildings and redrawing attendance boundaries. That same district also approved budget reductions for a recent school year, including staff cuts, driven by declining enrollment and state funding that has not kept pace with inflation. For a family considering Erskine, those district-level shifts matter because they affect class sizes, program availability, and which schools feed into the middle and high school pathways.
The student body at Erskine is relatively small for an elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade. A majority of the students are white, with the next largest groups being students who identify as two or more races and Black students. More than half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that a substantial share of families are managing tighter household budgets. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about special education services and language support.
On state assessments, Erskine's results give a mixed picture. In math, a solid majority of students met the proficiency standard, a level that places the school below the midpoint among districts in Linn County. In English language arts, just under two-thirds of students were proficient, also below the county midpoint. Science results were similar to ELA, with roughly the same share of students scoring proficient. The school's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades lands in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Linn County. Participation rates on the tests were very high, so the results reflect nearly all enrolled students. Because the data cover only a single school year, there is no trend to compare against. For a parent, the academic numbers suggest that while many students are meeting grade-level expectations, the school sits lower in the county compared to its neighbors, and a family may want to discuss how the school supports students who are not yet proficient.
Housing in the 52403 zip code is priced modestly relative to national benchmarks, and rents have risen at a notable pace in the recent year. The monthly cost to own a home after a typical down payment is estimated to be slightly higher than the median rent, which is a common pattern. For families moving into the area, this part of Cedar Rapids offers a range of housing options without the extreme premiums seen in some markets.
There is no data on discipline, chronic absenteeism, or staffing at the school, and program offerings beyond the core curriculum were not provided. A parent looking for details on after-school activities, enrichment, or specific instructional models should reach out to the school directly. The district has opened a new high school focused on community-based, experiential learning, which may be relevant down the line for families planning a longer commitment to the area.
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