Bluff Elementary School

Q: Is Bluff Elementary School a good school?

Bluff Elementary School ranks 302 nd of 557 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Bluff Elementary School is a public elementary school in Clinton, Iowa, serving 385 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Clinton Community School District, which is ranked 225 out of 309 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Bluff Elementary School stands out for its diverse student population, with a higher percentage of African American (12.99%), Hispanic (11.69%), and students of two or more races (16.36%) compared to nearby schools. However, the school's academic performance, as measured by ISASP (Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress) test scores, is generally lower than the state and district averages, especially in English Language Arts and Science. Interestingly, the school performs better than the district average in Mathematics. Bluff Elementary also has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 62.9% to 65.81% over the past three school years, indicating a higher proportion of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

While Bluff Elementary School has a relatively high per-student spending of $15,909 and a lower student-teacher ratio ranging from 10.9 to 11.7, its statewide ranking has been declining over the years, from 225th out of 616 Iowa elementary schools in 2013-2014 to 302nd out of 557 in 2023-2024, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. This suggests the need for a closer examination of the school's educational practices and the implementation of targeted interventions to improve student learning outcomes. Compared to nearby schools, such as Whittier Elementary and Bridgeview Elementary, which are ranked much higher and have stronger academic results, Bluff Elementary faces unique challenges in providing equitable educational opportunities for its diverse student population.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

1421 S Bluff Blvd
Clinton, IA 52732

(563) 242-1606

District: Clinton Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
302^nd of 557 Iowa Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $15,909

Students who attend Bluff Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Clinton High School

Student/teacher ratio: 11.5

Number of students: 385

Racial breakdown:

White:

57.9%

Two or more races:

16.4%

African American:

13.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 65.2%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Bluff Elementary School ranks worse than 54.2% of elementary schools in Iowa. It also ranks 3^rd among 4 ranked elementary schools in the Clinton Community School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 54.76. (See more...)

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Bluff Elementary School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (57.9%), two or more races (16.4%), African American (13%). (See more...)

Compare Details 65.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Bluff Elementary School is 11.5, which is the 2^nd best among 4 elementary schools in the Clinton Community School District. (See more...)

Compare Bluff Elementary School employs 33.4 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Bluff Elementary School is $15,909, which is the highest among 4 elementary schools in the Clinton Community School District!

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

Clinton Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Clinton Community School District 225^th of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Bluff Elementary School

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	50.58	385^th	626	38.5%
2013	53.34	342^nd	624	45.2%
2014	60.40	273^rd	603	54.7%
2015	66.71	225^th	616	63.5%
2016	63.23	252^nd	599	57.9%
2017	45.83	379^th	574	34.0%
2018	35.26	421^st	567	25.7%
2019	38.17	414^th	603	31.3%
2021	19.76	478^th	567	15.7%
2022	21.79	484^th	574	15.7%
2023	36.16	425^th	565	24.8%
2024	54.76	302^nd	557	45.8%

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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Reviews:
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Enrollment information for Bluff Elementary School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2000	580	50	4	15	1	n/a	n/a	-40	610
2001	517	58	4	10	2	n/a	n/a	0	591
2002	495	60	5	15	2	n/a	n/a	0	577
2003	495	60	5	15	2	n/a	n/a	0	577
2004	493	65	6	20	6	n/a	n/a	0	590
2005	462	58	7	34	5	n/a	n/a	0	566
2006	433	74	7	33	5	n/a	n/a	0	552
2007	451	77	6	36	2	n/a	n/a	0	572
2008	424	66	5	39	0	n/a	n/a	0	534
2009	405	63	2	36	1	n/a	n/a	0	507
2010	324	34	2	34	0	0	25	0	419
2011	315	25	0	33	0	0	17	0	390
2012	322	25	0	42	0	0	21	0	410
2013	330	33	0	46	0	0	24	0	433
2014	312	36	0	39	0	0	31	0	418
2015	295	47	1	46	0	0	42	0	431
2016	302	55	2	45	1	0	42	0	447
2017	277	65	3	37	0	0	37	0	419
2018	281	52	3	35	0	0	50	0	421
2019	266	61	2	43	0	2	39	0	413
2020	253	55	1	35	0	0	38	0	382
2021	248	52	1	38	0	0	50	0	389
2022	217	40	1	36	3	0	48	0	345
2023	223	50	2	45	2	0	63	0	385

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 Bluff Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2000	610	43.0	14.2	60.8
2001	591	41.0	14.4	58.9
2002	577	44.2	13.1	62.7
2003	577	44.2	13.1	62.7
2004	590	43.0	13.7	64.4
2005	566	45.7	12.4	65.2
2006	552	45.4	12.2	68.5
2007	572	45.2	12.7	68.7
2008	534	44.8	11.9	69.7
2009	507	43.7	11.6	70.2
2010	419	42.6	9.8	73.7
2011	390	32.0	12.1	71.8
2012	410	34.0	12.0	67.6
2013	433	33.7	12.8	71.6
2014	418	35.0	11.9	70.3
2015	431	35.0	12.3	74
2016	447	34.0	13.1	77.6
2017	419	37.5	11.1	74.9
2018	421	35.5	11.8	76.5
2019	413	34.3	12.0	78.5
2020	382	35.1	10.8	64.1
2021	389	33.1	11.7	65.8
2022	345	31.6	10.9	62.9
2023	385	33.4	11.5	65.2

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 Bluff Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2000	610	43.0	14.2	60.8
2001	591	41.0	14.4	58.9
2002	577	44.2	13.1	62.7
2003	577	44.2	13.1	62.7
2004	590	43.0	13.7	64.4
2005	566	45.7	12.4	65.2
2006	552	45.4	12.2	68.5
2007	572	45.2	12.7	68.7
2008	534	44.8	11.9	69.7
2009	507	43.7	11.6	70.2
2010	419	42.6	9.8	73.7
2011	390	32.0	12.1	71.8
2012	410	34.0	12.0	67.6
2013	433	33.7	12.8	71.6
2014	418	35.0	11.9	70.3
2015	431	35.0	12.3	74
2016	447	34.0	13.1	77.6
2017	419	37.5	11.1	74.9
2018	421	35.5	11.8	76.5
2019	413	34.3	12.0	78.5
2020	382	35.1	10.8	64.1
2021	389	33.1	11.7	65.8
2022	345	31.6	10.9	62.9
2023	385	33.4	11.5	65.2

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 Bluff Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,821 (11.4%)	$14,089 (88.6%)	$15,909

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Bluff 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 414^th of 603 Elementary schools	Ranks 425^th of 565 Elementary schools	6.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Bluff Elementary School)	53.4	64.4	11%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Clinton Community School District)	63.3	70.9	7.6%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	65.3	66.3	1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Bluff Elementary School)	60.3	79.7	19.4%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Clinton Community School District)	74.1	78.7	4.6%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	71.7	75.3	3.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Bluff Elementary School)	64.3	70	5.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Clinton Community School District)	72.3	77	4.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	70.5	73.1	2.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Bluff Elementary School)	62.5	70	7.5%
4th Grade Mathematics (Clinton Community School District)	72.8	78.9	6.1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	72.5	72.9	0.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Bluff Elementary School)	78.4	40	38.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Clinton Community School District)	67.9	62.3	5.6%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	67.3	68.3	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Bluff Elementary School)	78.4	60	18.4%
5th Grade Mathematics (Clinton Community School District)	70.7	73.8	3.1%
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	413	385	6.8%
African American	61	50	18%
American Indian	0	2
Asian	2	2
Hispanic	43	45	4.7%
Pacific Islander	2	0	100%
White	266	223	16.2%
Two or More Races	39	63	61.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	78.5%	65.2%	13.3%

Schools Near Bluff 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
Bluff Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1421 S Bluff Blvd	Clinton	52732	Clinton County	Clinton Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(563) 242-1606	385	33	11.5	65.2%	223 (57.9%)	50 (13.0%)	45 (11.7%)	2 (0.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	63 (16.4%)	54.8	302^nd of 557 public elementary schools	45.8%		36.2	425^th of 565 public elementary schools	24.8%	123	68.2	77.4	69.8		65.9	83.0	79.1		48.8	$15,909	$1,821	$14,089
Whittier Elementary School	Public	K-5	1310 2nd Ave S	Clinton	52732	Clinton County	Clinton Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(563) 243-3230	354	29	12.3	40.7%	284 (80.2%)	25 (7.1%)	23 (6.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (6.2%)	82.7	54^th of 557 public elementary schools	90.3%		83.1	54^th of 565 public elementary schools	90.4%		72.5	90.5	80.7		97.5	90.5	86.0		68.4	$12,691	$988	$11,704
Jefferson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	720 4th Ave S	Clinton	52732	Clinton County	Clinton Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(563) 243-0479	343	33	10.2	79.0%	179 (52.2%)	45 (13.1%)	73 (21.3%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	43 (12.5%)	16.5	483^rd of 557 public elementary schools	13.3%		25.5	460^th of 565 public elementary schools	18.6%	23	25.0	56.9	53.8		47.7	55.4	63.5		50.0	$15,869	$1,282	$14,588
Eagle Heights Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1350 Main Ave	Clinton	52732	Clinton County	Clinton Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(563) 243-4288	474	37	12.7	58.6%	383 (80.8%)	17 (3.6%)	28 (5.9%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (9.1%)	57.4	279^th of 557 public elementary schools	49.9%		66.3	193^rd of 565 public elementary schools	65.8%	86	66.7	80.0	76.9		76.4	70.8	83.1		47.7	$13,883	$802	$13,083
Camanche Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	508 11th Place	Camanche	52730	Clinton County	Camanche Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(563) 259-3016	394	29	13.6	39.1%	348 (88.3%)	3 (0.8%)	18 (4.6%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (5.8%)	36.2	410^th of 557 public elementary schools	26.4%		26.2	458^th of 565 public elementary schools	18.9%	48	45.9	69.6			72.1	71.4				$11,440	$426	$11,013
Northeast Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1450 370th Ave	Goose Lake	52750	Clinton County	Northeast Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(563) 577-2249	398	30	13.3	31.7%	374 (94.0%)	1 (0.3%)	6 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.0%)	69.8	163^rd of 557 public elementary schools	70.7%		64.7	206^th of 565 public elementary schools	63.5%	43	82.6	87.0	69.0		87.0	83.3	64.3		59.5	$12,149	$364	$11,786
Virgil Grissom Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	500 Lost Grove Rd	Princeton	52768	Scott County	North Scott Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(563) 285-3264	196	14	14.4	24.5%	179 (91.3%)	1 (0.5%)	12 (6.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.0%)	82.8	51^st of 557 public elementary schools	90.8%		83.9	46^th of 565 public elementary schools	91.9%	5	82.4	81.5	87.5	82.6	100.0	88.9	87.5	91.3	68.8	$12,175	$73	$12,102
Easton Valley Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	439 Wilson	Miles	52064	Jackson County	Easton Valley Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(563) 682-7131	288	23	12.7	39.2%	272 (94.4%)	1 (0.3%)	13 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	56.9	282^nd of 557 public elementary schools	49.4%		39.2	403^rd of 565 public elementary schools	28.7%	121	33.3	78.1	62.5	87.5	66.7	87.5	90.6	84.4	62.5	$14,767	$948	$13,818
Ekstrand Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-3	1140 15th St	De Witt	52742	Clinton County	Central DeWitt School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(563) 659-0750	460	35	13.3	33.3%	416 (90.4%)	15 (3.3%)	12 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.7%)								(n/a)	65.1				76.4					$13,330	$544	$12,787
Cody Elementary School	Public	K-6	2100 Territorial Road	LeClaire	52753	Scott County	Pleasant Valley Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(563) 332-0210	457	29	15.7	10.3%	387 (84.7%)	9 (2.0%)	30 (6.6%)	7 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (5.3%)	90.1	14^th of 557 public elementary schools	97.5%		85	39^th of 565 public elementary schools	93.1%	25	85.1	90.8	87.5	89.6	95.9	90.8	96.9	91.0	79.7	$10,517	$233	$10,284

Frequently Asked Questions about Bluff Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Bluff Elementary School?

Students at Bluff Elementary School are 58% White, 16% Two or more races, 13% African American, 12% Hispanic.

What schools do graduates of Bluff Elementary School attend?

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

High : Clinton High School

How many students attend Bluff Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 385 students attended Bluff Elementary School.

What district is Bluff Elementary School in?

Clinton Community School District

Is Bluff Elementary School a good school?

Bluff Elementary School ranks 302^nd of 557 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

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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.