Edwards Elementary School

Q: Is Edwards Elementary School a good school?

Edwards Elementary School ranks 288 th of 557 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Edwards Elementary School is a public elementary school in Ames, Iowa, serving students from kindergarten to 5th grade as part of the Ames Community School District. The school has a diverse student population, with a racial makeup of 63.78% White, 13.56% African American, 10.44% Hispanic, 6% Asian, and 6.22% two or more races.

Edwards Elementary School stands out for its strong academic performance, consistently outperforming the Ames Community School District and the state of Iowa in standardized test scores across multiple grade levels and subject areas. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, 81.7% of 3rd graders at Edwards Elementary School were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 62.9% for the district and 64.2% for the state. The school also has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 12.7 to 14.3 students per teacher over the past three years, which may contribute to its academic success.

While Edwards Elementary School has a strong track record, its ranking among Iowa elementary schools has fluctuated in recent years, dropping to 288th out of 557 schools in 2023-2024. This may be due to changes in the school's demographics and student population. Nearby schools, such as Ballard West Elementary, Gilbert Intermediate School, and Gilbert Elementary School, also demonstrate strong academic performance, suggesting a high-quality educational environment in the Ames community.

Detail:

Public K-5

820 Miller Ave
Ames, IA 50014

(515) 239-3760

District: Ames Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
288^th of 557 Iowa Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,690

Students who attend Edwards Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Ames Middle School
High:	Ames High School

Student/teacher ratio: 14.3

Number of students: 450

Racial breakdown:

White:

63.8%

African American:

13.6%

Hispanic:

10.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 38.4%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Edwards Elementary School ranks worse than 51.7% of elementary schools in Iowa. It also ranks 4^th among 5 ranked elementary schools in the Ames Community School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 56.17. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Edwards Elementary School has the largest elementary school student body size in the Ames Community School District. (See more...)

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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Edwards Elementary School is $12,690, which is the 2^nd highest among 5 elementary schools in the Ames Community School District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Edwards Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Ames Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Ames Community School District 132^nd of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Rating:

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Rank History for Edwards Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	41.68	441^st	626	29.6%
2013	63.93	231^st	624	63.0%
2014	78.20	75^th	603	87.6%
2015	79.98	64^th	616	89.6%
2016	71.94	149^th	599	75.1%
2017	75.31	113^th	574	80.3%
2018	76.64	96^th	567	83.1%
2019	36.64	426^th	603	29.4%
2021	62.49	215^th	567	62.1%
2022	71.08	162^nd	574	71.8%
2023	54.60	287^th	565	49.2%
2024	56.17	288^th	557	48.3%

See the entire list of Iowa Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Iowa Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Edwards Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	237	7	39	12	0	n/a	n/a	0	295
1989	252	10	43	14	0	n/a	n/a	0	319
1990	267	11	30	18	0	n/a	n/a	0	326
1991	235	10	35	10	0	n/a	n/a	0	290
1992	254	18	24	11	0	n/a	n/a	0	307
1993	262	17	42	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	327
1994	245	18	30	7	1	n/a	n/a	0	301
1995	241	20	29	8	2	n/a	n/a	0	300
1996	241	20	29	8	2	n/a	n/a	0	300
1997	233	21	37	11	2	n/a	n/a	0	304
1998	241	19	41	16	2	n/a	n/a	0	319
1999	217	12	37	15	2	n/a	n/a	0	283
2000	248	25	31	13	1	n/a	n/a	-15	303
2001	219	26	27	19	2	n/a	n/a	0	293
2002	222	21	25	6	1	n/a	n/a	0	275
2003	222	21	25	6	1	n/a	n/a	0	275
2004	218	11	26	14	1	n/a	n/a	0	270
2005	220	13	30	17	0	n/a	n/a	0	280
2006	136	47	46	26	1	n/a	n/a	0	256
2007	147	44	29	26	2	n/a	n/a	0	248
2008	167	29	35	23	0	n/a	n/a	0	254
2009	171	31	34	26	0	n/a	n/a	0	262
2010	169	43	28	32	0	0	10	0	282
2011	166	44	30	37	0	0	11	0	288
2012	173	44	22	26	0	0	10	0	275
2013	197	38	23	31	0	0	14	0	303
2014	189	37	22	29	0	0	12	0	289
2015	251	36	34	43	1	0	19	0	384
2016	251	32	31	47	0	0	22	0	383
2017	231	36	27	26	0	0	22	0	342
2018	259	49	34	28	0	0	26	0	396
2019	243	47	31	33	0	1	27	0	382
2020	260	49	32	28	1	1	27	0	398
2021	238	60	33	32	1	0	28	0	392
2022	258	55	34	38	0	0	30	0	415
2023	287	61	27	47	0	0	28	0	450

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Edwards Elementary School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	295	15.8	18.6	21.7
1989	319	14.6	21.8	18.8
1990	326	15.1	21.5	18.1
1991	290	14.0	20.7	20
1992	307	14.0	21.9	23.1
1993	327	14.0	23.4	19.9
1994	301	14.0	21.5	20.3
1995	300	14.0	21.4	22
1996	300	14.0	21.4	22
1997	304	15.0	20.3	25.3
1998	319	15.0	21.3	22.3
1999	283	14.5	19.5	27.9
2000	303	15.3	19.8	24.2
2001	293	15.9	18.4	22.5
2002	275	23.7	11.6	14.9
2003	275	23.7	11.6	14.9
2004	270	22.9	11.8	18.1
2005	280	18.0	15.6	17.5
2006	256	15.9	16.1	45.7
2007	248	20.4	12.2	52.8
2008	254	20.4	12.5	28.3
2009	262	20.0	13.1	39.3
2010	282	20.9	13.4	31.9
2011	288	18.0	16.0	32.3
2012	275	19.0	14.4	42.9
2013	303	20.2	14.9	40.3
2014	289	24.2	11.9	42.9
2015	384	29.0	13.2	36.5
2016	383	28.0	13.6	39.2
2017	342	26.0	13.1	35.1
2018	396	28.4	13.9	35.6
2019	382	29.0	13.1	37.7
2020	398	29.4	13.5	31.9
2021	392	29.3	13.3	33.7
2022	415	32.4	12.7	29.6
2023	450	31.4	14.3	38.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Edwards Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	295	15.8	18.6	21.7
1989	319	14.6	21.8	18.8
1990	326	15.1	21.5	18.1
1991	290	14.0	20.7	20
1992	307	14.0	21.9	23.1
1993	327	14.0	23.4	19.9
1994	301	14.0	21.5	20.3
1995	300	14.0	21.4	22
1996	300	14.0	21.4	22
1997	304	15.0	20.3	25.3
1998	319	15.0	21.3	22.3
1999	283	14.5	19.5	27.9
2000	303	15.3	19.8	24.2
2001	293	15.9	18.4	22.5
2002	275	23.7	11.6	14.9
2003	275	23.7	11.6	14.9
2004	270	22.9	11.8	18.1
2005	280	18.0	15.6	17.5
2006	256	15.9	16.1	45.7
2007	248	20.4	12.2	52.8
2008	254	20.4	12.5	28.3
2009	262	20.0	13.1	39.3
2010	282	20.9	13.4	31.9
2011	288	18.0	16.0	32.3
2012	275	19.0	14.4	42.9
2013	303	20.2	14.9	40.3
2014	289	24.2	11.9	42.9
2015	384	29.0	13.2	36.5
2016	383	28.0	13.6	39.2
2017	342	26.0	13.1	35.1
2018	396	28.4	13.9	35.6
2019	382	29.0	13.1	37.7
2020	398	29.4	13.5	31.9
2021	392	29.3	13.3	33.7
2022	415	32.4	12.7	29.6
2023	450	31.4	14.3	38.4

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Edwards Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$743 (5.9%)	$11,949 (94.2%)	$12,690

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Edwards Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 426^th of 603 Elementary schools	Ranks 287^th of 565 Elementary schools	19.9%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Edwards Elementary School)	56.3	73.4	17.1%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Ames Community School District)	67.8	71.4	3.6%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	65.3	66.3	1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Edwards Elementary School)	64.6	75.9	11.3%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Ames Community School District)	74.5	76	1.5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	71.7	75.3	3.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Edwards Elementary School)	65.2	76.7	11.5%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Ames Community School District)	72.3	81.5	9.2%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	70.5	73.1	2.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Edwards Elementary School)	69.6	71.7	2.1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Ames Community School District)	70.6	77.2	6.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	72.5	72.9	0.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Edwards Elementary School)	61.2	64.7	3.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Ames Community School District)	72.7	73	0.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	67.3	68.3	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Edwards Elementary School)	65.7	63.2	2.5%
5th Grade Mathematics (Ames Community School District)	73.4	69.7	3.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	69.4	71.3	1.9%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	382	450	17.8%
African American	47	61	29.8%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	31	27	12.9%
Hispanic	33	47	42.4%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	243	287	18.1%
Two or More Races	27	28	3.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	37.7%	38.4%	0.7%

Schools Near Edwards Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				ISASP English Language Arts (2024)				ISASP Mathematics (2024)				ISASP Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISASP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 4th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 5th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 6th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 3rd Grade	ISASP Mathematics 4th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 5th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 6th Grade	ISASP Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Edwards Elementary School	Public	K-5	820 Miller Ave	Ames	50014	Story County	Ames Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 239-3760	450	31	14.3	38.4%	287 (63.8%)	61 (13.6%)	47 (10.4%)	27 (6.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (6.2%)	56.2	288^th of 557 public elementary schools	48.3%		54.6	287^th of 565 public elementary schools	49.2%	1	81.7	68.7	72.6		80.0	67.5	71.0		64.5	$12,690	$743	$11,949
Sawyer Elementary School	Public	K-5	4316 Ontario St	Ames	50010	Story County	Ames Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 239-3790	367	29	12.4	30.8%	244 (66.5%)	33 (9.0%)	30 (8.2%)	20 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (10.6%)	52.9	313^th of 557 public elementary schools	43.8%		42.7	379^th of 565 public elementary schools	32.9%	66	43.5	71.7	76.9		68.1	73.3	72.3		73.8	$11,702	$347	$11,356
Fellows Elementary School	Public	K-5	1235 20th St.	Ames	50010	Story County	Ames Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 239-3765	528	42	12.5	26.5%	307 (58.1%)	29 (5.5%)	55 (10.4%)	93 (17.6%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (8.0%)	76.5	97^th of 557 public elementary schools	82.6%		79.8	80^th of 565 public elementary schools	85.8%	17	54.8	87.8	91.0		75.3	84.1	91.0		89.9	$12,124	$816	$11,308
Meeker Elementary School	Public	K-5	300 20th Street	Ames	50010	Story County	Ames Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 239-3770	351	30	11.7	37.6%	256 (72.9%)	26 (7.4%)	27 (7.7%)	6 (1.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (9.4%)	63.8	216^th of 557 public elementary schools	61.2%		50.5	322^nd of 565 public elementary schools	43.0%	106	73.3	69.0	79.3		75.6	69.0	77.6		82.8	$13,221	$1,032	$12,190
Northwood Pre-School	Public	PK-K	3012 Duff Avenue	Ames	50010	Story County	Ames Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 268-2470	254	12	21.2	29.1%	160 (63.0%)	29 (11.4%)	29 (11.4%)	14 (5.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (8.7%)								(n/a)										$19,833	$304	$19,530
United Community School	Public	PK, KG-6	1284 U Ave	Boone	50036	Boone County	United Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 432-5319	361	24	14.9	22.4%	319 (88.4%)	5 (1.4%)	23 (6.4%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.0%)	24.5	458^th of 557 public elementary schools	17.8%		51.2	319^th of 565 public elementary schools	43.5%	139	48.3	57.1	73.0	53.8	51.7	57.1	64.9	53.8	48.6	$14,969	$674	$14,296
Mitchell Elementary School	Public	K-5	3521 Jewel Dr	Ames	50010	Story County	Ames Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 239-3775	290	24	12.0	46.2%	171 (59.0%)	53 (18.3%)	33 (11.4%)	10 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (7.9%)	66.2	189^th of 557 public elementary schools	66.1%		78.5	99^th of 565 public elementary schools	82.5%	90	60.0	81.6	83.3		57.5	83.7	81.3		77.1	$12,211	$780	$11,433
Gilbert Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	109 Rothmoor	Gilbert	50105	Story County	Gilbert Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 232-3744	410	23	17.9	7.8%	346 (84.4%)	4 (1.0%)	21 (5.1%)	18 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.1%)								(n/a)										$12,378	$377	$12,000
Gilbert Intermediate School	Public	3-5	103 Mathews Dr	Gilbert	50105	Story County	Gilbert Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 232-3748	341	21	15.9	10.3%	293 (85.9%)	5 (1.5%)	18 (5.3%)	19 (5.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.8%)	92.8	4^th of 557 public elementary schools	99.3%		91	7^th of 565 public elementary schools	98.8%	3	90.6	92.7	87.8		94.9	95.5	91.9		87.8	$11,603	$317	$11,285
Ballard West Elementary	Public	PK, KG-2	105 E Main St	Slater	50244	Story County	Ballard Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 228-3890	472	35	13.6	17.4%	423 (89.6%)	4 (0.8%)	32 (6.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.5%)								(n/a)										$13,797	$324	$13,473

Frequently Asked Questions about Edwards Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Edwards Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Edwards Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Ames Middle School
High : Ames High School

What is the racial makeup of Edwards Elementary School?

Students at Edwards Elementary School are 64% White, 14% African American, 10% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 6% Asian.

Is Edwards Elementary School a good school?

Edwards Elementary School ranks 288^th of 557 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Edwards Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 450 students attended Edwards Elementary School.

What district is Edwards Elementary School in?

Ames Community School District

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Iowa Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.