Home > Iowa > Wapello County

Cardinal Community School District

4045 Ashland Rd
Eldon, IA 52554

( shown in map)

:

2/

10

Bottom 50%

Tel: (641) 652-7531

www.cardinalcomet.com

For the 2025-26 school year, there are 2 public elementary schools serving 830 students in Cardinal Community School District. This district's average elementary is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Iowa.

Public Elementary Schools in Cardinal Community School District have an score of 67% (versus the Iowa public elementary school average of 70%), and score of 65% (versus the 69% statewide average).

Minority enrollment is 13% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Iowa public elementary school average of 29% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District

This State (IA)

# Schools

3 Schools

924 Schools

# Students

1,107 Students

320,020 Students

# Teachers

75 Teachers

23,100 Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

15:1

15:1

Student By Grade

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Cardinal Community School District	Iowa
Pre-K	131	53
Kind	82	106
1	69	105
2	76	108
3	88	107
4	83	109
5	72	109
6	78	108
7	80	75
8	71	70

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District Rank

Cardinal Community School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 325 school districts in Iowa (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.

The school district's graduation rate of 95% has increased from 90% over five school years.

This School District

State Average (IA)

#282 out of 327 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	Cardinal Community School District
2023	#282
2022	#285
2021	#293
2019	#298
2018	#288
2017	#300
2016	#314
2015	#329
2014	#341
2013	#333
2012	#318

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63%

68%

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Cardinal Community School District	Iowa
2023	63%	68%
2022	53%	64%
2021	54%	64%
2019	56%	69%
2018	70%	76%
2017	71%	77%
2016	71%	78%
2015	65%	79%
2014	60%	79%
2013	65%	77%
2012	69%	76%

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63%

70%

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Cardinal Community School District	Iowa
2022	63%	70%
2021	58%	68%
2019	61%	68%
2018	70%	74%
2017	68%	75%
2016	67%	75%
2015	66%	76%
2014	58%	76%
2013	63%	72%
2012	64%	71%
2011	72%	76%

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60%

63%

Science Proficiency Trends
Year	Cardinal Community School District	Iowa
2022	60%	63%
2021	52%	60%

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(21-22)

≥95%

90%

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	Cardinal Community School District	Iowa
2022	95%	90%
2021	95%	87%
2020	95%	89%
2019	90%	88%
2018	90%	89%
2017	90%	89%
2016	90%	88%
2015	90%	88%
2014	92%	89%
2013	84%	87%
2012	95%	88%

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Students by Ethnicity:

0.22

0.47

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	Cardinal Community School District	Iowa
2023	0.21	0.46
2022	0.20	0.45
2021	0.20	0.43
2020	0.17	0.42
2019	0.17	0.42
2018	0.16	0.39
2017	0.16	0.39
2016	0.15	0.38
2015	0.12	0.38
2014	0.08	0.37
2013	0.12	0.35
2012	0.10	0.34
2011	0.11	0.34
2010	0.09	0.32
2009	0.10	0.29
2008	0.06	0.28
2007	0.07	0.26
2006	0.07	0.23
2005	0.07	0.24
2004	0.06	0.22
2003	0.07	0.21
2002	0.04	0.20
2001	0.04	0.20
2000	0.01	0.15
1999	0.01	0.16
1998	0.04	0.15
1997	0.02	0.13
1995	0.02	0.13
1994	0.03	0.13
1993	0.02	0.11
1992	0.01	0.10

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% American Indian

n/a

n/a

% Asian

n/a

3%

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1997-2020)
Year	Cardinal Community School District	Iowa
2020	1%	3%
2019	1%	3%
2014	1%	3%
2009	2%	2%
2008	2%	2%
2007	1%	2%
2006	1%	2%
2005	1%	2%
2001	1%	2%
1998	1%	2%
1997	1%	2%

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% Hispanic

7%

13%

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1995-2023)
Year	Cardinal Community School District	Iowa
2023	7%	13%
2022	7%	12%
2021	7%	12%
2020	4%	11%
2019	4%	11%
2018	5%	11%
2017	5%	11%
2016	3%	10%
2015	4%	11%
2014	3%	10%
2013	5%	9%
2012	4%	9%
2011	5%	9%
2010	3%	8%
2009	3%	7%
2008	1%	7%
2007	2%	6%
2006	2%	5%
2005	2%	5%
2004	2%	5%
2003	2%	4%
2002	2%	4%
2001	1%	4%
1998	1%	3%
1995	1%	2%

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% Black

1%

7%

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1994-2023)
Year	Cardinal Community School District	Iowa
2023	1%	7%
2022	1%	7%
2021	1%	7%
2020	2%	6%
2019	2%	6%
2018	1%	6%
2017	1%	6%
2016	1%	6%
2015	1%	5%
2009	1%	6%
2007	1%	5%
2005	1%	5%
2004	1%	4%
2003	1%	4%
1994	1%	3%

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% White

88%

71%

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Cardinal Community School District	Iowa
2023	89%	72%
2022	89%	73%
2021	89%	74%
2020	91%	75%
2019	91%	75%
2018	92%	77%
2017	92%	77%
2016	92%	78%
2015	94%	78%
2014	96%	79%
2013	94%	80%
2012	95%	81%
2011	94%	81%
2010	96%	82%
2009	94%	84%
2008	97%	84%
2007	96%	86%
2006	97%	88%
2005	96%	87%
2004	97%	88%
2003	97%	89%
2002	98%	89%
2001	98%	89%
2000	100%	94%
1999	100%	91%
1998	98%	92%
1997	99%	93%
1996	100%	93%
1995	99%	93%
1994	98%	93%
1993	100%	94%
1992	100%	95%
1991	100%	95%

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% Hawaiian

n/a

1%

% Two or more races

4%

5%

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2015-2023)
Year	Cardinal Community School District	Iowa
2023	2%	5%
2022	3%	5%
2021	3%	4%
2020	2%	4%
2019	2%	4%
2018	2%	4%
2017	2%	4%
2016	4%	4%
2015	1%	3%

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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $12,830 in this school district is less than the state median of $16,468. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

The school district's spending/student of $10,960 is less than the state median of $16,042. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

This School District

This State (IA)

Total Revenue

$14 MM

$8,262 MM

Total Revenues Trends
Year	Cardinal Community School District	Iowa
2023	$14 MM	$12 MM
2022	$13 MM	$11 MM
2021	$14 MM	$12 MM
2020	$13 MM	$11 MM
2019	$12 MM	$11 MM
2018	$11 MM	$10 MM
2017	$10 MM	$10 MM
2016	$9 MM	$10 MM
2015	$7 MM	$7 MM
2014	$9 MM	$9 MM
2012	$8 MM	$9 MM
2011	$8 MM	$8 MM
2010	$7 MM	$7 MM
2009	$7 MM	$7 MM
2008	$7 MM	$7 MM
2007	$6 MM	$7 MM
2006	$6 MM	$6 MM
2005	$6 MM	$6 MM
2004	$5 MM	$6 MM
2003	$6 MM	$6 MM
2002	$5 MM	$6 MM
2001	$5 MM	$5 MM
2000	$5 MM	$5 MM
1999	$5 MM	$5 MM
1998	$5 MM	$5 MM
1997	$5 MM	$4 MM
1996	$4 MM	$4 MM
1995	$4 MM	$4 MM

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Spending

$12 MM

$8,048 MM

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	Cardinal Community School District	Iowa
2023	$12 MM	$11 MM
2022	$11 MM	$11 MM
2021	$12 MM	$11 MM
2020	$11 MM	$11 MM
2019	$11 MM	$10 MM
2018	$10 MM	$10 MM
2017	$10 MM	$10 MM
2016	$15 MM	$10 MM
2015	$6 MM	$7 MM
2014	$9 MM	$8 MM
2012	$7 MM	$8 MM
2011	$7 MM	$8 MM
2010	$6 MM	$7 MM
2009	$7 MM	$7 MM
2008	$6 MM	$7 MM
2007	$6 MM	$6 MM
2006	$6 MM	$6 MM
2005	$5 MM	$6 MM
2004	$5 MM	$6 MM
2003	$6 MM	$6 MM
2002	$6 MM	$6 MM
2001	$5 MM	$6 MM
2000	$5 MM	$5 MM
1999	$5 MM	$5 MM
1998	$4 MM	$5 MM
1997	$4 MM	$4 MM
1996	$4 MM	$4 MM
1995	$4 MM	$4 MM

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Revenue / Student

$12,830

$16,468

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Cardinal Community School District	Iowa
2023	$13,224	$15,936
2022	$12,101	$14,700
2021	$13,324	$16,172
2020	$12,101	$14,700
2019	$11,749	$14,749
2018	$11,685	$14,230
2017	$12,128	$14,844
2016	$11,806	$14,113
2015	$10,180	$11,259
2014	$13,142	$13,301
2012	$12,128	$12,751
2011	$11,853	$12,165
2010	$11,321	$11,259
2009	$11,635	$11,087
2008	$10,691	$10,485
2007	$9,472	$10,103
2006	$9,466	$9,628
2005	$9,195	$9,167
2004	$8,173	$8,727
2003	$9,606	$8,857
2002	$8,124	$8,158
2001	$8,000	$7,654
2000	$7,326	$7,180
1999	$7,230	$6,993
1998	$7,382	$6,548
1997	$6,650	$6,347
1995	$6,119	$5,735
1992	$5,276	$5,300

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Spending / Student

$10,960

$16,042

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Cardinal Community School District	Iowa
2023	$11,297	$15,133
2022	$10,671	$14,340
2021	$11,382	$15,357
2020	$10,671	$14,340
2019	$10,757	$14,216
2018	$10,858	$13,767
2017	$11,087	$14,379
2016	$19,596	$14,161
2015	$8,385	$11,298
2014	$14,109	$12,593
2012	$10,593	$12,000
2011	$10,273	$11,589
2010	$9,326	$11,298
2009	$11,430	$10,614
2008	$9,939	$9,706
2007	$9,502	$9,439
2006	$9,532	$9,204
2005	$8,328	$8,457
2004	$7,393	$8,450
2003	$9,424	$8,908
2002	$9,592	$8,409
2001	$8,397	$7,961
2000	$7,289	$7,433
1999	$6,927	$7,234
1998	$6,789	$6,713
1997	$6,516	$6,475
1995	$6,271	$5,710
1992	$5,053	$5,398

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Best Cardinal Community School District Public Elementary Schools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)

Location

Quick Facts

Rank: #11.

Cardinal Junior High School

(Math: 65% | Reading: 70%)
:

4/

10

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

4045 Ashland Road
Eldon, IA 52554
(641) 652-7531

Gr: 5-8 | 301 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 14%

Rank: #22.

Cardinal Elementary School

(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 55-59%)
:

4/

10

Bottom 50%

Add to Compare

5414 Hwy 16
Eldon, IA 52554
(641) 652-3591

Gr: PK-4 | 529 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 13%

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Quick Facts (2025-26)

District size: 3 schools
Grades: PK-12
Enrollment: 1,107 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
Minority Enrollment: 12%
: ≥95% (Btm 50% in IA)
: Bottom 50%
: 63% (Btm 50%)
: 63% (Btm 50%)
: 60% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education

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