The top reported proficiency rate is 15% in Math. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Howells-dodge Elementary School/dodge
Howells-Dodge Elementary School/Dodge serves students from prekindergarten through sixth grade and is the elementary campus of the Howells-Dodge Consolidated Schools district, one of five districts in Dodge County. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and sits in the small village of Dodge in the northwestern corner of the county. The school is the only elementary building in the district, and because it serves only early and intermediate grades, there is no graduation rate or college readiness data to report; those measures simply do not apply here.
State assessment results from the 2024–25 school year show a pattern that parents should look into carefully with the school. In mathematics, grade 4 was the only tested grade where a meaningful share of students met the proficiency standard. In grades 3, 5, and 6, math proficiency was reported as very low. In English language arts, every tested grade from 3 through 6 showed extremely low proficiency. The same was true for grade 5 science. The overall proficiency index, which averages performance across tested subjects and grades, places the school in the bottom quartile among the five districts in Dodge County. This is a consistent signal that the school’s academic performance is a soft spot relative to its neighbors, and families considering this school may want to ask about curriculum, interventions, and how the school plans to address these results.
The student body is small and demographically homogenous. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating a working-class community. The racial and ethnic makeup is overwhelmingly white, with a notable Hispanic minority and very small numbers of Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and multiracial students. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported, so that aspect of the school’s support system is unclear.
Dodge itself is a compact, car-dependent rural village of a few hundred residents, with a high homeownership rate and a local economy built on manufacturing, agriculture, and health care. The village’s population has been declining gradually over the past several census counts, though home values have risen modestly in recent years, a pattern that suggests existing residents are staying or selling at higher prices rather than new construction drawing families in. The village has a small downtown strip along Highway 91, and the visitor bureau describes it as a place where children can safely ride bikes or walk, consistent with the elementary school’s likely walkability for nearby students. The district itself reported no major recent changes that would affect parents, such as boundary shifts, leadership turnover, or new programming.
In sum, Howells-Dodge Elementary School/Dodge serves a small, predominantly white, lower-income student body in a rural village with a declining population and a modest housing market. The academics, based on the most recent state tests, are a clear concern, with proficiency well below the county midpoint in most tested grades and subjects. A parent considering this school should engage the district directly about the academic support structures, intervention strategies, and any steps being taken to improve student outcomes. The school’s small size and rural setting may appeal to families seeking a close-knit environment, but the test results suggest that academic readiness for later grades warrants close attention.
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