The top reported proficiency rate is 73% in Math. The lowest is 58% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Perry Elementary
Perry Elementary serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Perry Community School District. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet school. The school sits in the small city of Perry in Dallas County, roughly northwest of Des Moines. With a sizeable enrollment for an elementary building, the school operates as a single point of entry for most children in the community before they move on to the district's middle and high schools.
The student body is diverse, with a mix that reflects the broader town. Perry itself has a notable share of Hispanic and Latino residents, and that pattern carries into the school's enrollment. The balance across racial and ethnic backgrounds means that no single group forms an overwhelming majority, which gives the school a character distinct from many other elementary schools in Iowa communities of a similar size. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that a notable portion of families face economic pressures. Data on students with disabilities or those classified as English learners was not available from the source material, so a full picture of the school's specialized support load is not possible to draw from the information provided.
On academic performance, the school reported state assessment results for math, English language arts, and science. In math and ELA, the share of students scoring proficient or above was solid, while science proficiency came in lower, a pattern that a family may want to ask the school about, especially if their child shows a particular interest in science. Participation rates on the state tests were high, meeting the threshold for reliable results. The school's overall proficiency index across tested subjects, when positioned against other districts in Dallas County, placed Perry Elementary in the bottom quartile among the county's six districts. This comparison shows that while the school's own results are measured directly, neighboring districts as a group posted higher overall proficiency.
The community context matters here. Perry is a small city with a historic downtown, affordable housing options, and ongoing new home developments. It sits in Dallas County, one of the faster growing parts of Iowa, and within commuting distance of the Des Moines metro area. However, the local economy took a significant hit with the closure of the Tyson Foods plant in 2024, the town's primary employer for many years. That event is a recent development, and its effects on school enrollment, family finances, and the broader tax base were not yet visible in the data available. For a parent considering a move to the area, this economic shift is worth monitoring.
The school's housing market is relatively affordable compared to state and national benchmarks. Home values in Perry sit below the statewide average, and rents are moderate. The combination of an affordable housing market and a school that draws a diverse student body may appeal to families who want an elementary setting reflective of a broader cross-section of society rather than a more homogeneous one. The district itself did not have recent major changes reported in the source material, no large bond referendums or curriculum overhauls surfaced, so the near-term picture is one of continuity.
Perry Elementary is a school that serves a diverse, moderately sized elementary population in a small city that is affordable but facing economic uncertainty. Its assessment results are mixed, with math and reading at a solid level and science a softer spot, and it sits behind the proficiency levels of neighboring districts. A family looking at this school should consider whether the diversity and affordability of Perry are priorities, and they may want to follow up on the science scores and the broader economic recovery of the town.
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