Northstar Elementary School

Summary:

Northstar Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Knoxville, Iowa, serving grades 3-5 with a total enrollment of 341 students. The school is part of the Knoxville Community School District, which is ranked 261 out of 309 districts in Iowa and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Northstar Elementary's academic performance, as measured by the ISASP (Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress), is generally below the state average and the performance of nearby schools, such as Runnells Elementary and Hartford Upper Elementary. For example, in 2023-2024, the percentage of 3rd-grade students proficient or better in English Language Arts (49.5%) and Mathematics (75.2%) was lower than the state averages of 64.2% and 76.3%, respectively. Additionally, Northstar Elementary has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, with 55.43% of students qualifying in the 2022-2023 school year, which is significantly higher than the state average and some nearby schools.

Northstar Elementary has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Iowa elementary schools, with a ranking of 415 out of 557 schools in 2023-2024 and a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school's performance has declined over the years, with its statewide ranking dropping from 313 out of 603 schools in 2013-2014 to 415 out of 557 schools in 2023-2024, suggesting that the Knoxville Community School District may need to implement targeted interventions and strategies to improve student outcomes at Northstar Elementary.


Detail:

Public 3-5

 407 W Larson
       Knoxville, IA  50138


(641) 842-6527

District: Knoxville Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
415th of 557 Iowa Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $13,116 Help


Students who attend Northstar Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Knoxville Middle School
High:    Knoxville High School

Student/teacher ratio:  13.8 Help
Number of students:  341

Racial breakdown:

White:
89.4%
Two or more races:
5.3%
Hispanic:
3.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  55.4% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Northstar Elementary School ranks worse than 74.5% of elementary schools in Iowa. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 34.9. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (89.4%), two or more races (5.3%), Hispanic (3.8%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 55.4% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Northstar Elementary School is 13.8. (See more...)
Help
Compare Northstar Elementary School employs 24.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Northstar Elementary School is $13,116.
Schooldigger Rankings:

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

Knoxville Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Knoxville Community School District 261st of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Northstar Elementary School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2012 57.84 299th 626 52.2%
2013 57.56 303rd 624 51.4%
2014 56.55 313th 603 48.1%
2015 33.03 483rd 616 21.6%
2016 40.60 431st 599 28.0%
2017 42.66 400th 574 30.3%
2018 46.07 363rd 567 36.0%
2019 37.79 417th 603 30.8%
2021 31.04 435th 567 23.3%
2022 34.26 422nd 574 26.5%
2023 26.70 455th 565 19.5%
2024 34.90 415th 557 25.5%
See the entire list of Iowa Elementary School Rankings!

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

Northstar 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 Northstar Elementary School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2011 473 1 4 20 2 0 6 0 506
2012 484 4 3 18 1 1 8 0 519
2013 467 6 3 21 0 2 6 0 505
2014 458 6 0 18 0 2 13 0 497
2015 481 5 0 17 0 2 16 0 521
2016 476 5 2 16 2 0 14 0 515
2017 363 7 2 12 0 0 11 0 395
2018 375 5 3 15 0 0 14 0 412
2019 361 1 4 14 0 0 14 0 394
2020 346 2 1 18 1 0 14 0 382
2021 302 3 0 16 1 0 9 0 331
2022 292 0 1 19 2 0 16 0 330
2023 305 2 1 13 1 1 18 0 341

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 Northstar Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2011 506 33.0 15.3 45.1
2012 519 31.7 16.3 46.2
2013 505 31.7 15.9 46.7
2014 497 31.7 15.6 49.5
2015 521 32.0 16.2 45.5
2016 515 32.0 16.0 44.1
2017 395 26.0 15.1 46.8
2018 412 25.6 16.0 44.2
2019 394 25.7 15.3 49.2
2020 382 25.6 14.9 53.4
2021 331 24.5 13.4 45
2022 330 24.5 13.4 47.6
2023 341 24.5 13.8 55.4

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 Northstar Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2011 506 33.0 15.3 45.1
2012 519 31.7 16.3 46.2
2013 505 31.7 15.9 46.7
2014 497 31.7 15.6 49.5
2015 521 32.0 16.2 45.5
2016 515 32.0 16.0 44.1
2017 395 26.0 15.1 46.8
2018 412 25.6 16.0 44.2
2019 394 25.7 15.3 49.2
2020 382 25.6 14.9 53.4
2021 331 24.5 13.4 45
2022 330 24.5 13.4 47.6
2023 341 24.5 13.8 55.4

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 Northstar Elementary School

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $644 (4.9%) $12,471 (95.1%) $13,116

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Northstar 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 417th of 603 Elementary schoolsRanks 455th of 565 Elementary schools
 11.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Northstar Elementary School)37.547.2
 9.7%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Knoxville Community School District)37.547.2
 9.7%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)65.366.3
 1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Northstar Elementary School)5064
 14%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Knoxville Community School District)5064
 14%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Iowa)71.775.3
 3.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Northstar Elementary School)59.460.7
 1.3%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Knoxville Community School District)59.460.7
 1.3%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)70.573.1
 2.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Northstar Elementary School)6563.4
 1.6%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Knoxville Community School District)6563.4
 1.6%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)72.572.9
 0.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Northstar Elementary School)74.653.5
 21.1%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Knoxville Community School District)74.653.5
 21.1%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)67.368.3
 1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Northstar Elementary School)89.766.7
 23%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Knoxville Community School District)89.766.7
 23%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)69.471.3
 1.9%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students394341
 13.5%
African American12
 100%
American Indian01
Asian41
 75%
Hispanic1413
 7.1%
Pacific Islander01
White361305
 15.5%
Two or More Races1418
 28.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients49.2%55.4%
 6.2%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Northstar Elementary School

Students at Northstar Elementary School are 89% White, 5% Two or more races, 4% Hispanic.

Northstar Elementary School ranks 415th of 557 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

In the 2022-23 school year, 341 students attended Northstar Elementary School.

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

Middle : Knoxville Middle School
High : Knoxville High 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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