The top reported proficiency rate is 76% in Math. The lowest is 64% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Kluckhohn Elementary School
Kluckhohn Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Le Mars, a city that sits as the seat of Plymouth County and anchors itself around the Wells Enterprises ice cream manufacturing complex. Le Mars is part of the Sioux City metropolitan area, and its civic life is centered on a traditional downtown with the county courthouse, a public library, and the Wells Visitor Center and Ice Cream Parlor, a major tourist draw. The dominant employer is Wells Enterprises, acquired by Ferrero in 2022, and the town's character is a blend of industrial manufacturing and small-city residential neighborhoods.
Kluckhohn itself is a regular public elementary school within the Le Mars Community School District. The student body is predominantly white, with a modest share of Hispanic and Black students, and a substantial share of students—roughly a third—qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. That poverty rate, while not extremely high, is a meaningful factor in understanding the school’s context. The school enrolls a fairly typical number of students for a K-5 building in a small city, with balanced class sizes across the grades.
State testing data from the 2024-25 school year provides a clear picture of academic performance. On the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress, Kluckhohn posted solid proficiency rates in math and English language arts, with a somewhat lower rate in science. When placed against other districts in Plymouth County, the school’s combined proficiency across subjects falls in the bottom quartile. That means that while a majority of students meet state standards in core subjects, the school is not at the top of the county pack. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand how the school supports students who are not yet proficient, particularly in science, where the rate is notably lower than in math and reading.
Because this is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report, and chronic absenteeism data was not available in the provided records. Similarly, no information on program offerings, staffing ratios, or discipline was included. The district brief turned up no recent major changes or initiatives of public note, so the school’s current operations appear stable without any announced shifts.
The larger community context matters for families considering Kluckhohn. Housing values in the area are moderately priced relative to national averages, and the local economy is dominated by a single large employer, which can provide stability but also concentration risk. Le Mars has a walkable downtown and annual events like Ice Cream Days, but public transit options are absent, so car dependence is the norm. The school’s location on Central Avenue SE places it within the residential fabric of the city, likely a short drive from most homes.
Overall, Kluckhohn Elementary is a conventional neighborhood school with decent—though not top-tier—state test results. It serves a largely white, middle-to-working-class community in a town whose identity is tied closely to its ice cream industry. Families who value a stable, small-city environment with a manageable school size and grades K-5 under one roof will find a familiar setting. Those looking for unusually high academic rankings or specialized programs will need to assess whether the school’s current proficiency profile and lack of publicly available enrichment offerings meet their expectations. The data does not suggest any red flags, but it also does not suggest standout distinction within Plymouth County.
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