The top reported proficiency rate is 72% in Math. The lowest is 60% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Franklin Elementary Sch
Franklin Elementary School serves the youngest students in the Marshalltown Community School District, from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade, in a building on West Main Street. Enrollment at the school is substantial for its grade band and draws from a student body that is roughly evenly split between students who are Hispanic and students who are white, with smaller shares of students who are Asian, Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, or of two or more races. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, above what is typical for the state.
Franklin is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. It operates as a neighborhood elementary school within a district that serves the city of Marshalltown, the county seat of Marshall County. Marshalltown is an industrial and regional hub, with major employers in pork processing, valve and HVAC manufacturing, and tool making. The city has a historic downtown that was heavily damaged by an EF3 tornado several years ago, and the city's official materials describe a growing downtown district as part of the recovery. The city’s population has been stable in recent years. Housing values in the area are below the state average, and monthly rent is also lower than the state benchmark, which positions the community as more affordable relative to the rest of Iowa.
On the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress, Franklin’s students as a group scored solidly in math, with a proficiency rate above the midpoint among the county’s districts. Reading proficiency was lower, and a parent or guardian may want to ask the school about specific supports in this area, particularly given that the school is an early-elementary building where foundational literacy is central to the curriculum. The data available covers only one year, so there is no multi-year trend to show whether these results are stable or shifting.
The school participates in the ISASP with high participation rates. Because Franklin serves only grades PK through 4, state testing data is only available for the tested grades within that band, and there is no graduation rate to report for the school. Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, course access, and staffing were not available in the records provided, making it difficult to fully assess the school environment and support systems from this source alone. Information on the number of students with disabilities and English learners was also missing from the profile.
Franklin Elementary functions as an entry point to the Marshalltown district, and the academic picture it presents is one of a school where math performance is a relative strength and reading is an area where families may want to understand what interventions are in place. The student body reflects the broader community's diversity, and the poverty rate suggests a school where many children come from homes with economic strain. For a family considering this school, the practical questions will likely center on early literacy programming, class sizes, and the school’s approach to supporting students who are not yet meeting benchmark in reading.
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