The top reported proficiency rate is 83% in Math. The lowest is 80% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Carrie Lee Elementary
Carrie Lee Elementary serves third and fourth graders in the Decorah Community School District, a public school that picks up where the district’s primary schools leave off and sends students on to the upper elementary grades and middle school. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and its enrollment is moderate for a two-grade building. The student body is predominantly white, with a notable Hispanic presence, and smaller numbers of Black, Asian, and multiracial students. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, giving the school a modest degree of economic diversity.
State testing results from the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress are strong. In math, a large majority of students met or exceeded the proficiency standard, and in English language arts the share was similarly high. When compared with other districts in Winneshiek County, Carrie Lee’s overall proficiency across tested subjects sits above the midpoint, placing it solidly among the county’s higher-performing schools. Participation rates on the tests were very high, so the results reflect nearly the entire student population. Only one year of data is available in the record, so there is no trend to examine yet.
The school does not serve grades beyond fourth, so there is no graduation rate or high school outcome to report. Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing, and course access were not available in the profile, so a parent may want to follow up with the school to learn more about school climate and teacher experience.
Carrie Lee sits in Decorah, a city that blends college town, county seat, and agricultural center. Luther College gives the community a distinct academic and cultural character, and the downtown retains a strong Norwegian-American heritage visible at the Vesterheim museum and during the annual Nordic Fest. The Driftless Area topography—steep bluffs, rivers, and parks—draws outdoor enthusiasts for hiking, biking, and kayaking, and the walkable downtown core supports a farmers market and a craft beer scene. Major employers include Luther College, county government, Seed Savers Exchange, and the Raptor Resource Project. The housing market reflects the area’s desirability: home values are above the state median, and the 30-year mortgage rate landscape adds context for affordability. The search for current development plans did not surface specifics, so a family looking at the market long-term may want to investigate further.
The Decorah Community School District has made several recent moves that matter for families. Voters approved a bond referendum for a major renovation and expansion of Decorah High School, including classroom upgrades, science lab modernization, and ADA improvements. The district also adopted a new elementary literacy curriculum aligned with the science of reading, a shift in how early reading is taught that will affect students arriving at Carrie Lee. The school district property tax rate has declined steadily over recent years, a cumulative reduction that lowers the cost of living for residents.
For a family considering Carrie Lee, the picture is one of a stable, academically solid elementary school in a community with strong cultural and outdoor assets. The school’s grade span is narrow, so students will transition to other buildings within the district after fourth grade. The strong test results suggest a foundation that prepares students well for the next step. The surrounding town offers a distinctive mix of college campus, Norwegian heritage, and natural recreation, and the district’s recent investments and declining tax rate point to an intentional, forward-looking administration. Parents who value a tight-knit, mid-sized school in a community with an academic anchor and a rich regional identity may find Carrie Lee a natural fit. Those looking for extensive program offerings or data on school climate will want to ask the school directly, as those details were not available in the public record.
See more original research from School Decision →