The top reported proficiency rate is 85% in English language arts. The lowest is 81% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Westwood Elementary School
Westwood Elementary School is the single elementary campus for the Westwood Community School District, serving students from prekindergarten through sixth grade in the small rural town of Sloan, Iowa. The school sits on a modern K-12 campus a short distance from the town’s compact commercial strip, which includes a handful of eating establishments, a convenience store, a Dollar General, and the post office. Sloan itself is a primarily residential town on the Missouri River floodplain, located about a twenty-minute drive south of Sioux City and just off Interstate 29. The nearby WinnaVegas Casino, operated by the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, serves as a regional draw and a notable employer just outside town. The community has experienced modest but steady growth in recent years, with a small housing development, a car wash, and new retail additions. Home values in the area sit near the state benchmark, and housing is somewhat more affordable than the national median, making the town accessible for families seeking a low-cost entry point into homeownership.
Academically, Westwood Elementary posts strong results on the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress. Across tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint among districts in Woodbury County, in a cohort of seven districts. Math proficiency is solid, English language arts proficiency is even higher, and science proficiency also reflects a strong showing. The school’s student participation rate on these assessments was very high, lending confidence to the results. Only a single year of testing data was available for this analysis, so a trend line cannot yet be drawn, but the baseline is clearly a positive one. The school’s grade span means no graduation rate or chronic absenteeism rate is reported for it; those metrics apply at the secondary level.
The student body is predominantly white, with a small share of Hispanic students and a small number of students who identify as two or more races. About two in five students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that is moderate and reflects the working-class and rural character of the community. Data on students with Individualized Education Programs and English learners was missing from the available records; a parent interested in special education or English language services may want to ask the school directly about those supports. The school does not carry charter or magnet status and operates as a regular public school.
Sloan’s civic life revolves around a central park with tennis and basketball courts, a public library that moved into a newer building in recent years, and a sports complex with softball and soccer fields. The town’s small size means there is no traditional downtown district; commercial and community functions are clustered along Evans Street near the park. The school campus is separate from that commercial center, offering a dedicated environment for learning. The district brief turned up no major recent changes—no bond issues, referendums, or curriculum shifts were publicly reported—so the school’s programming and operations appear stable from an outsider’s perspective.
For a family looking at Westwood Elementary, the picture is of a small, rural elementary school with a track record of solid academic performance in a community that is affordable and slowly growing. The school’s size allows for a close-knit feel, and its proficiency results are a clear draw. The limited commercial amenities in Sloan itself mean many families drive to Sioux City for shopping, employment, and entertainment, but the school’s academic strength and the town’s low cost of housing may offset that trade-off for those who prioritize a slower-paced setting with strong foundational academics.
See more original research from School Decision →