The top reported proficiency rate is 68% in English language arts. The lowest is 51% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Clark Elementary School
Clark Elementary School serves the New London community in Henry County as a regular public school for students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The school is a core part of the New London Community School District, and it functions as the sole elementary campus for the district, feeding into New London Jr-Sr High School.
The school’s student body is small relative to many elementary schools, and it is overwhelmingly homogenous in its demographic composition. Nearly nine out of every ten students are white, with small shares of Hispanic, Black, and multiracial students. About two-fifths of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, which represents a substantial share. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available from the school's records.
State assessment results from the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress place the school in a mixed position. In English language arts, a strong majority of tested students scored at or above the proficient level. Math proficiency was similar, with most students meeting the benchmark. Science results were lower, with roughly half of students testing proficient. Across these subjects, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile among the four districts in Henry County. The county-level comparison group is small, and the differences between the top and bottom of that group are narrow, so the gap is modest in absolute terms. The school had full participation on all assessments, which means the results represent nearly every eligible student.
New London is a small, predominantly rural town. The community is centered on a traditional Main Street corridor that holds most civic functions, including the library, city offices, and a park. Clark Elementary is located on South Walnut Street, a short distance from the downtown core, and the junior-senior high school sits on a separate street. The town is fully car-dependent, with most residents commuting alone to work. The largest local employment sectors are health care, manufacturing, and retail, but many residents likely commute to nearby Mount Pleasant or other towns for work.
The housing market in the area is a modest one. Home values have seen some appreciation in recent years, though they remain below state and national benchmarks. For a family considering a move, this means housing is more attainable than in many parts of Iowa, but the inventory is characteristic of a small, slow-growth community.
The district itself did not have publicly reported recent strategic changes or major initiatives that would alter a parent's sense of the school's direction. The picture is one of stability more than transformation.
For a family, Clark Elementary offers a straightforward, traditional elementary education in a small-town setting. The academic results are a mixed picture: solid in reading and math, softer in science, and below the midpoint of the county's small set of districts. The student body is not diverse in racial or ethnic terms, which may be a consideration for families seeking a different peer environment. The town is quiet and car-dependent, with a modest housing stock and a slow-growth economic context. A parent might reasonably look into the science results further with the school and ask about how the curriculum supports that subject. The school's small size means classes are not large, and the district's single elementary school arrangement gives it a close community feel. It fits a family that values a small, stable, and affordable rural setting and wants a school that meets the basics solidly, even if it does not stand out against its neighbors on state tests.
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