The top reported proficiency rate is 75% in English language arts. The lowest is 62% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Boulder Peak Intermediate School
Boulder Peak Intermediate School, part of the Linn-Mar Community School District in Marion, Iowa, serves only fifth and sixth graders. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and sits within a district that reorganized its grade configuration in 2021, creating two intermediate schools for these two years before students move on to middle school. That structure means families whose children attend Boulder Peak should expect a transition after sixth grade, and the feeder pattern matters when choosing a home within the district’s boundaries, which also include parts of Cedar Rapids and Robins.
Academically, Boulder Peak posts solid results on the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress. In math and English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient or above is strong, with ELA slightly ahead of math. Science proficiency, while lower, still lands at a level that many schools in the region would consider acceptable. Because the school has only one year of test data available in this profile, there is no trend to assess. Compared with other Linn County districts, Boulder Peak’s overall proficiency across tested subjects falls below the midpoint of the group. A parent looking at the school’s scores should weigh that relative standing, but the absolute rates are not weak. The school’s grade range means there is no graduation rate to examine, and chronic absenteeism data was not provided, so those measures do not apply here.
The student body is about eight hundred? No, enrollment is moderate for a two-grade building. The composition is predominantly white, with modest shares of Hispanic, Black, Asian, and multiracial students. About three in ten students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that indicates some economic diversity but not high poverty. Special education and English learner counts were not reported in the available data, so if those are priorities for a family, it would be worth asking the school directly.
Marion’s housing market shows home values that are slightly above the statewide typical level, and rents have risen noticeably over the past year. A typical home in the school’s zip code carries a monthly mortgage that is close to the area’s median rent, making buying and renting roughly comparable on a cost basis. The national unemployment rate and median household income are at levels that suggest a stable economic backdrop, though these are broad figures and not specific to Marion.
The district has made lasting changes in recent years. The opening of Boulder Peak and its sister school, Hazel Point Intermediate, shifted fifth and sixth graders out of K-5 elementary buildings and into separate intermediate schools. That reconfiguration is now settled and shapes daily logistics for families, from bus routes to after-school activities. The district also offers junior kindergarten and preschool, which means younger siblings could enter the system early. Property taxes are a factor in the area; the district’s approved budget and tax rate were reported in the public record, so a family moving into the district should confirm what the current levy means for their home purchase.
For a family considering Boulder Peak, the school fits a family that values a dedicated intermediate model, where the transition to middle school is a deliberate step rather than a continuation in a K-8 building. The academic results are above average in an absolute sense, even if they lag some other Linn County districts. The district’s growth and stable suburban setting provide a baseline that many families find appealing. A parent may want to look into the school’s support for students who need extra help, since data on special education and English learner services was not part of the profile. Otherwise, the school offers a clear, measured academic pathway for a child’s last two years before the larger social shift of middle school.
See more original research from School Decision →