The top reported proficiency rate is 69% in Math. The lowest is 65% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Fisher Elementary School
Fisher Elementary School is a regular public school in Marshalltown, Iowa, serving students from prekindergarten through fourth grade. It is part of the Marshalltown Community School District and sits in a city that functions as the county seat of Marshall County and a regional hub for employment, health care, education, and manufacturing. The local economy is anchored by major employers in pork processing, valve and regulator manufacturing, HVAC production, and tool manufacturing, alongside the school district itself, a regional hospital, a veterans’ home, and a community college. Marshalltown has a historic downtown that was damaged by a powerful tornado several years ago; recovery and reinvestment are ongoing, and the city’s population has been relatively stable in recent years. Home values in the area fall below the state median, and rents are moderate relative to local incomes, which can make the community more accessible for families.
The student body at Fisher Elementary is diverse. Roughly two out of every five students are white, and a similar share are Hispanic, with smaller numbers of students who are Asian, Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, American Indian or Alaska Native, or of two or more races. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic mix of the community. Data on special education and English learner enrollment was not reported in the available sources, so a parent may want to follow up with the school directly for details on those supports.
Fisher’s academic performance is a strength. The school participates in Iowa’s statewide assessment for grades three and four, and its combined proficiency rate across math and English language arts places it above the midpoint among the four districts in Marshall County. In both math and reading, a majority of tested students scored at or above the state’s proficiency benchmark. Because only one year of assessment data is available for this school, it is not possible to see a trend over time, but the single snapshot shows solid results for an elementary school serving a community with a high proportion of students from lower-income households.
The school offers a traditional elementary program for its grade band. No information was provided on specific course offerings, after-school programs, or enrichment activities such as art, music, or physical education, though these are common in elementary settings. Disciplinary data, staffing ratios, and attendance rates also were not available in the source materials. Civil rights data—such as disaggregated discipline rates or access to advanced coursework—were absent as well, so a family seeking a fuller picture of school climate and equity may wish to speak with school administrators or visit in person.
Marshalltown’s setting is auto-oriented, with a grid downtown and highways connecting to Des Moines and other parts of the state. The city has parks, trails, a public library, and community spaces that support family life. For families considering Fisher, the school’s academic performance relative to its county peers is a clear positive, and the below-state-average housing costs make the area more attainable than many others in Iowa. The lack of reported data on special populations and other operational details is a gap worth exploring directly with the school, but the core academic picture is one of a school performing solidly in a community with a strong industrial base and a recovering downtown.
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