The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in Math. The lowest is 36% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Cooper Elementary School
Cooper Elementary School is one of several elementary buildings in the Fort Dodge Community School District, serving grades one through five. It is a regular public school within a district that, as of the most recent publicly reported information, restructured its early education model by opening a new dedicated Early Childhood Center in fall 2021, which now houses preschool, transitional kindergarten, and kindergarten students. That means Cooper, which previously may have served kindergarten, now begins at first grade.
The school is located in Fort Dodge, a city that acts as a commercial and industrial hub for north-central Iowa. The local economy is anchored by gypsum mining and manufacturing, veterinary pharmaceuticals, biofuels, trucking, and retail. Major employers include Elanco, National Gypsum, Georgia Pacific, Cargill, UnityPoint Hospital, and the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility. The city's population has been slowly declining over recent decades, and it remains a largely car-dependent community. DART, the local bus system, operates six weekday routes connecting commercial, medical, and educational sites. The Des Moines River runs through town, and downtown features historic architecture that has earned the area the local nickname "Little Chicago."
Cooper Elementary itself was rebuilt and reopened in a new building in a recent fall, following a period when structural issues had closed the original building and relocated the school temporarily. A parent looking at the school should know that the physical facility is a relatively new one.
The student body at Cooper is predominantly white, with Hispanic students and students identifying as two or more races each representing a notable share, and Black students making up a smaller portion. Just under half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a substantial level of economic need within the school community.
On the most recent state assessments administered through the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP), Cooper's results show that in both math and English language arts, somewhat under half of tested students met the state's proficiency standard. The proficiency rate in science was lower, with just over a third of tested students reaching the bar. Compared to other school districts within Webster County, the overall proficiency index for Cooper placed it in the lowest tier among the two districts in the county; a parent may wish to ask the school how it supports students who are not yet at grade level and how it addresses the gap between its proficiency rates and those of other schools nearby.
The school's test participation rates were high, meeting or exceeding the thresholds for valid reporting. Only one year of testing data was available for this profile, so it is not possible to identify a trend direction from the numbers alone.
No data was reported on chronic absenteeism, discipline, course access, staffing ratios, or special education and English learner populations. These are gaps a parent should consider following up on with the school or district.
Housing in the area around Cooper is relatively affordable compared to state and national benchmarks. Home values in the zip code are well below the Iowa median, and rents are also lower. For a family considering a move to this part of Fort Dodge, the cost of entry is moderate.
In terms of what the school offers academically beyond the core subjects, the data did not include information on programs such as art, music, gifted services, or extracurriculars. The district operates several elementary schools, and a parent may want to understand what distinguishes Cooper from its sibling buildings.
Overall, Cooper Elementary is a school with a newly built facility, serving a largely white student body with significant economic diversity, set within a city that is an economic center for the region but has experienced population decline. Its state test results fall meaningfully below the county benchmark, and a parent considering this school would be well served by visiting, talking to the principal about academic support and enrichment, and understanding how the district's early childhood center affects the pipeline into first grade.
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