The top reported proficiency rate is 59% in Math. The lowest is 49% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Jefferson Elementary School
Jefferson Elementary School serves kindergarten through sixth grade in Muscatine, a Mississippi River city with a deep industrial base and a historic downtown core. The school is part of the Muscatine Comm School District and occupies a spot on Mulberry Avenue, set within a city where major employers such as HNI Corporation, Kent Corporation, Bridgestone Bandag, and Bayer anchor the local economy. Muscatine’s riverfront and National Register historic districts give the city a distinct sense of place, while the rolling topography and auto-oriented commercial corridors define daily life for most residents.
The student body at Jefferson is diverse in composition. White students make up the largest share of enrollment, followed closely by Hispanic students, with smaller populations of Black students, students of two or more races, and Asian students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which places the school in a context where economic support for families is a meaningful part of the school’s operating reality. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the source materials, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about how those populations are served and what support structures are in place.
Academically, Jefferson’s state assessment results present a mixed picture. In math, a majority of students scored at or above the proficiency standard on the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress. In English language arts, just over half of students reached that same benchmark. Science results from the tested grades show a similar pattern, with roughly half of students meeting proficiency. When measured across all tested subjects and grades, Jefferson’s overall proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile among districts in Muscatine County. A parent looking at these results may want to explore how the school supports students who are not yet meeting grade-level expectations and whether there are targeted interventions in place.
The school’s grade span means it feeds into middle and high school elsewhere in the district, so Jefferson’s own academic record is focused entirely on elementary-level foundations. There is no graduation rate to report here, as the school does not serve high school grades. The enrollment is large enough to sustain full grade-level sections from kindergarten through sixth grade, which provides a stable peer environment across a child’s entire elementary career.
No data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or course access was available for Jefferson. The district brief turned up little in the way of recent operational changes or strategic initiatives, so the broader district context for families is one of continuity rather than visible upheaval. The housing market in the area shows home values that are below the state median, and rents are modest relative to national benchmarks, making Muscatine a relatively affordable place for families compared to many parts of Iowa and the country.
For a family considering Jefferson, the school offers a typical elementary experience within a district that serves a midsized industrial river city. The student body is economically diverse and racially mixed, with a significant Hispanic presence that mirrors the broader community. The academic results suggest room for growth, particularly in reading and science, and a parent may want to understand what the school is doing to move more students into the proficient range. The absence of data on special education and English learner services is a gap worth investigating, as these programs often shape a school’s day-to-day reality for many families.
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