The top reported proficiency rate is 69% in English language arts. The lowest is 68% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Anson Elementary School
Anson Elementary School serves students from preschool through fourth grade in Marshalltown, Iowa, as part of the Marshalltown Community School District. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. The school's student body is relatively small for an elementary building, and the vast majority of its families qualify for free or reduced-price meals, making it a high-poverty school in a community with a deep industrial base.
Academically, Anson Elementary posted overall proficiency rates on the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress that placed it above the midpoint relative to districts in Marshall County. Math and English language arts proficiency were both solid, with a slightly higher share of students meeting or exceeding expectations in reading than in math. The high participation rate on the assessments indicates the results reflect nearly all enrolled students in the tested grades. Because the school serves only up to fourth grade, the test results represent just third and fourth graders; no data are available for middle or high school outcomes, and there is no graduation rate to report. The academic trends data contain only a single year, so it is not yet possible to see whether performance is improving or declining over time.
The student body is highly diverse by race and ethnicity. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino, followed by White, Asian, Black or African American, and students identifying with two or more races. Small numbers of American Indian or Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students also attend. The school's high free- and reduced-price meal rate suggests many students come from households with limited financial resources. Data on the number of students receiving special education services or classified as English learners were not available for this profile; families who want to understand the school's support systems for those students should ask the school directly.
Marshalltown serves as the county seat and a regional employment center, anchored by large employers in pork processing, valve manufacturing, and HVAC production. The city has a historic downtown and a relatively stable population. A powerful tornado in 2018 caused significant damage to the courthouse and downtown buildings, and the community has been working on recovery and redevelopment since. Housing values in the area are below the state and national averages, making the community more affordable than many parts of Iowa. The school is located in the southern part of the city, near the district's central offices.
Anson Elementary fits families looking for an early-elementary school in a community with a strong manufacturing and industrial identity. The school's academic performance is clearly above the middle of the pack among its county peers, which is a meaningful strength in a high-poverty setting. The student population is heavily Hispanic and predominantly low-income, so the peer environment reflects that composition. Families who want detailed information on special education services, English language support, class sizes, or enrichment programs should follow up with the school, as those specifics were not available from the public data reviewed.
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