The top reported proficiency rate is 58% in English language arts. The lowest is 55% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Iron Springs School
Iron Springs School is an elementary school in Cedar City, serving kindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Iron District. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. The school is situated on the western edge of Cedar City, a community that functions as a regional hub for southern Utah, anchored by Southern Utah University, tourism tied to nearby national parks and the Utah Shakespeare Festival, and a local manufacturing and construction economy. The city has seen steady population growth, and the Iron District itself is under enrollment pressure, having passed a bond in 2023 to fund new schools and facility upgrades, alongside adopting new attendance boundary maps.
With a total enrollment that is relatively large for an elementary-only school, Iron Springs is a busy place. The student body is predominantly white, with a Hispanic population representing the next largest group, and very small shares of students identifying as other races or ethnicities. More than a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a meaningful share and places the school above the district’s average level of economic need relative to its peers. Data on special education identification and English learner status was not available in the school’s reporting.
Academically, Iron Springs posted proficiency rates that place the school among the stronger performers in Iron County. When compared to other schools across the county’s districts, its overall proficiency across tested subjects sits in the top quartile. The specific figures appear on the school’s data page, but the pattern shows that a clear majority of students met or exceeded state standards in math, English language arts, and science during the most recent testing year. The school’s performance is a notable strength relative to the local context, though a parent may still want to examine how individual student groups are performing, as the data provided does not break out results by subgroup.
As a K-5 school, Iron Springs does not have a graduation rate, and no chronic absenteeism data was available in the reporting. The school offers no high school coursework such as Advanced Placement or dual credit by definition of its grade span. Information on staffing ratios, discipline rates, and course access was not included in the data.
The Cedar City housing market shows home values that are somewhat below the state benchmark but modestly above the national median. Rents have seen a slight year-over-year decline, making the rental market relatively more accessible compared to owning, though the estimated monthly mortgage payment exceeds the typical rent. The area’s unemployment rate has been stable and near the national average. The city provides a mix of local amenities, including a historic downtown, a regional airport, and a local bus system, and families will find two high schools within the city for when their children age out of Iron Springs.
For a parent considering this school, the picture is one of a large elementary school in a growing district that is actively managing capacity. Academic performance is a relative strength within the county. The student body is economically diverse at a level that may be of interest, and the surrounding community offers a range of cultural and recreational assets tied to the university and the region’s natural landscape. A parent may want to follow up with the school or district about class sizes, special education services, and English learner support, as those details were not available in the data reviewed.
See more original research from School Decision →