The top reported proficiency rate is 80% in Science. The lowest is 67% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Van Buren County Community School District Douds Center
Van Buren County Community School District Douds Center is a regular public elementary school serving prekindergarten through sixth grade. It is one of the elementary campuses within the Van Buren County Community School District, located in the unincorporated rural community of Douds in southeastern Iowa. The school sits next to Leando, the twin community on the south bank of the Des Moines River, along old Highway 98. The area is agricultural, with the major local employer being Douds Stone Inc., which operates one of the largest underground limestone mines in Iowa. Douds has never been incorporated as a town; it is a census-designated place with a small mix of residential and commercial properties, a post office, and a local bank. Population has been roughly stable to slightly declining, and there are no signs of new housing development or commercial expansion. The built environment is low-density, oriented around the highway, and there is no walkable downtown or concentrated civic core.
On state assessments, Douds Center posted solid proficiency results in the most recent testing year. In math and English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient or above was above the midpoint of what one would typically see among Iowa elementary schools. Science proficiency was notably higher, though science testing in Iowa at these grades covers only a single grade level, so that figure should be interpreted with that narrower scope in mind. Participation rates on all three tests were near universal. Because the school only serves through sixth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. The available data covers only one academic year, so there is no multi-year trend to assess; a parent may want to ask the district directly about year-over-year performance patterns.
The student body is predominantly white, with small shares of Hispanic, multiracial, Black, and Asian students. Just over half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a community with a notable share of households facing economic strain. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the source materials; families who need that information should inquire with the school.
Housing in the area is relatively affordable compared to national benchmarks. Home values in the ZIP code are modest and have seen a moderate increase over the past year, roughly in line with statewide trends. The national median household income and mortgage rates provide context for affordability, but the school’s own community economic profile is not available in detail.
This is a small, rural elementary school with a focused, pre-K through sixth grade mission. It does not offer high school programs, advanced coursework, or career pathways because it ends at sixth grade. For a family considering this school, the natural next step would be to look at the district’s middle and high school options, typically located in the district’s larger attendance centers. The school’s setting is quiet and rural, with limited commercial and civic amenities in the immediate area. It fits families who value a small, close-knit elementary environment, are comfortable with a long drive for shopping or services, and want a school where state test scores are solid without being exceptional. The modest share of students from low-income households suggests the school may have some additional support resources, but the absence of Title I status data means that is not confirmed. Given the unincorporated nature of Douds and the lack of a district brief in the available information, a parent would be well served to visit the school and speak with staff about class sizes, enrichment offerings, and how the school supports its students across different needs.
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