The top reported proficiency rate is 92% in Math. The lowest is 84% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Ogden Elementary School
Ogden Elementary School is a regular public school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade in the small rural town of Ogden, Iowa, which sits in Boone County along the historic Lincoln Highway corridor. The school is part of the Ogden Community School District, and its single building is integrated into the town’s compact fabric rather than set apart on a separate campus. A recreational trail connects the community center and high school, and the elementary school is within easy reach of the downtown core where the city hall, library, and park with a bandshell and play equipment provide civic gathering places. The town was platted by the railroad, and its main street retains a historic small‑town feel; the surrounding area is strongly agricultural, with a natural gas compressor plant, ethanol and seed processing, health care, education, and manufacturing as the major employment sectors.
Academically, Ogden Elementary demonstrates consistently strong results on the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress. Proficiency rates across math, English language arts, and science are high, and overall performance places the school in the top tier when measured against other districts in Boone County. The school’s proficiency index is well above the median for the county, a meaningful distinction given that the county includes several other districts. While state testing provides a snapshot for grades three through five, science is only tested at one grade level within the elementary span, so the available data reflects the core subjects. There is no multi‑year trend data to show improvement or decline, because only a single year of results is available in the record. Parents can interpret the current figures as a strong academic baseline for the early grades.
The student body is predominantly white, with small shares of Hispanic students and students of two or more races; enrollment in each of the elementary grades is fairly balanced. Roughly a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced‑price meals, indicating a moderate level of economic diversity. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so families who need information about those support structures would want to ask the school directly. The school’s total enrollment is modest for a PK‑5 building, and class sizes appear to be manageable across the grade levels.
Ogden itself has experienced a slight population decline in recent years, but housing remains relatively affordable and the homeownership rate is high. The local economic development group, Ogden Legacy, works to support local businesses, and the district has made recent capital improvements at the Ogden Middle/High School, including facility upgrades and an expanded array of course offerings for older students. Since 2020, the district has shared a superintendent with neighboring United Community School District, a governance arrangement that affects leadership and resource allocation. None of these changes directly alter the elementary school’s daily operations, but they signal a district that is investing in facilities and curriculum for the full K‑12 pathway.
For a family considering this school, the picture is one of a small‑town elementary school with very strong academic results on state assessments, a largely homogenous student population, and a stable if gradually shrinking community. The school does not offer high school programs or a graduation rate, as it serves only early grades. There is no public transit in Ogden, so car dependence is the norm, but the compact town layout makes walking and biking feasible for many errands. Parents who value high proficiency scores, a close‑knit rural environment, and recent district improvements at the secondary level will find Ogden Elementary a solid fit. Those seeking more information about special education services or English learner support will need to contact the school directly, as those data points were not available in the records examined.
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