The top reported proficiency rate is 80% in Math. The lowest is 55% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Gladbrook-reinbeck Elementary School
Gladbrook-Reinbeck Elementary School serves students from prekindergarten through sixth grade in Reinbeck, a small rural town in Grundy County, Iowa. It is a regular public school within the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District and is one of the schools that serves the community’s children through elementary years.
Academically, the school’s most recent state assessment results (ISASP) show that a large majority of students met state proficiency benchmarks in math and English language arts. In science, a smaller share of students scored at the proficient level, roughly half. The school’s overall proficiency across all tested subjects sits in the bottom quartile when compared to other elementary schools within the county. That said, the comparison set is small—only three other districts—and the school is an elementary-only campus, so the measure captures a narrower grade band. The district has not reported multi-year trends, so it is not possible to see whether performance is improving or declining over time. Participation rates on the assessments were very high, which means the results reflect the full tested population.
The student body is predominantly white, with very small shares of Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that signals a moderate level of economic need but not a high-poverty environment. Information on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the data provided. The school enrolls a modest number of students for its grade band, and class sizes appear manageable.
Reinbeck itself is a compact, stable rural community. The town has maintained a working Main Street with locally owned businesses—grocery, pharmacy, hardware, restaurants, and professional offices—and the primary industry is farming. The population saw a decline in the most recent census but has shown a slight rebound in later estimates. Home values in the area are below both state and national medians, which is typical for much of rural Iowa. The town offers parks, an aquatic center, a Carnegie library, and its own municipal fiber-optic network, amenities that are notable for a community of this size. A large daycare facility was added in recent years to help support school enrollment.
There were no recent district-level changes reported in the research that are likely to affect day-to-day operations at the elementary level. The school is integrated into the town’s fabric, with elementary and high school buildings located within the community rather than on a separate campus.
For a family considering this school, the academic picture is one of solid foundational performance in reading and math, with a softer spot in science. The school is small, the community is tight-knit, and housing is relatively affordable. Parents who value a rural setting where the school is woven into the town’s daily life will find that here. Those concerned about the comparatively lower science results or the absence of trend data may want to follow up with the district on how the school approaches science instruction and what supports are in place.
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