The top reported proficiency rate is 86% in Math. The lowest is 80% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Epworth Elementary School
Epworth Elementary School serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in the Western Dubuque Community School District. It sits in Epworth, a small rural town roughly twelve miles west of Dubuque that functions mainly as a bedroom community for the larger city. The town has seen strong population growth over recent years, with new subdivisions drawing families who commute to Dubuque for work. Housing values in the area have risen, and the school’s zip code commands a premium above both the state median home value and the national median. That context matters for a family considering the school: Epworth is not a low-cost entry point, and the upward trend suggests a competitive market for buyers.
The school’s student body is overwhelmingly white, with a very small share of students identifying as Hispanic, Asian, or two or more races. The share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch is modest, placing the school in a relatively higher-income demographic compared to many Iowa public schools. The school does not report data for students with individualized education programs or English learners, which is a gap a parent may want to discuss directly with the school to understand the full range of support services available.
On state assessments administered through the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress, Epworth Elementary posted strong results. Proficiency rates in math, English language arts, and science each landed above the threshold that would mark solid performance, with math particularly high. When compared to other districts in Dubuque County using a proficiency index that averages all tested subjects, Epworth Elementary placed in the top quartile. The school’s proficiency rates across all three subjects reflect a consistent pattern of academic strength for the tested grades. Because the only available test data comes from a single year, there is no multi-year trend to assess improvement or decline. A parent should note that the school serves only early and elementary grades, so there are no graduation rate data and no high school pathways to evaluate here.
The district-level picture offers little in the way of recent changes. A search for referenda, curriculum shifts, property tax developments, or facilities updates in the Western Dubuque Community School District turned up no confirmable lasting parent-relevant news from recent years. That means a family evaluating Epworth Elementary will need to rely on direct engagement with the district office or school leadership for the most current operational picture.
The school’s locale is integrated into the town rather than isolated on a distant campus. Epworth Elementary is in town, and the district’s high school is also located in Epworth. Middle school students attend a separate building in nearby Farley. The town itself has a compact small-business core, churches, and a Roman Catholic seminary. Walkability and street life are typical of a rural small town, with no dedicated walk score available in public sources. Civic anchors include a four-lane U.S. highway connection to Dubuque, a regional transit service, and a regional airport within a reasonable drive. No specific information was found on major employers beyond the seminary and a community college service presence, so families reliant on local employment should investigate further.
Overall, Epworth Elementary presents as an academically strong school within a growing, relatively affluent bedroom community. Its test results are clearly above average for the county. The student population is not diverse, and the school lacks publicly available data on special education and English learner enrollment. The housing market is expensive relative to state and national benchmarks, and the town’s growth trajectory suggests continued demand. For a family that prioritizes strong elementary academics, values a small-town setting with easy highway access to a mid-sized city, and is comfortable with the area’s demographic profile and housing costs, this school fits well. A family seeking more diversity, lower housing costs, or documented supports for students with disabilities would want to look deeper into those areas before deciding.
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