The top reported proficiency rate is 76% in Math. The lowest is 43% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on West Harrison Elementary
West Harrison Elementary is a small regular public school serving prekindergarten through fourth grade in Mondamin, a rural agricultural town at the base of the Loess Hills in western Iowa. It is the sole elementary building in the West Harrison Comm School District, a district that also includes a middle school and a high school on a shared campus within the same compact town. The school enrolls roughly 140 students, the majority of whom are white, with small shares of Hispanic students and students of two or more races. About two in five students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that is moderate for a rural Iowa school. The community itself is small and losing population; Mondamin recorded a clear decline over the past several years and no major new housing or commercial development projects have been publicly identified. The local economy centers on agriculture and a handful of small businesses, with the school district itself among the larger employers.
Academically, West Harrison Elementary shows solid proficiency in math and English language arts on the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress. In the most recent testing year, the school posted strong results in both subjects, with a large majority of students meeting or exceeding state standards. Math proficiency was especially high. Science scores, from a prior year with a very small tested group, were lower, with fewer than half of students reaching the proficient level. Because science testing in the elementary grades in Iowa covers only certain grade levels and a small cohort, that result should be viewed with caution, though a parent may want to ask the school about science instruction and how it aligns with the other tested subjects. When compared with the full set of school districts in Harrison County, this elementary school’s combined proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile. That comparison is imperfect because the other districts in the county serve a broader grade range, so the gap may partly reflect differences in what and when students are tested rather than a pure quality difference. The school’s own math and ELA outcomes are well above a simple floor.
The school environment is typical of a small rural elementary. Classroom sizes are modest. No data on chronic absenteeism, discipline incidents, or staffing ratios were available, and the district did not report Title I status for this building online. Because the school serves only early grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and course access data does not apply. Families looking for program offerings such as gifted services, special education support, or English learner programming will need to contact the school directly, as that information was also not part of the public data this account draws from.
Housing in the area is modestly priced relative to national norms, and homes in the ZIP code are valued close to the statewide average. Mortgage rates as of mid-2026 are around the mid-6 percent range, and the price-to-income ratio in the community suggests a typical home costs roughly twice a household’s annual income, which is below the national average and makes homeownership more accessible here than in many metro areas. Rents nationally have been rising, but local rental data for Mondamin was not captured.
For a family considering West Harrison Elementary, the picture is one of a small, familiar school in a shrinking but tight-knit rural town. Academic performance in the core elementary subjects is strong, especially in math, and the school’s size means students receive a lot of individual attention. The lower proficiency in science and the bottom-quartile county comparison are worth a conversation with the principal or district office to understand how curriculum and assessment fit together across the elementary years. There are no recent district-wide changes or initiatives publicly reported, so the district appears stable but without major new programming to note. Families who value a close community, small classes, and a straightforward academic program will find that here; families seeking broad enrichment options, specialized programs, or a growing community will want to confirm current offerings directly.
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