The top reported proficiency rate is 95% in Math. The lowest is 69% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Echo Hill Elementary
Echo Hill Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade as part of the Linn-Mar Community School District in Marion. The school sits within a community where housing values have been on an upward trend, with home prices in the area running above the state median, and rents have also been climbing. The broader economic context shows mortgage rates near historical norms for the period, and the national unemployment rate has remained steady.
The school enrolls roughly five hundred students across grades PK through four. The student body is predominantly white, with a notable Asian population and smaller shares of Hispanic, Black, and multiracial students. Just over eight percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that parents may want to consider in light of the school's economic diversity context. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners were not available, so a family with specific support needs may wish to ask the school directly about those programs.
On state assessments, Echo Hill posted very strong results. In math, nearly all tested students scored at a proficient level. In English language arts, the proficiency rate was also very high. These are single-year results from the 2024-25 ISASP administration, so there is no prior year to compare for trend, but the current numbers place the school in the top quartile among Linn County elementary schools for overall proficiency across tested subjects. Science results are from an older assessment year and involved a different testing regime, making direct comparison less meaningful, but the share of students scoring proficient in that subject at the time was solid.
The school is a regular public elementary, not a charter or magnet. It feeds into the district's intermediate schools for grades five and six, a structural change the district made in 2021 with the opening of two new intermediate buildings. Families moving into the area should be aware that the grade configuration means children will change schools after fourth grade, then again after sixth grade when they enter middle school. The district also offers junior kindergarten and preschool programming, giving early entry points for younger children.
The neighborhood around Echo Hill is served by the Linn-Mar district, which has a publicly reported property tax rate that families weighing housing costs may want to investigate further. The district's budget and levy have been topics of public documentation, and the sustained tax burden is a factor for anyone comparing districts in the region.
Overall, Echo Hill presents as a strong academic environment for early elementary students, with high proficiency outcomes and a student population that reflects limited economic diversity relative to many schools. The school's size is moderate for an elementary, and its location in Marion, part of the Cedar Rapids metro area, ties it to a growing suburban corridor. Parents who value early childhood options and a clear feeder pattern through the district's intermediate and middle schools will find a coherent path here, while those looking for a K-5 or K-8 configuration should note the grade break after fourth grade. Missing data on special education and English learner enrollment means families with children who need those services should reach out to the school directly for specifics.
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