Cardinal Junior High

Q: Is Cardinal Junior High a good school?

Cardinal Junior High ranks 193 rd of 337 Iowa middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Cardinal Junior High is a public middle school located in Eldon, Iowa, serving grades 5-8 with a total enrollment of 284 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.

Despite being in a lower-ranked school district, Cardinal Junior High has maintained relatively strong academic performance, with proficiency rates that are often above the state average and the nearby schools. In the 2023-2024 school year, the school had higher proficiency rates than the state average in both English Language Arts and Mathematics for all grade levels. Additionally, Cardinal Junior High has a lower student-teacher ratio compared to the nearby Davis County Middle School and Evans Middle School, which may indicate that the school has access to more resources and can provide more individualized attention to students.

However, Cardinal Junior High has a significantly higher percentage of white students (87.32%) compared to the nearby schools, such as Fairfield Middle School (79% white) and Evans Middle School (52.44% white). Additionally, the school has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 39.11% to 57.14% over the past three school years, which is higher than the nearby Davis County Middle School (46.35%) and Fairfield Middle School (51.37%), but lower than Evans Middle School (46.51%).

Detail:

Public 5-8

4045 Ashland Road
Eldon, IA 52554

(641) 652-7531

District: Cardinal Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
193^rd of 337 Iowa Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $11,218

Students who attend Cardinal Junior High usually attend:

High:

Cardinal High School

Feeder schools for Cardinal Junior High:

Elementary:

Cardinal Elementary

Student/teacher ratio: 16.1

Number of students: 301

Racial breakdown:

White:

86.4%

Hispanic:

7.3%

Two or more races:

5.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 53.2%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Cardinal Junior High ranks worse than 57.3% of middle schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 50.73. (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 Racial makeup is: White (86.4%), Hispanic (7.3%), two or more races (5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 53.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Cardinal Junior High is 16.1. (See more...)

Compare Cardinal Junior High employs 18.6 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Cardinal Junior High is $11,218.

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

SchoolDigger ranks Cardinal Junior High 193^rd of 337 Iowa public middle schools. (See Cardinal Junior High in the ranking list.)

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 Junior High

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IA State Percentile
2019	24.72	281^st	342	17.8%
2021	28.72	261^st	324	19.4%
2022	43.21	218^th	337	35.3%
2023	38.19	233^rd	334	30.2%
2024	50.73	193^rd	337	42.7%

See the entire list of Iowa Middle 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 Junior High

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2018	222	7	0	8	0	7	244
2019	239	7	0	10	0	7	263
2020	252	5	2	12	0	5	276
2021	247	2	2	13	0	9	273
2022	239	3	2	16	0	11	271
2023	248	1	1	18	2	14	284
2024	260	2	0	22	2	15	301

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 Junior High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2018	244	12.6	19.3	54.9
2019	263	13.2	19.8	59.3
2020	276	12.6	21.8	60.9
2021	273	13.6	20.0	57.1
2022	271	15.6	17.3	39.1
2023	284	18.6	15.2	51.1
2024	301	18.6	16.1	53.2

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 Junior High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2018	244	12.6	19.3	54.9
2019	263	13.2	19.8	59.3
2020	276	12.6	21.8	60.9
2021	273	13.6	20.0	57.1
2022	271	15.6	17.3	39.1
2023	284	18.6	15.2	51.1
2024	301	18.6	16.1	53.2

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 Junior High

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$698 (6.2%)	$10,520 (93.8%)	$11,218

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Cardinal Junior High

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 281^st of 342 Middle schools	Ranks 233^rd of 334 Middle schools	12.4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
5th Grade English Language Arts (Cardinal Junior High)	54.4	63.6	9.2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Cardinal Community School District)	54.4	63.6	9.2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	67.3	68.3	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Cardinal Junior High)	44.1	63.6	19.5%
5th Grade Mathematics (Cardinal Community School District)	44.1	63.6	19.5%
5th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	69.4	71.3	1.9%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Cardinal Junior High)	60.3	65.8	5.5%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Cardinal Community School District)	60.3	65.8	5.5%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	67.5	72.7	5.2%
6th Grade Mathematics (Cardinal Junior High)	44.1	67.1	23%
6th Grade Mathematics (Cardinal Community School District)	44.1	67.1	23%
6th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	69.4	69.9	0.5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Cardinal Junior High)	67.6	73.8	6.2%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Cardinal Community School District)	67.6	73.8	6.2%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	69.9	74.2	4.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (Cardinal Junior High)	72.1	66.2	5.9%
7th Grade Mathematics (Cardinal Community School District)	72.1	66.2	5.9%
7th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	70.1	68.9	1.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Cardinal Junior High)	43.1	70.5	27.4%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Cardinal Community School District)	43.1	70.5	27.4%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	69.5	76	6.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Cardinal Junior High)	55.2	65.6	10.4%
8th Grade Mathematics (Cardinal Community School District)	55.2	65.6	10.4%
8th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	71.8	72	0.2%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	263	284	8%
African American	7	1	85.7%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	1
Hispanic	10	18	80%
Pacific Islander	0	2
White	239	248	3.8%
Two or More Races	7	14	100%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	59.3%	51.1%	8.3%

Schools Near Cardinal Junior High

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 5th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 6th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 7th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 8th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 5th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 6th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 7th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 8th Grade	ISASP Science 5th Grade	ISASP Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Cardinal Junior High	Public	5-8	4045 Ashland Road	Eldon	52554	Wapello County	Cardinal Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(641) 652-7531	301	19	16.1	53.2%	260 (86.4%)	2 (0.7%)	22 (7.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	15 (5.0%)	50.7	193^rd of 337 public middle schools	42.7%		38.2	233^rd of 334 public middle schools	30.2%	40	65.3	75.7	81.8	82.6	63.9	71.6	66.2	63.8	48.6	73.9	$11,218	$698	$10,520
Evans Middle School	Public	7-8	812 Chester Avenue	Ottumwa	52501	Wapello County	Ottumwa Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(641) 684-6511	689	53	13.0	52.1%	361 (52.4%)	44 (6.4%)	172 (25.0%)	20 (2.9%)	5 (0.7%)	75 (10.9%)	12 (1.7%)	14.5	309^th of 337 public middle schools	8.3%		18.4	293^rd of 334 public middle schools	12.3%	16			63.6	68.8			49.4	63.7		48.2	$12,177	$523	$11,654
Fairfield Middle School	Public	5-8	404 W Fillmore	Fairfield	52556	Jefferson County	Fairfield Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 472-5019	418	29	14.2	45.7%	331 (79.2%)	6 (1.4%)	40 (9.6%)	22 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (4.5%)	62.4	134^th of 337 public middle schools	60.2%		65.6	106^th of 334 public middle schools	68.3%	28	59.3	86.0	77.4	87.3	50.5	78.0	65.6	79.8	53.8	70.6	$13,667	$633	$13,034
Davis County Middle School	Public	5-8	500 E North St	Bloomfield	52537	Davis County	Davis County Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(641) 664-2200	342	17	20.4	53.8%	317 (92.7%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.4%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.3%)	38.5	241^st of 337 public middle schools	28.5%		32.5	254^th of 334 public middle schools	24.0%	13	46.3	76.3	73.0	74.1	46.3	63.2	58.4	70.6	42.7	70.6	$11,065	$358	$10,707

Frequently Asked Questions about Cardinal Junior High

What is the racial makeup of Cardinal Junior High?

Students at Cardinal Junior High are 86% White, 7% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races.

What district is Cardinal Junior High in?

Cardinal Community School District

What high school do graduates of Cardinal Junior High attend?

Students who attend Cardinal Junior High usually go on to attend Cardinal High School

Is Cardinal Junior High a good school?

Cardinal Junior High ranks 193^rd of 337 Iowa middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Cardinal Junior High?

In the 2023-24 school year, 301 students attended Cardinal Junior High.

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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.