The top reported proficiency rate is 63% in English language arts. The lowest is 58% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Sudlow Intermediate
Sudlow Intermediate is a public middle school in the Davenport Community School District, serving only seventh and eighth graders. It sits in the central part of Davenport, a mid-sized Mississippi River city that was once a manufacturing center but has seen its industrial base shrink and its population hold flat for decades. The school draws from the surrounding residential neighborhoods and is one of several middle schools in the district.
On state assessments—the Iowa ISASP—a majority of Sudlow students scored at or above the proficiency bar in both reading and math. Across all tested subjects, the share of students meeting that standard sat in the high fifties to low sixties. That overall performance, when combined into a single proficiency index, places this school below the midpoint among the districts in Scott County. In other words, while a clear majority of Sudlow students reach the state’s proficiency threshold, the school’s results trail those of several neighboring districts. Science results followed a similar pattern. Because this is a two-year middle school with only a single year of test data in the available records, there is no multi-year trend to assess whether performance has been improving or slipping.
The student body is moderately sized for a middle school and is racially and economically diverse. Just over half the students come from households that qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a sign of the economic realities many families in the area face. White students make up the largest single group, but the school also enrolls a substantial share of Black and Hispanic students, along with a meaningful number of students who identify as two or more races. Counts of students with disabilities and English learners were not available in the data, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those populations and the supports in place.
Housing in the Davenport area is moderately priced relative to national and state benchmarks, with typical home values well below the state median. Rents are also lower than national averages, making the city a relatively affordable option for families. The city itself offers a mix of riverfront parks, cultural institutions such as the Figge Art Museum, and annual festivals; the downtown and the Village of East Davenport provide walkable pockets, but most of the city is car-dependent. The school’s district-level context shows no major recent changes in curriculum, boundaries, or funding that were publicly reported in the available search.
The school’s program offerings were not detailed in the data—no information on electives, music, sports, or advanced coursework was provided. For a middle school that feeds into a high school, a parent may want to explore what academic pathways or enrichment opportunities are available, especially since the school’s test scores do not place it among the strongest in the county. There is no graduation rate to consider because Sudlow ends at eighth grade, and no chronic absenteeism or discipline data were reported.
Sudlow Intermediate sits in a district and city with a stable population and moderate costs. Its academic results are mixed: most students meet the state’s proficiency bar, but the school’s overall standing is below many of its county peers. The large share of low-income students suggests a range of needs, and a family would do well to learn more about the specific programs and support services the school offers.
See more original research from School Decision →