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Cardinal Elementary School

820 E 29th Street
South Sioux City, NE 68776

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Bottom 50%

Tel: (402) 494-1662

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Serving 424 students in grades Prekindergarten-5, Cardinal Elementary School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Nebraska for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).

The percentage of students achieving is 55-59% (which is approximately equal to the Nebraska state average of 58%). The percentage of students achieving is 35-39% (which is lower than the Nebraska state average of 47%).

The student-teacher ratio of 13:1 is higher than the Nebraska state level of 12:1.

Minority enrollment is 85% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is higher than the Nebraska state average of 39% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Facts (26-27)

Grades: Prekindergarten-5
Enrollment: 424 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
Minority Enrollment: 85%
: Bottom 50% in NE
: 55-59% (Btm 50%)
: 35-39% (Btm 50%)
: 70-79% (Top 30%)
: Cardinal Elementary School serves the eastern part of South Sioux City, NE, covering an area of approximately 2.6 square miles. Families within this zone can typically reach the school within 5 to 10 minutes, with the furthest edge located about 1.5 miles away.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NE Dept. of Education

School Overview

Cardinal Elementary School's student population of 424 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

The teacher population of 32 teachers has declined by 5% over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades Prekindergarten-5
(No virtual instruction)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Cardinal Elementary School
Pre-K	54
Kind	62
1	56
2	65
3	62
4	62
5	63

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Total Students

424 students

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 32-year historical data available below ↓

Total Students Trends (1994-2025)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School
2025	424
2024	434
2023	432
2022	393
2021	409
2020	395
2019	423
2018	411
2017	421
2016	437
2015	427
2014	404
2013	389
2012	392
2011	392
2010	403
2009	426
2008	416
2007	401
2006	323
2005	317
2004	305
2003	304
2002	243
2001	262
2000	253
1999	263
1998	238
1997	242
1996	274
1995	248
1994	220

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Total Classroom Teachers

32 teachers

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 32-year historical data available below ↓

Total Classroom Teachers Trends (1994-2025)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School
2025	32
2024	34
2023	34
2022	32
2021	34
2020	32
2019	34
2018	34
2017	33
2016	33
2015	34
2014	33
2013	34
2012	33
2011	36
2010	35
2009	31
2008	31
2007	27
2006	26
2005	21
2004	20
2003	20
2002	17
2001	19
2000	17
1999	16
1998	16
1997	14
1996	15
1995	14
1994	12

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Year Founded

2025

School Calendar

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School Rankings

Cardinal Elementary School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 901 schools in Nebraska (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Cardinal Elementary School is 0.49, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.58. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (NE)

#635 out of 901 schools
(Bottom 50%)

View Data

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

Overall School Rank Trends (2010-2023)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School
2023	#635
2022	#589
2021	#492
2019	#268
2018	#465
2017	#344
2016	#697
2015	#625
2014	#724
2013	#754
2012	#625
2011	#874
2010	#469

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55-59%

58%

View Data

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

Math Proficiency Comparison (2010-2023)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Nebraska	So Sioux City Community Schools
2023	57%	58%	53%
2022	47%	46%	42%
2021	52%	46%	43%
2019	57%	52%	50%
2018	47%	51%	47%
2017	76%	69%	62%
2016	65%	72%	64%
2015	67%	72%	62%
2014	62%	71%	58%
2013	57%	69%	53%
2012	62%	67%	46%
2011	38%	63%	34%
2010	95%	90%	96%

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35-39%

47%

View Data

Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison (2010-2022)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Nebraska	So Sioux City Community Schools
2022	37%	47%	33%
2021	42%	48%	36%
2019	62%	52%	45%
2018	52%	51%	47%
2017	57%	51%	39%
2016	80%	82%	76%
2015	77%	79%	72%
2014	72%	77%	67%
2013	67%	76%	66%
2012	72%	74%	62%
2011	54%	72%	57%
2010	57%	69%	55%

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70-79%

62%

Student-Teacher Ratio

13:1

12:1

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 32-year historical data available below ↓

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison (1994-2025)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Nebraska	So Sioux City Community Schools
2025	13:1	12:1
2024	13:1	13:1
2023	13:1	13:1	14:1
2022	12:1	13:1	13:1
2021	12:1	13:1	13:1
2020	12:1	13:1	13:1
2019	12:1	13:1	13:1
2018	12:1	13:1	14:1
2017	13:1	13:1	14:1
2016	13:1	13:1	14:1
2015	13:1	13:1	14:1
2014	12:1	13:1	14:1
2013	11:1	13:1	14:1
2012	12:1	13:1	13:1
2011	11:1	13:1	13:1
2010	12:1	12:1	13:1
2009	14:1	13:1	13:1
2008	13:1	12:1	13:1
2007	15:1	13:1	14:1
2006	12:1	12:1	14:1
2005	15:1	13:1	14:1
2004	15:1	13:1	15:1
2003	15:1	13:1	15:1
2002	14:1	13:1	15:1
2001	14:1	13:1	15:1
2000	15:1	13:1	16:1
1999	16:1	13:1	17:1
1998	15:1	13:1	17:1
1997	17:1	13:1	17:1
1996	18:1	13:1	17:1
1995	18:1	13:1	17:1
1994	18:1	13:1	18:1

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American Indian

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 31-year historical data available below ↓

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison (1995-2025)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Nebraska	So Sioux City Community Schools
2025	2%	1%
2024	2%	1%
2023	2%	1%	3%
2022	4%	1%	3%
2021	4%	1%	3%
2020	2%	1%	3%
2019	3%	1%	3%
2018	3%	1%	3%
2017	2%	1%	3%
2016	2%	1%	2%
2015	1%	2%	2%
2014	2%	2%	4%
2013	1%	1%	3%
2012	1%	2%	4%
2011	1%	1%	3%
2010	2%	2%	5%
2009	2%	2%	4%
2008	2%	2%	4%
2007	2%	2%	4%
2006	3%	2%	5%
2005	2%	2%	4%
2004	2%	2%	4%
2003	3%	1%	4%
2002	6%	1%	4%
2001	3%	2%	4%
2000	1%	2%	3%
1999	5%	2%	6%
1998	2%	2%	4%
1997	1%	2%	4%
1996	2%	2%	3%
1995	2%	1%	3%

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Asian

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 32-year historical data available below ↓

Asian Student Percentage Comparison (1994-2025)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Nebraska	So Sioux City Community Schools
2025	2%	3%
2024	3%	3%
2023	3%	3%	3%
2022	3%	3%	3%
2021	4%	3%	3%
2020	4%	3%	3%
2019	4%	3%	3%
2018	5%	3%	3%
2017	5%	3%	3%
2016	5%	3%	3%
2015	5%	2%	3%
2014	4%	2%	3%
2013	3%	2%	4%
2012	3%	2%	3%
2011	3%	2%	3%
2010	2%	2%	4%
2009	3%	2%	4%
2008	4%	2%	4%
2007	6%	2%	3%
2006	5%	2%	3%
2005	5%	2%	3%
2004	5%	2%	4%
2003	6%	2%	4%
2002	5%	2%	4%
2001	4%	1%	4%
2000	5%	1%	5%
1999	6%	2%	8%
1998	3%	1%	5%
1997	2%	1%	4%
1996	1%	1%	5%
1995	1%	1%	5%
1994	1%	1%	4%

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Hispanic

70%

23%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 32-year historical data available below ↓

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison (1994-2025)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Nebraska	So Sioux City Community Schools
2025	70%	23%
2024	72%	22%
2023	70%	21%	64%
2022	70%	21%	64%
2021	69%	20%	64%
2020	67%	20%	64%
2019	68%	19%	64%
2018	65%	19%	65%
2017	64%	19%	65%
2016	64%	18%	64%
2015	64%	18%	64%
2014	62%	17%	62%
2013	64%	17%	62%
2012	64%	16%	62%
2011	65%	16%	62%
2010	63%	14%	59%
2009	62%	13%	58%
2008	59%	13%	56%
2007	56%	12%	55%
2006	51%	11%	51%
2005	49%	11%	49%
2004	40%	10%	47%
2003	32%	9%	45%
2002	20%	8%	41%
2001	19%	7%	36%
2000	18%	6%	31%
1999	12%	4%	18%
1998	15%	5%	25%
1997	9%	5%	22%
1996	9%	4%	20%
1995	6%	4%	17%
1994	3%	4%	15%

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Black

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 32-year historical data available below ↓

Black Student Percentage Comparison (1994-2025)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Nebraska	So Sioux City Community Schools
2025	7%	7%
2024	6%	7%
2023	7%	7%	11%
2022	4%	7%	10%
2021	5%	7%	9%
2020	4%	7%	8%
2019	4%	7%	8%
2018	4%	7%	6%
2017	4%	7%	6%
2016	5%	7%	6%
2015	2%	7%	5%
2014	2%	7%	4%
2013	2%	7%	4%
2012	1%	7%	3%
2011	2%	7%	3%
2010	2%	8%	3%
2009	2%	8%	3%
2008	1%	8%	2%
2007	1%	8%	2%
2006	1%	8%	2%
2005	2%	7%	2%
2004	2%	7%	2%
2003	2%	7%	1%
2002	3%	7%	1%
2001	2%	7%	1%
2000	2%	7%	1%
1999	3%	7%	4%
1998	1%	6%	1%
1997	1%	6%	1%
1996	1%	6%	1%
1995	2%	6%	1%
1994	1%	6%

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White

15%

61%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 32-year historical data available below ↓

White Student Percentage Comparison (1994-2025)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Nebraska	So Sioux City Community Schools
2025	15%	61%
2024	14%	62%
2023	14%	63%	15%
2022	14%	64%	15%
2021	14%	65%	17%
2020	17%	65%	19%
2019	16%	66%	19%
2018	19%	66%	21%
2017	23%	67%	21%
2016	22%	68%	22%
2015	26%	68%	23%
2014	28%	69%	24%
2013	26%	70%	25%
2012	27%	70%	25%
2011	26%	71%	26%
2010	31%	74%	29%
2009	31%	75%	31%
2008	34%	75%	34%
2007	35%	76%	36%
2006	40%	77%	39%
2005	42%	78%	42%
2004	51%	79%	43%
2003	57%	81%	46%
2002	66%	82%	50%
2001	72%	83%	55%
2000	74%	84%	60%
1999	74%	85%	64%
1998	79%	86%	65%
1997	87%	86%	69%
1996	87%	87%	71%
1995	89%	88%	74%
1994	95%	88%	78%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 15-year historical data available below ↓

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison (2011-2025)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Nebraska	So Sioux City Community Schools
2025	2%	5%
2024	1%	5%
2023	2%	5%	2%
2022	3%	4%	3%
2021	3%	4%	3%
2020	4%	4%	3%
2019	4%	4%	3%
2018	3%	4%	2%
2017	1%	3%	2%
2016	1%	3%	3%
2015	2%	3%	3%
2014	2%	3%	3%
2013	4%	3%	2%
2012	4%	3%	3%
2011	3%	3%	3%

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All Ethnic Groups

85%

39%

0.49

0.58

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 32-year historical data available below ↓

Diversity Score Comparison (1994-2025)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Nebraska	So Sioux City Community Schools
2025	0.49	0.57
2024	0.46	0.56
2023	0.49	0.56	0.56
2022	0.49	0.54	0.56
2021	0.50	0.54	0.56
2020	0.52	0.54	0.55
2019	0.51	0.53	0.55
2018	0.54	0.53	0.53
2017	0.54	0.51	0.53
2016	0.54	0.50	0.54
2015	0.52	0.50	0.54
2014	0.54	0.49	0.55
2013	0.53	0.48	0.56
2012	0.52	0.48	0.55
2011	0.51	0.47	0.55
2010	0.51	0.43	0.56
2009	0.52	0.42	0.56
2008	0.54	0.42	0.57
2007	0.57	0.40	0.57
2006	0.58	0.39	0.58
2005	0.59	0.38	0.58
2004	0.58	0.36	0.59
2003	0.57	0.33	0.58
2002	0.52	0.32	0.58
2001	0.45	0.30	0.57
2000	0.42	0.29	0.55
1999	0.40	0.27	0.48
1998	0.36	0.26	0.51
1997	0.24	0.26	0.47
1996	0.24	0.24	0.45
1995	0.21	0.22	0.42
1994	0.10	0.22	0.37

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(22-23)

12.7%

22.6%

View Data

Chronic Absenteeism Rate (2021-2023)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Nebraska	So Sioux City Community Schools
2023	12.7%	22.6%	25.7%
2022	16.3%	24.2%	26.7%
2021	19.6%	21.2%	38.1%

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Participates in the

Yes

Eligible for

41%

35%

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 32-year historical data available below ↓

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison (1994-2025)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Nebraska	So Sioux City Community Schools
2025	41%	35%
2024	51%	38%
2023	45%	36%	54%
2022	32%	31%	41%
2021	48%	39%	56%
2020	43%	36%	56%
2019	47%	37%	56%
2017	47%	36%	54%
2016	47%	35%	54%
2015	45%	35%	53%
2014	50%	35%	54%
2013	55%	35%	59%
2012	51%	35%	55%
2011	52%	34%	53%
2010	51%	31%	50%
2009	37%	29%	43%
2008	36%	28%	40%
2007	27%	27%	32%
2006	30%	26%	31%
2005	35%	26%	36%
2004	23%	25%	28%
2003	19%	24%	25%
2002	10%	22%	24%
2001	10%	21%	24%
2000	18%	21%	27%
1999	15%	21%	30%
1998	16%	22%	28%
1997	15%	21%	26%
1996	11%	20%	25%
1995	9%	20%	26%
1994	25%	20%	25%

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Eligible for

19%

View Data

Showing 2015–2025. Full 27-year historical data available below ↓

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison (1999-2025)
Year	Cardinal Elementary School	Nebraska	So Sioux City Community Schools
2025	19%	8%
2024	16%	8%
2023	16%	8%	16%
2022	13%	8%	11%
2021	17%	7%	13%
2020	18%	8%	11%
2019	15%	8%	11%
2017	15%	8%	11%
2016	12%	9%	9%
2015	16%	9%	12%
2014	13%	9%	12%
2013	15%	9%	13%
2012	17%	9%	14%
2011	14%	9%	14%
2010	15%	10%	13%
2009	19%	10%	15%
2008	17%	10%	14%
2007	12%	9%	11%
2006	11%	9%	10%
2005	9%	9%	8%
2004	11%	9%	12%
2003	7%	9%	9%
2002	11%	9%	11%
2001	8%	9%	11%
2000	11%	9%	12%
1999	7%	8%	10%

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School Statewide Testing

View Education Department Test Scores

School District Name

So Sioux City Community Schools

Sports

Colors

Cardinal Red and White

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NE Dept. of Education

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cardinal Elementary School's ranking?

Cardinal Elementary School is ranked #635 out of 901 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Nebraska.

What schools are Cardinal Elementary School often compared to?

Cardinal Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Dakota City Elementary School, Homer Elementary School by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

55-59% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 58% NE state average), while 35-39% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 47% NE state average).

How many students attend Cardinal Elementary School?

424 students attend Cardinal Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

70% of Cardinal Elementary School students are Hispanic, 15% of students are White, 7% of students are Black, 2% of students are American Indian, 2% of students are Asian, 2% of students are Hawaiian, and 2% of students are Two or more races.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Cardinal Elementary School?

Cardinal Elementary School has a student ration of 13:1, which is higher than the Nebraska state average of 12:1.

What grades does Cardinal Elementary School offer ?

Cardinal Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Prekindergarten-5 (No virtual instruction).

What school district is Cardinal Elementary School part of?

Cardinal Elementary School is part of So Sioux City Community Schools.

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Quick Facts (26-27)

Grades: Prekindergarten-5
Enrollment: 424 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
Minority Enrollment: 85%
: Bottom 50%
: 55-59% (Btm 50%)
: 35-39% (Btm 50%)
: 70-79% (Top 30%)
: Cardinal Elementary School serves the eastern part of South Sioux City, NE, covering an area of approximately 2.6 square miles. Families within this zone can typically reach the school within 5 to 10 minutes, with the furthest edge located about 1.5 miles away.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NE Dept. of Education