South Tama County Elementary School

Q: Is South Tama County Elementary School a good school?

South Tama County Elementary School ranks 319 th of 557 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

South Tama County Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 593 students in grades PK-4 in Tama, Iowa, which is part of the South Tama County School District. The school stands out for its significantly more diverse student population compared to nearby schools, with 44.86% White, 37.44% Hispanic, and 9.44% Native American students.

South Tama County Elementary School has consistently underperformed on the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) in both English Language Arts and Mathematics compared to the state and nearby schools. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, the school's 3rd grade proficiency rates were 58.1% in ELA and 68.8% in Math, compared to the state averages of 64.2% and 76.3%, respectively. Additionally, the school has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 53.07% to 64.72% over the past three school years, which is significantly higher than the nearby schools.

The analysis of South Tama County Elementary School reveals a steady decline in its statewide ranking and SchoolDigger rating over the past several years, with the school ranking 319 out of 557 Iowa elementary schools in the 2023-2024 school year and having a 2-star rating. In comparison, nearby schools such as Brooklyn-Guernsey-Malcom Elementary School and Fairview Elementary School have significantly higher academic performance and lower free/reduced lunch rates.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-4

1611 Country Club Dr
Tama, IA 52339

(641) 484-3999

District: South Tama County

SchoolDigger Rank:
319^th of 557 Iowa Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,013

Students who attend South Tama County Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	South Tama County Middle School
High:	South Tama County High School

Student/teacher ratio: 13.9

Number of students: 543

Racial breakdown:

White:

46.0%

Hispanic:

37.9%

American Indian:

8.8%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 61.9%

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Compare South Tama County Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details South Tama County Elementary School ranks worse than 57.3% of elementary schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 51.61. (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 (46%), Hispanic (37.9%), American Indian (8.8%). (See more...)

Compare Details 61.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at South Tama County Elementary School is 13.9. (See more...)

Compare South Tama County Elementary School employs 39 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at South Tama County Elementary School is $13,013.

Schooldigger Rankings:

South Tama County Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

South Tama County:

SchoolDigger ranks South Tama County 272^nd of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for South Tama County Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	36.26	485^th	626	22.5%
2013	32.89	501^st	624	19.7%
2014	22.28	520^th	603	13.8%
2015	37.71	458^th	616	25.6%
2016	57.00	313^th	599	47.7%
2017	22.84	484^th	574	15.7%
2018	22.11	478^th	567	15.7%
2019	42.04	391^st	603	35.2%
2021	7.32	539^th	567	4.9%
2022	28.35	454^th	574	20.9%
2023	41.28	388^th	565	31.3%
2024	51.61	319^th	557	42.7%

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 South Tama County Elementary School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2007	396	7	4	184	147	n/a	n/a	738
2008	429	8	3	192	128	n/a	n/a	760
2009	432	7	6	173	143	n/a	n/a	761
2010	412	9	3	224	90	2	0	740
2011	449	7	3	217	93	1	0	770
2012	426	9	4	205	74	1	1	720
2013	424	5	1	217	66	2	12	727
2014	413	6	2	212	67	0	27	727
2015	342	7	2	207	62	1	26	647
2016	337	1	3	231	48	1	32	653
2017	311	4	2	239	47	0	33	636
2018	286	2	3	232	50	0	46	619
2019	286	1	3	243	55	0	35	623
2020	274	5	3	249	61	0	46	638
2021	267	4	4	233	62	0	45	615
2022	251	4	5	242	56	1	44	603
2023	266	3	3	222	56	0	43	593
2024	250	3	4	206	48	0	32	543

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 South Tama County Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2007	738	49.9	14.8	48
2008	760	50.4	15.1	52.2
2009	761	52.8	14.4	46.5
2010	740	51.0	14.5	51.1
2011	770	50.5	15.2	46
2012	720	51.0	14.1	53.8
2013	727	49.0	14.8	52.8
2014	727	50.0	14.5	62.7
2015	647	45.0	14.3	63.7
2016	653	48.0	13.6	64.3
2017	636	48.3	13.1	64
2018	619	46.5	13.3	64.9
2019	623	43.8	14.2	62.4
2020	638	44.4	14.3	63.2
2021	615	43.5	14.1	64.7
2022	603	40.7	14.7	53.1
2023	593	40.7	14.5	64.1
2024	543	39.0	13.9	61.9

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 South Tama County Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2007	738	49.9	14.8	48
2008	760	50.4	15.1	52.2
2009	761	52.8	14.4	46.5
2010	740	51.0	14.5	51.1
2011	770	50.5	15.2	46
2012	720	51.0	14.1	53.8
2013	727	49.0	14.8	52.8
2014	727	50.0	14.5	62.7
2015	647	45.0	14.3	63.7
2016	653	48.0	13.6	64.3
2017	636	48.3	13.1	64
2018	619	46.5	13.3	64.9
2019	623	43.8	14.2	62.4
2020	638	44.4	14.3	63.2
2021	615	43.5	14.1	64.7
2022	603	40.7	14.7	53.1
2023	593	40.7	14.5	64.1
2024	543	39.0	13.9	61.9

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 South Tama County Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,096 (8.4%)	$11,916 (91.6%)	$13,013

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on South Tama County 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 391^st of 603 Elementary schools	Ranks 388^th of 565 Elementary schools	3.8%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (South Tama County Elementary School)	60.8	66	5.2%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (South Tama County)	60.8	66	5.2%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	65.3	66.3	1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (South Tama County Elementary School)	63.9	71.1	7.2%
3rd Grade Mathematics (South Tama County)	63.9	71.1	7.2%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	71.7	75.3	3.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (South Tama County Elementary School)	64.3	67.9	3.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (South Tama County)	64.3	67.9	3.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	70.5	73.1	2.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (South Tama County Elementary School)	77.6	66	11.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (South Tama County)	77.6	66	11.6%
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	623	593	4.8%
African American	1	3	200%
American Indian	55	56	1.8%
Asian	3	3
Hispanic	243	222	8.6%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	286	266	7%
Two or More Races	35	43	22.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	62.4%	64.1%	1.6%

Schools Near South Tama County 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
South Tama County Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	1611 Country Club Dr	Tama	52339	Tama County	South Tama County	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 484-3999	543	39	13.9	61.9%	250 (46.0%)	3 (0.6%)	206 (37.9%)	4 (0.7%)	48 (8.8%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (5.9%)	51.6	319^th of 557 public elementary schools	42.7%		41.3	388^th of 565 public elementary schools	31.3%	69	58.1	77.3			68.8	83.0				$13,013	$1,096	$11,916
GMG Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1710 Wallace Avenue	Green Mountain	50632	Tama County	GMG Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 474-2251	262	21	12.6	47.3%	240 (91.6%)	3 (1.1%)	13 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.9%)								(n/a)										$12,834	$499	$12,335
Gladbrook-Reinbeck Preschool	Public	PK	409 Washington St	Gladbrook	50635	Tama County	Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(319) 345-2822	13	0		23.1%	13 (100.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
North Tama Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	605 Walnut	Traer	50675	Tama County	North Tama County Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(319) 478-2265	284	22	13.0	39.1%	269 (94.7%)	2 (0.7%)	4 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	8 (2.8%)	26.4	452^nd of 557 public elementary schools	18.9%		24.6	462^nd of 565 public elementary schools	18.2%	10	43.6	60.0	55.6	75.6	59.0	57.1	59.3	68.9	51.9	$11,538	$389	$11,149
J C Hoglan Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	2306 S 3rd Ave	Marshalltown	50158	Marshall County	Marshalltown Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 754-1060	335	25	13.5	78.8%	97 (29.0%)	30 (9.0%)	129 (38.5%)	55 (16.4%)	3 (0.9%)	8 (2.4%)	13 (3.9%)	42.1	381^st of 557 public elementary schools	31.6%		54	296^th of 565 public elementary schools	47.6%	85	58.1	66.7			74.4	71.4				$14,859	$938	$13,921
Fairview Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	1310 Hobart St	Grinnell	50112	Poweshiek County	Grinnell-Newburg Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(641) 236-2780	241	17	13.8	35.7%	208 (86.3%)	3 (1.2%)	17 (7.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (5.4%)								(n/a)										$17,326	$507	$16,819
Anson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	1016 S 3rd Ave	Marshalltown	50158	Marshall County	Marshalltown Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 754-1020	288	25	11.6	88.2%	49 (17.0%)	11 (3.8%)	182 (63.2%)	31 (10.8%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.7%)	12 (4.2%)	26.1	454^th of 557 public elementary schools	18.5%		20.3	479^th of 565 public elementary schools	15.2%	25	52.5	56.8			65.0	68.2				$14,488	$1,598	$12,890
Woodbury Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	8 N 7th Ave	Marshalltown	50158	Marshall County	Marshalltown Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 754-1080	382	27	14.2	78.5%	27 (7.1%)	5 (1.3%)	346 (90.6%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	23.6	461^st of 557 public elementary schools	17.2%		28.7	445^th of 565 public elementary schools	21.2%	16	49.2	68.0			53.2	66.0				$13,925	$932	$12,993
Longfellow Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	707 7th St	Belle Plaine	52208	Benton County	Belle Plaine Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(319) 444-3002	287	17	17.3	48.8%	249 (86.8%)	2 (0.7%)	18 (6.3%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (5.6%)	57.4	278^th of 557 public elementary schools	50.1%		60.9	236^th of 565 public elementary schools	58.2%	42	41.7	69.0	87.5	94.7	50.0	69.0	78.1	89.5	71.9	$13,593	$495	$13,099
Bailey Park Elementary School	Public	K-2	210 8th Ave	Grinnell	50112	Poweshiek County	Grinnell-Newburg Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(641) 236-2770	138	10	13.3	38.4%	113 (81.9%)	4 (2.9%)	15 (10.9%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (3.6%)								(n/a)										$16,074	$1,524	$14,550

Frequently Asked Questions about South Tama County Elementary School

Is South Tama County Elementary School a good school?

South Tama County Elementary School ranks 319^th of 557 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of South Tama County Elementary School?

Students at South Tama County Elementary School are 46% White, 38% Hispanic, 9% American Indian, 6% Two or more races.

How many students attend South Tama County Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 543 students attended South Tama County Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of South Tama County Elementary School attend?

Students who attend South Tama County Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : South Tama County Middle School
High : South Tama County High School

What district is South Tama County Elementary School in?

South Tama County

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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.