The top reported proficiency rate is 81% in Math. The lowest is 65% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Crestwood Elementary School
Crestwood Elementary School in Cresco, Iowa, serves students from kindergarten through sixth grade. It is a regular public school in the Howard-Winneshiek Community School District, a rural district that covers the county seat and its surrounding area. The school has a mid-sized enrollment for a K-6 building, with a sizable share of those students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.
The student body is predominantly white, with a modest Hispanic presence and very small numbers of students from other racial or ethnic backgrounds. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, a gap that may affect how a family reads the school’s support structure.
Crestwood Elementary has strong academic performance on the state assessments. In math, a large majority of students scored at or above the proficiency threshold. In English language arts, the share was also high. The school’s combined performance across these subjects places it above the midpoint when compared with other districts in Howard County. Science results, drawn from a separate testing cycle, show a clear majority of students reaching proficiency, though the proportion was lower than in math and reading. A parent may want to ask the school about trends in science instruction.
Only one year of assessment data is available for the current test, so no trend line can be drawn. The participation rate was high, which gives confidence that the results reflect the student body as a whole.
Crestwood’s environment is shaped by Cresco itself. The town is a small rural county seat in northeast Iowa, with a traditional courthouse square downtown and a mix of residential neighborhoods and agricultural land beyond. The biggest private employer is Featherlite Trailers, a trailer manufacturer headquartered in the city. The community markets itself around outdoor recreation: there is a paved rail trail running to nearby towns, a park at the center of town featuring a restored locomotive, and a county fair each June. The population has been essentially flat for years, and no major housing or commercial development is evident from public records. Housing costs in the area are modest compared to state and national benchmarks, and the typical mortgage payment on a median-priced home is relatively low, though homebuyers should look into the specific local market and property tax structure.
The district itself has undergone no major public changes that appear in recent reports. A family moving into the area can expect a stable local school system without a recent disruption of boundaries, leadership transitions, or program overhauls.
For a family that wants a straightforward elementary school in a small, stable town with solid math and reading results and a largely homogeneous student body, Crestwood Elementary is a sensible option. The school’s testing data suggests a capable core of instruction. The lower science performance is worth a conversation with the principal or a classroom teacher. The missing information on special education and English learner support is a genuine blind spot. For families whose children need those services, a direct inquiry with the school should come before any decision is made. The town’s quiet growth profile and modest housing costs suit a household looking for affordability and continuity rather than rapid change or dense urban amenities.
See more original research from School Decision →