The top reported proficiency rate is 52% in English language arts. The lowest is 47% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Brookfield Elem.
Brookfield Elementary serves a small rural community as the primary school for children from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade within the Brookfield R-III district. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and it sits in a town that has seen steady population decline for decades, giving the school a role as a stable local institution in a slowly contracting setting.
The student body is predominantly white, reflecting the demographics of the surrounding area and the broader county. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that a meaningful part of the school community comes from lower-income households. The school is not small for a PK–4 building, enrolling a number that reflects the town's size and drawing from the immediate area. Beyond broad racial and economic composition, data on special populations such as students with disabilities or English learners was not available, so a parent may wish to ask the school directly about the supports available for those groups.
Academically, the picture is mixed and varies by grade and subject. State test results are available for third and fourth graders in math and English language arts. In math, third-grade performance was below what many families would expect, with a modest share of students meeting the proficient benchmark. Fourth-grade math told a different story: a clear majority of students scored proficient, a level that sits above the midpoint for elementary grades in the area. In English language arts, both third and fourth graders showed moderate proficiency rates, with fourth graders again performing somewhat better than third graders. The school’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades places it below the midpoint when compared with other districts in Linn County. This means that while fourth-grade math is a relative strength, third-grade math and the combined ELA results pull the overall picture lower relative to nearby districts. Because the school only tests two grades, the results may not fully reflect the learning environment across all primary years, but they provide a useful starting point for a parent assessing academic preparation.
No data was available on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing, or course access for this school. These are common gaps for elementary schools, but a parent may want to look into these areas further with the school, especially around staffing ratios and student support services. The school serves only grades PK through 4, so there is no high school graduation rate to consider, and state testing does not apply to the youngest grades. That is typical for a primary building and not a sign of an incomplete record.
The community context matters for any family considering Brookfield. The town itself is a predominantly residential railroad town in rural Linn County with a modest Main Street commercial core. It has experienced long-term population loss, and the housing market reflects that: home values are well below state and national averages, making it an affordable place to buy a home. Rents are likely modest as well. The town’s civic anchors include Twin Parks, a public library, an aquatic center, and nearby Lake Purdin for recreation. Major employers are the school district itself and historically the railroad, with healthcare also present. The overall trajectory is contraction, not growth, which affects everything from local tax base to the sense of momentum a family might feel.
The school district, Brookfield R-III, recently made several changes that may touch families indirectly. The high school moved to a three-block schedule with an enrichment period. A half-credit of personal finance became a graduation requirement, a state mandate. The property tax levy increased for the current school year, which homeowners in the district will see on their tax bills. These district-level decisions do not directly change the daily experience of an elementary student, but they signal the district’s operational priorities and financial direction.
For a family weighing this school, the key considerations are the affordable housing market, the quiet small-town setting, and the academic profile that shows a notable gap between third and fourth grade math performance. Fourth graders are doing well in math; third graders are not. That pattern could reflect cohort differences or instructional shifts, and it is worth a conversation with the school to understand how the building supports early elementary math growth. The moderate ELA results suggest room for improvement across the board. The lack of data on staffing and chronic absenteeism means a parent should ask about class sizes, teacher experience, and student attendance patterns directly. Overall, Brookfield Elementary offers a traditional primary school experience in a community that values its history and local institutions, set against a backdrop of gradual decline that may or may not matter to a family focused on the school years immediately ahead.
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