Southdale Elementary School

Summary:

Southdale Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, serving grades PK-6 with a student population of around 530. The school is part of the Cedar Falls Community School District, which is ranked 53 out of 309 districts in Iowa and is rated 4 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

Southdale Elementary consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in Iowa, ranking as high as 52nd out of 574 schools in the 2021-2022 school year. The school's students consistently outperform the state and district averages in ISASP (Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress) tests for English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, proficiency rates at Southdale Elementary ranged from 74.3% to 91.2% across the grades, significantly higher than the state averages of 64.2% to 74.5% in English Language Arts and 71.1% to 76.3% in Mathematics.

Southdale Elementary has a relatively diverse student population, with 78.87% White, 4.15% African American, 3.4% Hispanic, and 7.17% Asian students in the 2022-2023 school year. This diversity is higher than some of the nearby schools, such as Bess Streeter Aldrich Elementary, which has a student population that is 89.28% White. Additionally, Southdale Elementary has a relatively low percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, at 23.02% in the 2022-2023 school year, compared to some nearby schools like Irving Elementary in the Waterloo Community School District, which has a free and reduced lunch rate of 91.79%.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-6

 627 Orchard Dr
       Cedar Falls, IA  50613


(319) 553-2900

District: Cedar Falls Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
119th of 557 Iowa Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $11,540 Help


Students who attend Southdale Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Peet Junior High School
High:    Cedar Falls High School

Student/teacher ratio:  13.2 Help
Number of students:  530

Racial breakdown:

White:
78.9%
Asian:
7.2%
Two or more races:
6.4%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  23% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Southdale Elementary School ranks better than 78.6% of elementary schools in Iowa. It also ranks 3rd among 7 ranked elementary schools in the Cedar Falls Community School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 73.88. (See more...)
Help
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
Help
Compare Details Southdale Elementary School has the largest elementary school student body size in the Cedar Falls Community School District.  (See more...)
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Southdale Elementary School is $11,540. 4 elementary schools in the Cedar Falls Community School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger Rankings:

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

Cedar Falls Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Cedar Falls Community School District 53rd of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Southdale Elementary School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2012 76.23 86th 626 86.3%
2013 72.07 130th 624 79.2%
2014 71.33 145th 603 76.0%
2015 80.42 60th 616 90.3%
2016 76.62 103rd 599 82.8%
2017 79.24 77th 574 86.6%
2018 71.38 152nd 567 73.2%
2019 80.53 92nd 603 84.7%
2021 77.92 102nd 567 82.0%
2022 84.17 52nd 574 90.9%
2023 80.79 72nd 565 87.3%
2024 73.88 119th 557 78.6%
See the entire list of Iowa Elementary School Rankings!

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

Southdale Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    






Data source: Iowa Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Southdale Elementary School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 379 7 15 0 0 n/a n/a 0 401
1989 382 3 15 0 0 n/a n/a 0 400
1990 390 3 20 0 0 n/a n/a 0 413
1991 393 4 29 1 0 n/a n/a 0 427
1992 383 7 20 1 0 n/a n/a 0 411
1993 374 8 25 3 1 n/a n/a 0 411
1994 356 8 13 2 6 n/a n/a 0 385
1995 346 16 13 1 1 n/a n/a 0 377
1996 346 16 13 1 1 n/a n/a 0 377
1997 337 12 13 3 0 n/a n/a 0 365
1998 322 19 9 2 1 n/a n/a 0 353
1999 363 17 11 3 0 n/a n/a 0 394
2000 374 19 8 2 0 n/a n/a -24 379
2001 361 20 11 4 0 n/a n/a 0 396
2002 320 23 7 2 0 n/a n/a 0 352
2003 320 23 7 2 0 n/a n/a 0 352
2004 340 25 11 3 0 n/a n/a 0 379
2005 344 33 16 6 2 n/a n/a 0 401
2006 367 22 16 7 0 n/a n/a 0 412
2007 389 21 22 16 0 n/a n/a 0 448
2008 397 33 25 11 1 n/a n/a 0 467
2009 391 25 32 12 4 n/a n/a 0 464
2010 440 14 27 18 0 1 15 0 515
2011 458 18 35 19 0 1 18 0 549
2012 492 14 31 23 0 1 10 0 571
2013 528 15 29 23 0 0 18 0 613
2014 530 10 38 20 1 0 22 0 621
2015 572 10 31 26 2 1 21 0 663
2016 594 16 31 19 2 2 27 0 691
2017 635 26 36 14 2 4 36 0 753
2018 640 19 37 16 2 4 37 0 755
2019 468 17 33 9 0 5 35 0 567
2020 438 14 39 17 1 7 27 0 543
2021 419 14 40 11 1 12 27 0 524
2022 438 18 41 13 0 0 25 0 535
2023 418 22 38 18 0 0 34 0 530

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 Southdale Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 401 20.2 19.8 7
1989 400 21.2 18.8 5.8
1990 413 21.2 19.4 5.3
1991 427 21.2 20.1 8
1992 411 22.0 18.6 8.5
1993 411 21.7 18.9 9.7
1994 385 21.8 17.7 9.4
1995 377 21.5 17.5 8.5
1996 377 21.5 17.5 8.5
1997 365 20.5 17.8 5.8
1998 353 19.4 18.2 9.9
1999 394 23.9 16.5 11.9
2000 379 24.8 15.3 11.2
2001 396 30.9 12.8 11.4
2002 352 23.6 14.9 13.9
2003 352 23.6 14.9 13.9
2004 379 25.9 14.6 12.1
2005 401 28.2 14.2 13
2006 412 28.2 14.6 5.8
2007 448 31.1 14.4 9.4
2008 467 24.8 18.8 13.5
2009 464 22.0 21.1 9.9
2010 515 28.0 18.3 11.3
2011 549 32.0 17.1 12.9
2012 571 36.4 15.6 13.7
2013 613 39.8 15.3 11.3
2014 621 41.3 15.0 15.1
2015 663 44.0 15.0 16
2016 691 45.0 15.3 19.1
2017 753 48.4 15.5 12
2018 755 46.7 16.1 12.5
2019 567 37.8 14.9 20.1
2020 543 37.8 14.3 19.5
2021 524 37.8 13.8 16.8
2022 535 38.8 13.7 18.1
2023 530 39.8 13.2 23

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 Southdale Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 401 20.2 19.8 7
1989 400 21.2 18.8 5.8
1990 413 21.2 19.4 5.3
1991 427 21.2 20.1 8
1992 411 22.0 18.6 8.5
1993 411 21.7 18.9 9.7
1994 385 21.8 17.7 9.4
1995 377 21.5 17.5 8.5
1996 377 21.5 17.5 8.5
1997 365 20.5 17.8 5.8
1998 353 19.4 18.2 9.9
1999 394 23.9 16.5 11.9
2000 379 24.8 15.3 11.2
2001 396 30.9 12.8 11.4
2002 352 23.6 14.9 13.9
2003 352 23.6 14.9 13.9
2004 379 25.9 14.6 12.1
2005 401 28.2 14.2 13
2006 412 28.2 14.6 5.8
2007 448 31.1 14.4 9.4
2008 467 24.8 18.8 13.5
2009 464 22.0 21.1 9.9
2010 515 28.0 18.3 11.3
2011 549 32.0 17.1 12.9
2012 571 36.4 15.6 13.7
2013 613 39.8 15.3 11.3
2014 621 41.3 15.0 15.1
2015 663 44.0 15.0 16
2016 691 45.0 15.3 19.1
2017 753 48.4 15.5 12
2018 755 46.7 16.1 12.5
2019 567 37.8 14.9 20.1
2020 543 37.8 14.3 19.5
2021 524 37.8 13.8 16.8
2022 535 38.8 13.7 18.1
2023 530 39.8 13.2 23

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 Southdale Elementary School

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $473 (4.1%) $11,067 (95.9%) $11,540

Data source: Iowa Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Southdale 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 92nd of 603 Elementary schoolsRanks 72nd of 565 Elementary schools
 2.5%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Southdale Elementary School)76.185.5
 9.4%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Cedar Falls Community School District)78.684.8
 6.2%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)65.366.3
 1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Southdale Elementary School)85.189.9
 4.8%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Cedar Falls Community School District)8287.3
 5.3%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Iowa)71.775.3
 3.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Southdale Elementary School)82.986.6
 3.7%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Cedar Falls Community School District)84.783.3
 1.4%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)70.573.1
 2.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Southdale Elementary School)81.785.1
 3.4%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Cedar Falls Community School District)82.880
 2.8%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)72.572.9
 0.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Southdale Elementary School)85.774
 11.7%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Cedar Falls Community School District)80.978.1
 2.8%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)67.368.3
 1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Southdale Elementary School)85.783.6
 2.1%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Cedar Falls Community School District)79.579.2
 0.3%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)69.471.3
 1.9%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Southdale Elementary School)84.992
 7.1%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Cedar Falls Community School District)81.786.6
 4.9%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)67.572.7
 5.2%
6th Grade Mathematics (Southdale Elementary School)80.880
 0.8%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Cedar Falls Community School District)79.778.9
 0.8%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)69.469.9
 0.5%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students567530
 6.5%
African American1722
 29.4%
American Indian00
Asian3338
 15.2%
Hispanic918
 100%
Pacific Islander50
 100%
White468418
 10.7%
Two or More Races3534
 2.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients20.1%23%
 2.9%


Schools Near Southdale Elementary School









Frequently Asked Questions about Southdale Elementary School

Southdale Elementary School ranks 119th of 557 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Students at Southdale Elementary School are 79% White, 7% Asian, 6% Two or more races, 4% African American, 3% Hispanic.

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

Middle : Peet Junior High School
High : Cedar Falls High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 530 students attended Southdale Elementary School.


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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.





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