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Southdale Elementary School

627 Orchard Dr
Cedar Falls, IA 50613

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Top 10%

Tel: (319) 553-2900

www.cfschools.org

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SAVE SCHOOL

Serving 539 students in grades Prekindergarten-6, Southdale Elementary School ranks in the top 10% of all schools in Iowa for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 20%, and reading proficiency is top 20%).

The percentage of students achieving is 84% (which is higher than the Iowa state average of 68%). The percentage of students achieving is 90% (which is higher than the Iowa state average of 70%).

The student-teacher ratio of 14:1 is equal to the Iowa state level of 14:1.

Minority enrollment is 20% of the student body (majority Asian and Black), which is lower than the Iowa state average of 30% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Facts (26-27)

Grades: Prekindergarten-6
Enrollment: 539 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
Minority Enrollment: 20%
: Top 10% in IA
: 84% (Top 20%)
: 90% (Top 5%)
: 80-89% (Top 5%)
: Southdale Elementary School serves the southern part of Cedar Falls, IA, covering an area of approximately 7.5 square miles. Families within this zone typically have a drive of 5 to 10 minutes to reach the school, with the furthest edge located about 5.4 miles away.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Southdale Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Iowa for:

School Overview

Southdale Elementary School's student population of 539 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

The teacher population of 39 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades Prekindergarten-6
(Supplemental Virtual)

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Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Southdale Elementary School
Pre-K	74
Kind	61
1	78
2	53
3	69
4	63
5	72
6	69

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Total Students

539 students

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 39-year historical data available below ↓

Total Students Trends (1987-2025)
Year	Southdale Elementary School
2025	539
2024	562
2023	530
2022	535
2021	524
2020	543
2019	567
2018	755
2017	753
2016	691
2015	663
2014	621
2013	613
2012	571
2011	549
2010	515
2009	464
2008	467
2007	448
2006	412
2005	401
2004	379
2003	352
2002	383
2001	396
2000	379
1999	394
1998	353
1997	365
1996	377
1995	366
1994	385
1993	411
1992	411
1991	427
1990	413
1989	400
1988	401
1987	408

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Total Classroom Teachers

39 teachers

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 39-year historical data available below ↓

Total Classroom Teachers Trends (1987-2025)
Year	Southdale Elementary School
2025	39
2024	38
2023	40
2022	39
2021	38
2020	38
2019	38
2018	47
2017	48
2016	45
2015	44
2014	41
2013	40
2012	36
2011	32
2010	28
2009	22
2008	25
2007	31
2006	28
2005	28
2004	25
2003	23
2002	27
2001	30
2000	24
1999	23
1998	19
1997	21
1996	22
1995	21
1994	22
1993	22
1992	22
1991	21
1990	21
1989	21
1988	20
1987	20

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School Calendar

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School Motto

A Tradition of Excellence

School Rankings

Southdale Elementary School ranks within the top 10% of all 1,223 schools in Iowa (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Southdale Elementary School is 0.35, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.48. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (IA)

#75 out of 1223 schools
(Top 10%)

View Data

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

Overall School Rank Trends (2010-2023)
Year	Southdale Elementary School
2023	#75
2022	#103
2021	#178
2019	#137
2018	#341
2017	#224
2016	#191
2015	#195
2014	#396
2013	#386
2012	#294
2011	#162
2010	#83

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84%

68%

View Data

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

Math Proficiency Comparison (2010-2023)
Year	Southdale Elementary School	Iowa	Cedar Falls Comm School District
2023	84%	68%	81%
2022	79%	64%	77%
2021	78%	64%	76%
2019	83%	69%	82%
2018	88%	76%	87%
2017	91%	77%	87%
2016	91%	78%	88%
2015	91%	79%	88%
2014	88%	79%	88%
2013	86%	77%	84%
2012	91%	76%	84%
2011	91%	78%	88%
2010	93%	77%	88%

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90%

70%

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

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison (2010-2022)
Year	Southdale Elementary School	Iowa	Cedar Falls Comm School District
2022	90%	70%	82%
2021	78%	68%	79%
2019	82%	68%	81%
2018	80%	74%	87%
2017	83%	75%	84%
2016	85%	75%	85%
2015	85%	76%	85%
2014	81%	76%	83%
2013	80%	72%	78%
2012	78%	71%	76%
2011	85%	76%	83%
2010	85%	75%	84%

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80-89%

63%

View Data

Science Proficiency Comparison (2021-2022)
Year	Southdale Elementary School	Iowa	Cedar Falls Comm School District
2022	84%	63%	75%
2021	62%	60%	75%

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Student-Teacher Ratio

14:1

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 39-year historical data available below ↓

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison (1987-2025)
Year	Southdale Elementary School	Iowa	Cedar Falls Comm School District
2025	14:1	14:1
2024	15:1	14:1
2023	13:1	14:1	14:1
2022	14:1	14:1	14:1
2021	14:1	14:1	13:1
2020	14:1	14:1	14:1
2019	15:1	14:1	14:1
2018	16:1	14:1	14:1
2017	16:1	14:1	14:1
2016	15:1	14:1	14:1
2015	15:1	14:1	14:1
2014	15:1	14:1	14:1
2013	15:1	14:1	15:1
2012	16:1	14:1	14:1
2011	17:1	14:1	14:1
2010	18:1	13:1	15:1
2009	21:1	13:1	17:1
2008	19:1	13:1	15:1
2007	14:1	14:1	14:1
2006	15:1	13:1	13:1
2005	14:1	13:1	14:1
2004	15:1	13:1	13:1
2003	15:1	13:1	15:1
2002	14:1	13:1	14:1
2001	13:1	14:1	14:1
2000	16:1	14:1	15:1
1999	17:1	15:1	16:1
1998	19:1	14:1	16:1
1997	17:1	15:1	16:1
1996	17:1	15:1	17:1
1995	17:1	15:1	16:1
1994	18:1	15:1	16:1
1993	19:1	15:1	18:1
1992	19:1	15:1	17:1
1991	20:1	15:1	18:1
1990	20:1	15:1	18:1
1989	19:1	17:1	23:1
1988	20:1	15:1	18:1
1987	20:1	16:1	18:1

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Asian

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

Asian Student Percentage Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	Southdale Elementary School	Iowa	Cedar Falls Comm School District
2025	6%	3%
2024	7%	3%
2023	7%	2%	3%
2022	8%	3%	4%
2021	8%	3%	4%
2020	7%	3%	4%
2019	6%	3%	4%
2018	5%	3%	4%
2017	5%	2%	4%
2016	5%	2%	3%
2015	5%	2%	4%
2014	6%	2%	4%
2013	5%	2%	4%
2012	5%	2%	4%
2011	6%	2%	4%
2010	5%	2%	3%
2009	7%	2%	3%
2008	5%	2%	3%
2007	5%	2%	4%
2006	4%	2%	3%
2005	4%	2%	3%
2004	3%	2%	3%
2003	2%	2%	3%
2002	2%	2%	3%
2001	3%	2%	3%
2000	2%	2%	2%
1999	3%	2%	3%
1998	3%	2%	3%
1997	4%	2%	4%
1996	4%	2%	3%
1995	4%	2%	3%
1994	3%	2%	3%
1993	6%	1%	3%
1992	5%	1%	3%
1991	7%	2%	3%
1990	5%	1%	3%
1989	4%	1%	3%
1988	4%	1%	2%

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Hispanic

14%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 33-year historical data available below ↓

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison (1993-2025)
Year	Southdale Elementary School	Iowa	Cedar Falls Comm School District
2025	3%	14%
2024	4%	13%
2023	3%	13%	3%
2022	2%	12%	3%
2021	2%	12%	3%
2020	3%	12%	3%
2019	2%	11%	3%
2018	2%	11%	2%
2017	2%	11%	2%
2016	3%	10%	3%
2015	4%	10%	3%
2014	3%	10%	3%
2013	4%	9%	3%
2012	4%	9%	3%
2011	4%	9%	3%
2010	4%	8%	3%
2009	3%	7%	2%
2008	3%	6%	2%
2007	3%	6%	3%
2006	2%	6%	2%
2005	1%	5%	2%
2004	1%	5%	1%
2003	1%	4%	1%
2001	1%	4%	1%
1999	1%	3%	1%
1998	1%	3%	1%
1997	1%	2%	1%
1994	1%	2%	1%
1993	1%	2%	1%

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Black

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

Black Student Percentage Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	Southdale Elementary School	Iowa	Cedar Falls Comm School District
2025	4%	7%
2024	4%	7%
2023	4%	7%	5%
2022	3%	7%	5%
2021	3%	7%	5%
2020	3%	7%	4%
2019	3%	6%	4%
2018	2%	6%	5%
2017	3%	6%	5%
2016	2%	6%	4%
2015	2%	6%	4%
2014	2%	5%	4%
2013	2%	5%	4%
2012	3%	5%	4%
2011	3%	5%	4%
2010	3%	5%	4%
2009	5%	6%	5%
2008	7%	6%	6%
2007	5%	5%	5%
2006	5%	5%	5%
2005	8%	5%	5%
2004	6%	4%	4%
2003	6%	4%	4%
2002	6%	4%	3%
2001	5%	4%	3%
2000	5%	4%	2%
1999	4%	4%	3%
1998	5%	3%	3%
1997	3%	3%	2%
1996	4%	3%	2%
1995	3%	3%	3%
1994	2%	3%	3%
1993	2%	3%	2%
1992	2%	3%	2%
1991	1%	3%	2%
1990	1%	3%	1%
1989	1%	3%	1%
1988	2%	3%	1%

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White

80%

70%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

White Student Percentage Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	Southdale Elementary School	Iowa	Cedar Falls Comm School District
2025	80%	70%
2024	80%	71%
2023	79%	72%	83%
2022	82%	73%	83%
2021	80%	74%	83%
2020	81%	74%	84%
2019	82%	75%	84%
2018	85%	76%	85%
2017	84%	77%	85%
2016	86%	78%	85%
2015	86%	78%	85%
2014	85%	79%	84%
2013	86%	80%	85%
2012	86%	81%	86%
2011	84%	81%	85%
2010	85%	82%	87%
2009	84%	84%	89%
2008	85%	85%	89%
2007	87%	86%	88%
2006	89%	86%	90%
2005	86%	87%	90%
2004	90%	88%	92%
2003	91%	89%	92%
2002	92%	90%	93%
2001	91%	90%	93%
2000	93%	91%	96%
1999	92%	91%	93%
1998	91%	92%	93%
1997	92%	92%	93%
1996	92%	93%	94%
1995	92%	93%	93%
1994	92%	93%	93%
1993	91%	94%	94%
1992	93%	94%	94%
1991	92%	94%	94%
1990	94%	95%	95%
1989	95%	95%	95%
1988	94%	95%	96%

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Hawaiian

Two or more races

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 16-year historical data available below ↓

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison (2010-2025)
Year	Southdale Elementary School	Iowa	Cedar Falls Comm School District
2025	6%	5%
2024	5%	5%
2023	7%	5%	5%
2022	5%	5%	5%
2021	5%	4%	5%
2020	5%	4%	5%
2019	6%	4%	5%
2018	5%	4%	4%
2017	5%	4%	4%
2016	4%	4%	5%
2015	3%	3%	4%
2014	4%	3%	5%
2013	3%	3%	4%
2012	2%	3%	3%
2011	3%	2%	4%
2010	3%	2%	3%

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All Ethnic Groups

20%

30%

0.35

0.48

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

Diversity Score Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	Southdale Elementary School	Iowa	Cedar Falls Comm School District
2025	0.35	0.49
2024	0.35	0.48
2023	0.37	0.46	0.31
2022	0.32	0.45	0.30
2021	0.35	0.43	0.30
2020	0.34	0.43	0.29
2019	0.32	0.42	0.29
2018	0.27	0.41	0.28
2017	0.29	0.39	0.28
2016	0.26	0.38	0.28
2015	0.26	0.38	0.27
2014	0.27	0.37	0.29
2013	0.26	0.35	0.28
2012	0.26	0.34	0.27
2011	0.29	0.34	0.27
2010	0.27	0.32	0.25
2009	0.29	0.29	0.21
2008	0.27	0.27	0.21
2007	0.24	0.26	0.22
2006	0.21	0.26	0.18
2005	0.25	0.24	0.19
2004	0.19	0.22	0.16
2003	0.17	0.21	0.15
2002	0.15	0.19	0.13
2001	0.17	0.19	0.14
2000	0.13	0.17	0.09
1999	0.15	0.17	0.13
1998	0.17	0.15	0.14
1997	0.15	0.15	0.13
1996	0.15	0.13	0.12
1995	0.15	0.13	0.12
1994	0.15	0.13	0.13
1993	0.17	0.12	0.12
1992	0.13	0.12	0.11
1991	0.15	0.12	0.10
1990	0.11	0.10	0.09
1989	0.10	0.10	0.08
1988	0.12	0.10	0.07

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(22-23)

6.1%

24.7%

View Data

Chronic Absenteeism Rate (2021-2023)
Year	Southdale Elementary School	Iowa	Cedar Falls Comm School District
2023	6.1%	24.7%	14.5%
2022	7.1%	27.8%	15.1%
2021	6.1%	23.1%	9.6%

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Participates in the

Yes

Eligible for

19%

35%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	Southdale Elementary School	Iowa	Cedar Falls Comm School District
2025	19%	35%
2024	20%	36%
2023	20%	36%	24%
2022	17%	35%	21%
2021	13%	35%	21%
2020	16%	35%	18%
2019	14%	36%	18%
2018	10%	33%	16%
2017	9%	34%	16%
2016	15%	34%	18%
2015	13%	34%	17%
2014	12%	34%	17%
2013	9%	34%	17%
2012	11%	33%	17%
2011	11%	31%	16%
2010	9%	29%	15%
2009	7%	26%	13%
2008	9%	26%	14%
2007	8%	24%	14%
2006	5%	25%	14%
2005	13%	23%	14%
2004	11%	22%	13%
2003	13%	21%	13%
2002	11%	19%	13%
2001	11%	19%	13%
2000	10%	19%	13%
1999	10%	20%	14%
1998	10%	21%	14%
1997	6%	20%	14%
1996	8%	20%	14%
1995	9%	20%	13%
1994	9%	19%	12%
1993	10%	19%	13%
1992	9%	18%	13%
1991	8%	17%	12%
1990	5%	14%	12%
1989	6%	17%	12%
1988	7%	18%	14%

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Eligible for

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 27-year historical data available below ↓

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison (1999-2025)
Year	Southdale Elementary School	Iowa	Cedar Falls Comm School District
2025	3%	7%
2024	4%	5%
2023	3%	6%	3%
2022	1%	5%	2%
2021	4%	6%	3%
2020	3%	7%	4%
2019	6%	7%	4%
2018	2%	7%	4%
2017	3%	7%	4%
2016	4%	7%	5%
2015	3%	7%	4%
2014	3%	7%	5%
2013	2%	7%	4%
2012	3%	7%	5%
2011	2%	8%	5%
2010	3%	8%	5%
2009	3%	8%	5%
2008	4%	8%	4%
2007	2%	8%	5%
2004	1%	8%	4%
2003	1%	8%	3%
2002	1%	8%	4%
2001	1%	8%	4%
2000	2%	7%	4%
1999	2%	7%	4%

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School Statewide Testing

View Education Department Test Scores

School District Name

Cedar Falls Comm School District

Sports

School Mascot

Tigers

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Southdale Elementary School's ranking?

Southdale Elementary School is ranked #75 out of 1,223 schools, which ranks it among the top 10% of public schools in Iowa.

What schools are Southdale Elementary School often compared to?

Southdale Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Helen A Hansen Elementary School, Cedar Heights Elementary School, Bess Streeter Aldrich Elementary School by visitors of our site.

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

84% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 68% IA state average), while 90% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 70% IA state average).

How many students attend Southdale Elementary School?

539 students attend Southdale Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

80% of Southdale Elementary School students are White, 6% of students are Asian, 6% of students are Two or more races, 4% of students are Black, 3% of students are Hispanic, and 1% of students are Hawaiian.

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

Southdale Elementary School has a student ration of 14:1, which is equal to the Iowa state average of 14:1.

What grades does Southdale Elementary School offer ?

Southdale Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Prekindergarten-6 (Supplemental Virtual).

What school district is Southdale Elementary School part of?

Southdale Elementary School is part of Cedar Falls Comm School District.

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Learn how combined-grade classrooms work, why public schools use them, potential benefits and challenges, and the questions parents should ask before enrolling their child in one today.

Quick Facts (26-27)

Grades: Prekindergarten-6
Enrollment: 539 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
Minority Enrollment: 20%
: Top 10%
: 84% (Top 20%)
: 90% (Top 5%)
: 80-89% (Top 5%)
: Southdale Elementary School serves the southern part of Cedar Falls, IA, covering an area of approximately 7.5 square miles. Families within this zone typically have a drive of 5 to 10 minutes to reach the school, with the furthest edge located about 5.4 miles away.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education

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