Shellsburg Elementary School

Q: Is Shellsburg Elementary School a good school?

Shellsburg Elementary School ranks 117 th of 557 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Shellsburg Elementary School is a public elementary school serving 234 students in grades PK-5 in the Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District in Shellsburg, Iowa. The school has consistently ranked among the top elementary schools in Iowa, with a statewide ranking between 65-252 over the past several years and a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Shellsburg Elementary School outperforms the Vinton-Shellsburg School District and the state of Iowa in academic proficiency across all grade levels and subjects. For example, in 2023-2024, 87.5% of 3rd graders, 90.5% of 4th graders, and 75.5% of 5th graders were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to district scores of 71.3%, 77.3%, and 75.5% respectively, and state scores of 64.2%, 72.9%, and 69%. The school also has a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 12.1, compared to the nearby schools, which range from 12.6 to 20.5.

While Shellsburg Elementary School has a significantly higher percentage of white students (94.02% in 2022-2023) compared to the surrounding schools, it also has a lower percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (42.31% in 2022-2023) compared to the nearby schools, which range from 45.33% to 82.35%. These factors may contribute to the school's strong academic performance, but the school's consistent high achievement suggests it has effective teaching practices, curriculum, and support systems in place to help students succeed.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

203 Tomahawk Trail
Shellsburg, IA 52332

(319) 436-4728

District: Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
117^th of 557 Iowa Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $15,392

Students who attend Shellsburg Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Vinton-Shellsburg Middle School
High:	Vinton-Shellsburg High School

Student/teacher ratio: 11.4

Number of students: 250

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.6%

Two or more races:

3.2%

Hispanic:

2.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 41.6%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Shellsburg Elementary School ranks better than 79% of elementary schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 74.11. (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 (93.6%), two or more races (3.2%), Hispanic (2.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 41.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Shellsburg Elementary School is 11.4. (See more...)

Compare Shellsburg Elementary School employs 21.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Shellsburg Elementary School is $15,392.

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District 93^rd of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Shellsburg Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	57.37	308^th	626	50.8%
2013	51.87	360^th	624	42.3%
2014	77.79	81^st	603	86.6%
2015	75.04	130^th	616	78.9%
2016	78.61	81^st	599	86.5%
2017	74.69	121^st	574	78.9%
2018	75.10	120^th	567	78.8%
2019	79.63	99^th	603	83.6%
2021	78.48	97^th	567	82.9%
2022	83.00	65^th	574	88.7%
2023	59.36	252^nd	565	55.4%
2024	74.11	117^th	557	79.0%

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 Shellsburg Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1994	288	0	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	290
1995	332	1	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	334
1996	332	1	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	334
1997	328	4	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	332
1998	338	3	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	341
1999	364	1	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	365
2000	339	3	8	0	2	n/a	n/a	-11	341
2001	328	3	1	0	2	n/a	n/a	0	334
2002	291	3	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	295
2003	291	3	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	295
2004	265	2	2	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	270
2005	271	2	1	1	1	n/a	n/a	0	276
2006	281	2	1	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	286
2007	246	3	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	251
2008	217	2	2	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	223
2009	251	2	6	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	261
2010	266	2	1	6	0	0	7	0	282
2011	271	1	1	3	1	0	5	0	282
2012	236	3	0	1	1	0	8	0	249
2013	252	0	0	2	0	0	5	0	259
2014	241	3	0	0	0	0	9	0	253
2015	237	4	0	3	0	0	8	0	252
2016	247	1	0	4	1	0	9	0	262
2017	235	2	1	3	0	0	9	0	250
2018	234	2	0	4	1	0	10	0	251
2019	221	1	0	6	1	0	14	0	243
2020	219	2	0	5	1	0	14	0	241
2021	225	0	0	3	0	0	11	0	239
2022	231	1	0	5	0	0	8	0	245
2023	220	0	0	4	0	0	10	0	234
2024	234	2	0	6	0	0	8	0	250

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 Shellsburg Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1994	290	22.3	13.0	20.3
1995	334	24.3	13.7	17.1
1996	334	24.3	13.7	17.1
1997	332	26.2	12.7	22.3
1998	341	27.5	12.4	22.6
1999	365	27.0	13.5	31.5
2000	341	28.0	12.2	23.6
2001	334	28.0	11.9	26
2002	295	25.6	11.5	39
2003	295	25.6	11.5	39
2004	270	24.7	10.9	39.6
2005	276	25.1	11.0	38
2006	286	25.0	11.4	38.1
2007	251	24.0	10.5	37.5
2008	223	23.8	9.4	40.4
2009	261	22.2	11.8	36
2010	282	21.3	13.2	39.7
2011	282	21.0	13.4	37.6
2012	249	19.1	13.0	41
2013	259	20.1	12.8	42.9
2014	253	18.4	13.7	38.7
2015	252	18.0	14.0	37.7
2016	262	19.0	13.7	39.7
2017	250	18.7	13.3	36.4
2018	251	18.2	13.7	44.6
2019	243	18.3	13.2	49
2020	241	18.0	13.3	47.7
2021	239	19.3	12.3	48.1
2022	245	20.5	11.9	35.9
2023	234	19.3	12.1	42.3
2024	250	21.8	11.4	41.6

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 Shellsburg Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1994	290	22.3	13.0	20.3
1995	334	24.3	13.7	17.1
1996	334	24.3	13.7	17.1
1997	332	26.2	12.7	22.3
1998	341	27.5	12.4	22.6
1999	365	27.0	13.5	31.5
2000	341	28.0	12.2	23.6
2001	334	28.0	11.9	26
2002	295	25.6	11.5	39
2003	295	25.6	11.5	39
2004	270	24.7	10.9	39.6
2005	276	25.1	11.0	38
2006	286	25.0	11.4	38.1
2007	251	24.0	10.5	37.5
2008	223	23.8	9.4	40.4
2009	261	22.2	11.8	36
2010	282	21.3	13.2	39.7
2011	282	21.0	13.4	37.6
2012	249	19.1	13.0	41
2013	259	20.1	12.8	42.9
2014	253	18.4	13.7	38.7
2015	252	18.0	14.0	37.7
2016	262	19.0	13.7	39.7
2017	250	18.7	13.3	36.4
2018	251	18.2	13.7	44.6
2019	243	18.3	13.2	49
2020	241	18.0	13.3	47.7
2021	239	19.3	12.3	48.1
2022	245	20.5	11.9	35.9
2023	234	19.3	12.1	42.3
2024	250	21.8	11.4	41.6

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 Shellsburg Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,178 (7.7%)	$14,214 (92.3%)	$15,392

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Shellsburg 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 99^th of 603 Elementary schools	Ranks 252^nd of 565 Elementary schools	28.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Shellsburg Elementary School)	65.4	84.2	18.8%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District)	75.7	68.3	7.4%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	65.3	66.3	1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Shellsburg Elementary School)	92.3	89.5	2.8%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District)	87	85	2%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	71.7	75.3	3.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Shellsburg Elementary School)	82.4	88.2	5.8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District)	87	80.7	6.3%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	70.5	73.1	2.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Shellsburg Elementary School)	94.1	82.4	11.7%
4th Grade Mathematics (Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District)	93	73.7	19.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	72.5	72.9	0.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Shellsburg Elementary School)	77.7	68.8	8.9%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District)	76.9	68.8	8.1%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	67.3	68.3	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Shellsburg Elementary School)	86.4	75.2	11.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District)	85.6	75.2	10.4%
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	243	234	3.7%
African American	1	0	100%
American Indian	1	0	100%
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	6	4	33.3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	221	220	0.5%
Two or More Races	14	10	28.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	49%	42.3%	6.7%

Schools Near Shellsburg 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 Mathematics 3rd Grade	ISASP Mathematics 4th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 5th Grade	ISASP Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Shellsburg Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	203 Tomahawk Trail	Shellsburg	52332	Benton County	Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(319) 436-4728	250	22	11.4	41.6%	234 (93.6%)	2 (0.8%)	6 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.2%)	74.1	117^th of 557 public elementary schools	79.0%		59.4	252^nd of 565 public elementary schools	55.4%	135	87.5	90.5	75.5	87.5	85.7	80.0	69.1	$15,392	$1,178	$14,214
Atkins Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-3	217 4th Ave	Atkins	52206	Benton County	Benton Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 446-7525	398	24	16.3	23.1%	357 (89.7%)	5 (1.3%)	11 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (6.0%)								(n/a)	73.7			86.8				$11,898	$493	$11,405
Center Point-Urbana Primary School	Public	PK, KG-2	101 Palo Road	Center Point	52213	Linn County	Center Point-Urbana Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(319) 849-1102	379	27	14.2	22.2%	345 (91.0%)	4 (1.1%)	17 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.9%)								(n/a)								$13,169	$391	$12,778
Tilford Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	308 E 13th St	Vinton	52349	Benton County	Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(319) 436-4728	558	40	13.8	44.4%	516 (92.5%)	10 (1.8%)	14 (2.5%)	3 (0.5%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	12 (2.2%)	56.2	287^th of 557 public elementary schools	48.5%		61	234^th of 565 public elementary schools	58.6%	53	68.7	74.5		78.8	70.4			$11,456	$576	$10,881
Center Point-Urbana Intermediate School	Public	3-5	202 W Main Street	Urbana	52345	Benton County	Center Point-Urbana Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(319) 849-1102	275	19	14.3	24.7%	246 (89.5%)	1 (0.4%)	12 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (5.8%)								(n/a)								$11,000	$212	$10,787
Viola Gibson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6101 Gibson DR NE	Cedar Rapids	52411	Linn County	Cedar Rapids Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 558-2920	575	35	16.5	15.1%	478 (83.1%)	12 (2.1%)	28 (4.9%)	7 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (8.3%)	73.2	123^rd of 557 public elementary schools	77.9%		80	77^th of 565 public elementary schools	86.4%	46	78.5	80.5	73.6	94.9	81.8	82.4	61.5	$13,762	$268	$13,495
Cedar Rapids Virtual Academy Elementary	Public, Virtual	K-5	2500 Edgewood Rd	Cedar Rapids	52405	Linn County	Cedar Rapids Community School District	No	(n/a)	Yes	No	(319) 558-3427	16	0		81.3%	7 (43.8%)	2 (12.5%)	3 (18.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (18.8%)	1 (6.3%)								(n/a)
Hiawatha Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	603 Emmons ST	Hiawatha	52233	Linn County	Cedar Rapids Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(319) 558-2172	343	26	13.4	59.8%	204 (59.5%)	41 (12.0%)	52 (15.2%)	16 (4.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (8.5%)	48.3	346^th of 557 public elementary schools	37.9%		39.8	400^th of 565 public elementary schools	29.2%	54	55.8	72.0	72.5	68.9	70.0	78.4	56.9	$15,749	$577	$15,172
West Willow Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	6225 1st AVE SW	Cedar Rapids	52405	Linn County	Cedar Rapids Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 558-3130	541	32	16.9	42.7%	309 (57.1%)	119 (22.0%)	46 (8.5%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	60 (11.1%)	39	391^st of 557 public elementary schools	29.8%		48.4	339^th of 565 public elementary schools	40.0%	52	52.1	68.8	64.3	73.2	67.1	71.4	52.9	$14,545	$265	$14,280
Truman Early Learning Center	Public	PK	441 West Post Road NW	Cedar Rapids	52405	Linn County	Cedar Rapids Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(319) 558-3962	298	16	18.6	49.3%	127 (42.6%)	88 (29.5%)	30 (10.1%)	3 (1.0%)	6 (2.0%)	2 (0.7%)	42 (14.1%)								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Shellsburg Elementary School

What district is Shellsburg Elementary School in?

Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District

How many students attend Shellsburg Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 250 students attended Shellsburg Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Shellsburg Elementary School?

Students at Shellsburg Elementary School are 94% White, 3% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic.

What schools do graduates of Shellsburg Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Vinton-Shellsburg Middle School
High : Vinton-Shellsburg High School

Is Shellsburg Elementary School a good school?

Shellsburg Elementary School ranks 117^th of 557 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 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.