The top reported proficiency rate is 80% in Math. The lowest is 74% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on John Kennedy Elementary School
John Kennedy Elementary School serves Pre-K through fifth grade in the Dubuque Community School District, operating as a regular public elementary school in a mid-sized Mississippi River city that functions as a regional hub for industry, health care, and culture. The school sits within Dubuque’s residential fabric, near the bluffs that define the city’s topography, and draws its students from the surrounding neighborhood.
Academically, the school posts strong results on the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress. In the most recent testing year, math proficiency reached a level well above the midpoint among districts in Dubuque County, and reading and language arts proficiency also came in comfortably above that same midpoint. Science results, which in an elementary school typically reflect only the grade cohort tested, were similarly solid. Participation rates were very high, indicating broad student engagement with the assessments. Because the school only has one year of testing data in the current format, no trend is yet available, but the single-year picture points to a consistently strong academic floor.
The student body is substantially white, with smaller shares of students who identify as Hispanic, Black, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, or two or more races. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that is moderate for a public elementary school and reflects the neighborhood’s mixed-income character. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not reported in the available records, so a parent interested in those specific supports may wish to ask the school directly.
Dubuque itself has undergone sustained economic and downtown revitalization since the 1990s, anchored by the Port of Dubuque riverfront redevelopment and a diversifying economy that now includes health care, publishing, financial services, and tourism alongside a historic manufacturing base anchored by employers like John Deere. Housing values in the ZIP code serving this school are above the statewide median, and the local rental market reflects a similar premium. The city’s hilly Driftless Area setting means that neighborhoods vary in walkability; downtown and the riverfront offer more pedestrian-friendly streets, while many residential areas remain auto-dependent.
The Dubuque Community School District has several recent developments that may matter to families considering this school. Voters approved a bond referendum in late 2024 that funds facility upgrades across the district, including HVAC, security, classroom additions, and accessibility improvements, with construction expected through 2027. The district has also been implementing Standards-Based Learning, a shift from traditional letter grades to a model that measures students against specific learning standards. This change began in elementary schools a few years ago and has since expanded to middle and high schools, so a parent at Kennedy will encounter this approach to assessment and reporting. Additionally, the district now offers a full-time online school option for grades six through twelve, though that does not directly affect the elementary grades.
Overall, John Kennedy Elementary presents as a school where academic proficiency is a clear strength, set in a stable, mid-sized city with a diversified local economy and a district that is investing in its facilities and evolving its instructional model. The school’s demographic profile is less diverse than the national average, and the lack of certain specialized program data means that families with specific needs—whether for gifted services, special education, or English learner support—should follow up directly with the school to confirm what is available. For a family looking for a neighborhood elementary school with above-average test results in a community that has invested heavily in its quality of life, Kennedy is a solid option within Dubuque’s public school landscape.
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