Cardinal Elementary

Summary:

Cardinal Elementary is a public elementary school located in Eldon, Iowa, serving grades PK-4 with a total enrollment of 514 students. The school is part of the Cardinal Community School District, which is ranked 255 out of 309 districts in Iowa and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Academically, Cardinal Elementary's performance, as measured by the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP), is generally below the state average. In 2023-2024, the school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics for 3rd and 4th grades were significantly lower than the state averages. For example, in 4th grade Mathematics, Cardinal Elementary had a 70.4% proficiency rate, compared to the state average of 72.7%. In contrast, nearby schools like Pekin Elementary and Eisenhower Elementary in Ottumwa performed better, with higher proficiency rates in both subjects.

Additionally, Cardinal Elementary has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, with 64.59% of students qualifying in the 2022-2023 school year. This is significantly higher than the nearby schools, such as Pekin Elementary (31.71%) and Eisenhower Elementary in Ottumwa (27.31%). The school's spending per student for the 2018-2019 school year was $10,997, which is lower than the nearby schools, such as Pekin Elementary ($12,602) and Pence Elementary ($13,433).

Detail:

Public PK, KG-4

5414 Hwy 16
Eldon, IA 52554

(641) 652-3591

District: Cardinal Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
439^th of 557 Iowa Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $10,997

Students who attend Cardinal Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Cardinal Junior High
High:	Cardinal High School

Student/teacher ratio: 14.0

Number of students: 514

Racial breakdown:

White:

88.1%

Hispanic:

8.0%

Two or more races:

3.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 64.6%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Cardinal Elementary ranks worse than 78.8% of elementary schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 31.12. (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

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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Cardinal Elementary is $10,997.

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

Cardinal Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Cardinal Community School District 255^th of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Cardinal Elementary

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	39.11	464^th	626	25.9%
2013	19.85	559^th	624	10.4%
2014	14.83	545^th	603	9.6%
2015	17.50	538^th	616	12.7%
2016	36.97	455^th	599	24.0%
2017	32.57	445^th	574	22.5%
2018	45.25	369^th	567	34.9%
2019	47.59	356^th	603	41.0%
2021	46.36	339^th	567	40.2%
2022	32.77	430^th	574	25.1%
2023	37.15	418^th	565	26.0%
2024	31.12	439^th	557	21.2%

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

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Enrollment information for Cardinal Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	350	1	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	351
1989	344	1	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	345
1990	342	2	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	344
1991	318	2	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	320
1992	330	2	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	332
1993	313	2	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	316
1994	362	2	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	366
1995	331	1	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	332
1996	331	1	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	332
1997	378	0	3	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	381
1998	336	0	3	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	340
1999	369	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	369
2000	370	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	-29	341
2001	355	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	355
2002	267	4	3	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	279
2003	267	4	3	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	279
2004	304	2	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	310
2005	280	2	5	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	291
2006	277	0	6	11	0	n/a	n/a	0	294
2007	282	0	6	8	0	n/a	n/a	0	296
2008	274	0	4	7	0	n/a	n/a	0	285
2009	255	0	3	10	0	n/a	n/a	0	268
2010	252	0	2	11	0	0	0	0	265
2011	255	1	2	15	0	0	2	0	275
2012	273	0	1	11	0	0	1	0	286
2013	273	0	1	15	0	1	0	0	290
2014	322	5	1	7	0	0	3	0	338
2015	362	7	2	10	1	0	10	0	392
2016	395	9	1	12	0	0	20	0	437
2017	446	8	1	22	0	0	23	0	500
2018	427	7	2	23	0	0	17	0	476
2019	448	6	3	26	0	1	16	0	500
2020	454	8	0	32	0	4	22	0	520
2021	461	5	0	39	0	4	18	0	527
2022	460	1	0	38	0	5	13	0	517
2023	453	1	0	41	0	2	17	0	514

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 Cardinal Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	351	23.0	15.2	33.3
1989	345	23.9	14.4	31.9
1990	344	23.5	14.6	35.2
1991	320	23.5	13.6	31.3
1992	332	23.0	14.4	31.3
1993	316	22.8	13.9	31
1994	366	28.2	13.0	30.1
1995	332	19.0	17.5	32.5
1996	332	19.0	17.5	32.5
1997	381	22.2	17.2	28.3
1998	340	23.2	14.7	37.1
1999	369	24.5	15.1	41.7
2000	341	17.0	20.1	37.6
2001	355	27.9	12.7	44.2
2002	279	27.0	10.3	47
2003	279	27.0	10.3	47
2004	310	25.5	12.2	48.7
2005	291	27.1	10.7	52.6
2006	294	26.5	11.1	51
2007	296	18.0	16.4	54.1
2008	285	17.9	15.9	56.5
2009	268	22.0	12.2	57.5
2010	265	18.8	14.0	64.5
2011	275	18.5	14.8	68
2012	286	18.9	15.1	67.1
2013	290	22.3	12.9	73.4
2014	338	21.5	15.7	69.2
2015	392	23.0	17.0	66.8
2016	437	25.0	17.4	65.4
2017	500	27.7	18.0	69
2018	476	28.9	16.4	63
2019	500	30.0	16.6	67.2
2020	520	35.8	14.5	70.4
2021	527	32.7	16.0	65.1
2022	517	36.7	14.0	42.2
2023	514	36.6	14.0	64.6

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 Cardinal Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	351	23.0	15.2	33.3
1989	345	23.9	14.4	31.9
1990	344	23.5	14.6	35.2
1991	320	23.5	13.6	31.3
1992	332	23.0	14.4	31.3
1993	316	22.8	13.9	31
1994	366	28.2	13.0	30.1
1995	332	19.0	17.5	32.5
1996	332	19.0	17.5	32.5
1997	381	22.2	17.2	28.3
1998	340	23.2	14.7	37.1
1999	369	24.5	15.1	41.7
2000	341	17.0	20.1	37.6
2001	355	27.9	12.7	44.2
2002	279	27.0	10.3	47
2003	279	27.0	10.3	47
2004	310	25.5	12.2	48.7
2005	291	27.1	10.7	52.6
2006	294	26.5	11.1	51
2007	296	18.0	16.4	54.1
2008	285	17.9	15.9	56.5
2009	268	22.0	12.2	57.5
2010	265	18.8	14.0	64.5
2011	275	18.5	14.8	68
2012	286	18.9	15.1	67.1
2013	290	22.3	12.9	73.4
2014	338	21.5	15.7	69.2
2015	392	23.0	17.0	66.8
2016	437	25.0	17.4	65.4
2017	500	27.7	18.0	69
2018	476	28.9	16.4	63
2019	500	30.0	16.6	67.2
2020	520	35.8	14.5	70.4
2021	527	32.7	16.0	65.1
2022	517	36.7	14.0	42.2
2023	514	36.6	14.0	64.6

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 Cardinal Elementary

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$435 (4.0%)	$10,563 (96.1%)	$10,997

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Cardinal Elementary

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 356^th of 603 Elementary schools	Ranks 418^th of 565 Elementary schools	14.9%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Cardinal Elementary)	66.7	61.3	5.4%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Cardinal Community School District)	66.7	61.3	5.4%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	65.3	66.3	1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Cardinal Elementary)	62.1	70	7.9%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Cardinal Community School District)	62.1	70	7.9%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	71.7	75.3	3.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Cardinal Elementary)	72.4	59.7	12.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Cardinal Community School District)	72.4	59.7	12.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	70.5	73.1	2.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Cardinal Elementary)	74.6	72.2	2.4%
4th Grade Mathematics (Cardinal Community School District)	74.6	72.2	2.4%
4th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	72.5	72.9	0.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	500	514	2.8%
African American	6	1	83.3%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	3	0	100%
Hispanic	26	41	57.7%
Pacific Islander	1	2	100%
White	448	453	1.1%
Two or More Races	16	17	6.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	67.2%	64.6%	2.6%

Schools Near Cardinal Elementary

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
Cardinal Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	5414 Hwy 16	Eldon	52554	Wapello County	Cardinal Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 652-3591	514	37	14.0	64.6%	453 (88.1%)	1 (0.2%)	41 (8.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	17 (3.3%)	31.1	439^th of 557 public elementary schools	21.2%		37.2	418^th of 565 public elementary schools	26.0%	21	43.5	76.5			55.3	70.4				$10,997	$435	$10,563
Wilson Elementary School	Public	K-5	1102 E. 4th St.	Ottumwa	52501	Wapello County	Ottumwa Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 684-5441	345	28	12.3	60.0%	119 (34.5%)	35 (10.1%)	113 (32.8%)	10 (2.9%)	4 (1.2%)	57 (16.5%)	7 (2.0%)	26.3	453^rd of 557 public elementary schools	18.7%		14.1	511^th of 565 public elementary schools	9.6%	58	64.7	52.9	60.0		72.5	31.4	64.4		42.2	$13,451	$1,167	$12,284
Douma Elementary School	Public	1-2	307 W. Mary St.	Ottumwa	52501	Wapello County	Ottumwa Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 684-4668	330	23	14.4	50.3%	164 (49.7%)	16 (4.8%)	89 (27.0%)	18 (5.5%)	1 (0.3%)	37 (11.2%)	5 (1.5%)								(n/a)										$14,254	$1,164	$13,090
Horace Mann Elementary School	Public	K-5	1523 N Court St	Ottumwa	52501	Wapello County	Ottumwa Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 684-4661	240	16	15.0	38.8%	149 (62.1%)	26 (10.8%)	41 (17.1%)	6 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.8%)	4 (1.7%)	42.9	376^th of 557 public elementary schools	32.5%		48.5	337^th of 565 public elementary schools	40.4%	39	39.5	82.9	66.7		60.5	82.9	61.9		61.9	$13,776	$1,167	$12,609
Liberty Elementary School	Public	3-6	50 Traxler Drive	Ottumwa	52501	Wapello County	Ottumwa Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 682-4502	430	37	11.6	58.1%	212 (49.3%)	22 (5.1%)	113 (26.3%)	23 (5.3%)	2 (0.5%)	56 (13.0%)	2 (0.5%)	7.5	522^nd of 557 public elementary schools	6.3%		7.8	528^th of 565 public elementary schools	6.5%	6	42.9	48.7	45.9	56.8	62.9	45.2	48.9	46.6	31.9	$13,867	$1,196	$12,671
James Elementary School	Public	K-5	1001 N Benton	Ottumwa	52501	Wapello County	Ottumwa Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 684-5411	229	17	13.5	63.8%	88 (38.4%)	36 (15.7%)	60 (26.2%)	4 (1.7%)	1 (0.4%)	31 (13.5%)	9 (3.9%)	7	527^th of 557 public elementary schools	5.4%		11.4	517^th of 565 public elementary schools	8.5%	10	48.3	38.2	53.3		58.6	35.3	26.7		30.0	$13,974	$1,218	$12,755
Pickwick Early Childhood Center	Public	PK-K	1306 W Williams	Ottumwa	52501	Wapello County	Ottumwa Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(641) 684-7179	569	26	21.9	30.9%	287 (50.4%)	50 (8.8%)	156 (27.4%)	24 (4.2%)	2 (0.4%)	38 (6.7%)	12 (2.1%)								(n/a)
Eisenhower Elementary School	Public	K-5	2624 Marilyn Rd	Ottumwa	52501	Wapello County	Ottumwa Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(641) 684-5617	238	16	14.9	27.3%	198 (83.2%)	10 (4.2%)	17 (7.1%)	3 (1.3%)	2 (0.8%)	6 (2.5%)	1 (0.4%)	66.3	188^th of 557 public elementary schools	66.2%		69.2	175^th of 565 public elementary schools	69.0%	13	73.0	88.4	67.7		81.1	81.4	75.0		58.1	$12,778	$1,167	$11,611
Van Buren County Community School District Douds Center	Public	PK, KG-6	14573 Washington Street	Douds	52551	Van Buren County	Van Buren County Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 936-4321	309	26	11.7	57.6%	296 (95.8%)	1 (0.3%)	8 (2.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	44.2	369^th of 557 public elementary schools	33.8%		51.4	317^th of 565 public elementary schools	43.9%	52	58.6	73.3	55.8	77.3	79.3	70.0	73.1	75.0	48.1	$13,358	$1,032	$12,326
Pekin Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1062 Birch Ave	Packwood	52580	Jefferson County	Pekin Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 661-2351	350	28	12.3	31.7%	328 (93.7%)	1 (0.3%)	10 (2.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.9%)	71.9	144^th of 557 public elementary schools	74.1%		66.6	189^th of 565 public elementary schools	66.5%	45	85.3	67.5	76.8	90.0	82.4	77.5	85.7	70.0	80.4	$12,602	$753	$11,850

Frequently Asked Questions about Cardinal Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Cardinal Elementary?

Students at Cardinal Elementary are 88% White, 8% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

What district is Cardinal Elementary in?

Cardinal Community School District

What schools do graduates of Cardinal Elementary attend?

Students who attend Cardinal Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Cardinal Junior High
High : Cardinal High School

How many students attend Cardinal Elementary?

In the 2022-23 school year, 514 students attended Cardinal Elementary.

Is Cardinal Elementary a good school?

Cardinal Elementary ranks in the bottom 21.2% of Iowa elementary schools.

Rate Cardinal Elementary!

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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.