The top reported proficiency rate is 64% in Math. The lowest is 58% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on East Mills Elementary School
East Mills Elementary School serves students from prekindergarten through sixth grade in the rural community of Hastings, Iowa, which is part of the East Mills Community School District. The school is a regular public school and sits within a town that is very small in both population and geographic area, with most residents commuting elsewhere for work. The town’s population has been declining in recent years, and the housing stock is limited. There are no major employers or significant commercial development in Hastings itself; residents look to the broader Mills County area for employment and services.
Academically, the school participates in Iowa’s statewide assessments for grades three through eight. In the most recent testing year, the share of students meeting or exceeding proficiency standards in math was similar to the share in English language arts, with both hovering in the range where a majority of students are on track but a notable portion are not. Science results, which come from a smaller tested cohort, followed a similar pattern. When compared to other districts within Mills County, the school’s overall proficiency index fell in the bottom half of the very small county field. Because only two districts make up the county comparison, this placement means the school’s scores are below the midpoint of those two. A parent who places a high priority on above-average state test results may want to discuss the school’s instructional approach and support structures directly with the administration.
The enrollment is moderate for an elementary building, with a consistent number of students across each grade from kindergarten through sixth grade, plus a prekindergarten program. The student body is overwhelmingly white, with a very small number of Hispanic students and a handful of students identifying as two or more races; no Black or Asian students were reported. Economic need is present but not universal: just under half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available for this school year, so a parent who needs to understand those supports should ask the school directly.
Because the school serves only early and middle grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and chronic absenteeism data were also missing from the available records. The school environment data, including discipline rates, course access, and staffing ratios, were not provided, so a complete picture of day-to-day operations is not possible from this data alone.
The school is part of a district that has recently made significant facility and program changes. In 2021, voters approved a bond to relocate the elementary school to the high school campus in Malvern, with construction completed in 2024. That consolidation now brings all grades prekindergarten through twelve onto one campus, which may affect class configurations, transportation patterns, and the experience of elementary students being on a shared campus with older students. Separately, the district launched a career and technical education hub called SWITCH at the Hastings campus in 2022, though this program is aimed at older students and is not directly tied to the elementary curriculum.
The housing market in Hastings is relatively affordable compared to national benchmarks, with home values lower than the state average and far below the national figure. The typical mortgage payment in the area, at current interest rates, is modest relative to incomes. For families who work in the region and are looking for a small-town setting with a single-campus K-12 district, East Mills Elementary offers a straightforward neighborhood school. Its academic results are moderate, and the district’s recent investments in facilities and career pathways signal a focus on long-term stability, even as the local population contracts.
See more original research from School Decision →