The top reported proficiency rate is 81% in Math. The lowest is 68% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Farley Elementary School
Farley Elementary School is a regular public school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade in the small, predominantly residential town of Farley, Iowa, about a short drive west of Dubuque. The school is part of the Western Dubuque Community School District, which also operates Drexler Middle School in Farley and sends its high school students to Western Dubuque High School in nearby Epworth. The town itself has seen steady population growth over recent decades, a trend that fits with its role as a commuter community within the Dubuque metropolitan area. The local economy is built on manufacturing, health care, and educational services, and most residents commute out of town for work.
Enrollment at Farley Elementary is modest for its grade span, with students distributed fairly evenly across kindergarten through fifth grade and a notable prekindergarten program. The student body is predominantly white, with a measurable Hispanic population and very small shares of other racial and ethnic groups. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that places the school in a middle range for economic need. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the available material, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the level of special education and language support services.
On state assessments administered through the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress, Farley Elementary’s results suggest a school where math proficiency is a clear strength, with a large majority of students scoring at or above the proficient level. Reading and English language arts proficiency, while still above the midpoint when compared with other districts in Dubuque County, is a softer area, with a smaller majority reaching the proficient bar. Science results, which are tested only at a single elementary grade level, also show a solidly proficient share. The school’s overall proficiency across subjects places it above the midpoint relative to other districts in the county. Because only one year of assessment data was available, it is not possible to determine whether performance is trending up or down.
The school environment data, including chronic absenteeism and discipline, was not available in the provided materials, nor were figures on staffing or class size. Given that the school serves only through fifth grade, it has no graduation rate to report, and it does not offer high-school-level programs such as Advanced Placement or career and technical education pathways. The school is not a charter or magnet school, and its Title I status was not provided.
For a family considering Farley Elementary, the school offers a small-town setting with a student body that is largely homogeneous and a district that draws families from this growing commuter community. The academic picture shows a school that performs well in math and adequately in reading and science by state standards. A parent whose child needs strong reading support may want to investigate how the school addresses literacy gaps. The absence of several common data points, including special education counts, chronic absenteeism, and staffing ratios, means some key questions about day-to-day school climate and student support can only be answered by visiting or speaking with school staff. Housing in the area is valued well above the state median, reflecting the broader trend of rising home prices in this part of Iowa, and the town’s car-dependent layout means families will rely on personal vehicles for school drop-off, activities, and errands.
See more original research from School Decision →