The top reported proficiency rate is 87% in Math. The lowest is 83% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Northeast Elementary School
Northeast Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Goose Lake, a very small rural community in Clinton County, Iowa. The town itself is primarily residential with a city hall, volunteer fire station, and post office, but little commercial activity. The surrounding area is agricultural, and the school is part of the Northeast Community School District, which draws from multiple small communities in the region. Families considering this school should know that the elementary campus is outside the town center, and there is no traditional downtown or walkable commercial district in Goose Lake itself.
Academically, this school posted strong results on the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress. Across math, English language arts, and science, the share of students reaching proficiency was well above typical levels for the county. The school’s overall proficiency index placed it in the top quartile relative to other districts in Clinton County. This is a clear strength. The school’s performance was consistent across subjects, with math and science slightly ahead of ELA. Only one year of data is available for this assessment, so there is no trend to compare, but the single snapshot shows a school where most students are meeting state standards.
The student body is moderate in size for an elementary school, with a notable share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a meaningful presence of lower-income families. The student population is overwhelmingly white, with very small numbers of Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students. Information on students with disabilities or English learners was not provided, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the support structures available for those groups.
The district adopted a new literacy curriculum in the 2024-2025 school year, aligned with Iowa’s science of reading legislation. This is a state-mandated shift to evidence-based reading instruction that affects how reading is taught in all elementary classrooms. Parents who value structured literacy approaches may find this a positive development. The district’s annual budget has grown steadily in recent years, and property tax rates have remained relatively stable. Facility needs, such as roof repairs and HVAC upgrades, have been addressed through existing funds rather than a bond referendum, suggesting the district is managing capital needs without major tax increases.
Because this is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate or college readiness data to report. Chronic absenteeism figures were also not available. The school environment data, including discipline and staffing, was absent from the record. A parent interested in class sizes, teacher experience, or behavior policies would need to follow up with the school directly.
The housing market in the area shows home values somewhat above the state average, though the community is rural and small. The town itself has seen very slow population growth over the past two decades with a slight recent decline, and there is no evidence of major new housing developments. This is a stable, slow-growth setting. Residents likely commute to larger nearby communities for employment, as no major employers were identified in Goose Lake.
Overall, Northeast Elementary School presents a strong academic picture for a rural elementary school, with high proficiency rates that place it among the top of its county peers. The school serves a predominantly white, moderately low-income student body in a small, quiet town. The district’s recent curriculum change and stable finances suggest a careful, incremental approach to improvement. A family looking for a solid, well-performing elementary school in a rural setting with a slow pace of life would find this a reasonable fit. There are gaps in the available data around special education, English learner services, and school climate that a prospective parent should explore with the school directly.
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