The top reported proficiency rate is 86% in Math. The lowest is 84% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Orchard Hills Elementary
Orchard Hills Elementary serves only second and third graders, a narrow grade band that makes it a focused entry point in the Norwalk Community School District. Families whose children attend here will eventually transition to a different school for later elementary grades and beyond, a pattern parents moving to the area may want to understand early. The school itself enrolls a student body that is predominantly white, with the largest minority groups being Hispanic students and those who identify as two or more races. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a share that falls within a moderate range for a suburban school.
Academically, the school posted strong results on Iowa’s state assessments in math and English language arts. The proficiency levels in both subjects placed the school in the top quartile relative to districts across Warren County, which suggests that students are performing well above the typical level in the surrounding area. Because the school serves only grade 3 among tested grades, these results capture performance at a single point in time; no multi-year trend is available yet, so it is not possible to say whether this represents a consistent pattern or a single strong cohort. The participation rate on the tests was high, meaning the results reflect nearly all enrolled students.
Norwalk itself is a fast-growing suburban community in the southern Des Moines metro area. The city has added population steadily through annexation and new residential subdivisions, and the school district is responding in kind. In late 2024, voters approved a bond measure that funds a new elementary school, security upgrades, middle school renovations, and high school updates. That new elementary building will add capacity, an acknowledgment that the district’s enrollment is climbing. Housing values in the area have risen in recent years and sit above the statewide average, while rents are proportionally higher as well; families moving to Norwalk should expect a competitive market for both buying and renting. The economy is supported by employers such as Michael Foods, Windsor Windows, and the Norwalk Business Center, and the city remains a car-oriented commuter suburb with limited walkable street life.
Orchard Hills Elementary sits within this growing district as a regular public school with no charter or magnet designation. Discipline, attendance, and staffing data were not available for this profile, nor were counts of students with disabilities or English learners. Those gaps mean a parent seeking a full picture of student support structures or behavioral climate would need to follow up directly with the school. The school’s grade span is unusual—only two grade levels—so the academic environment is tightly focused on the early primary years. For families who value high proficiency rates and a school that performs well compared with its county neighbors, Orchard Hills offers a solid academic entry point. Those who want a school that covers the full K–5 or K–6 experience will need to look at how the district sequences its elementary buildings and where their child would move after third grade.
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