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Kellow HouseKellow House · Photo: Jon Roanhaus · CC BY-SA 3.0
B+
Schools in Cresco · Howard-Winneshiek Community School District

Cresco’s public schools outscore 66% of Iowa districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Cresco, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Iowa, not nationally.

#56of 140 Iowa townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Iowa state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
73%
▲ 3 pts vs IA 70%
2021–22
Math proficiency
65%
▲ 1 pts vs IA 64%
2021–22
Graduate on time
95–100%
▲ 8–12 pts vs IA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.1K
▲ 10% vs IA $13.7K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.3
IA 14.1 · smaller classes
Schools in town
5
1,021 students on the public path
In brief

Cresco’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 594 Iowa towns with household incomes within a quarter of Cresco’s, its schools beat 72%, higher than their 66% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 73% and math 65% in spring 2022, against 70% and 64% statewide; 95–100% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,077 per student, against $13,713 across Iowa (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one high school

From grade 5 the district’s path is Crestwood Middle School, then Crestwood High School. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Notre Dame Catholic School (private) is in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Cresco’s grade

B− Test scoresA− Graduation

B+: better than 66% of Iowa school districts, #56 of 140 Iowa towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Iowa average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

Iowa school districts we grade (326)Better than 66%
Lower resultsHigher results
Iowa towns with similar household incomes (594)Better than 72%
B−A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 713 test results and a graduating class of 114 could put Cresco anywhere from B− to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Cresco’s students in the tested grades sat them (713 in math, 713 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Cresco, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–4Crestwood Elementary SchoolHoward-Winneshiek Community School DistrictB−
5–8Crestwood Middle SchoolHoward-Winneshiek Community School DistrictNo scores
9–12Crestwood High SchoolHoward-Winneshiek Community School DistrictC+

Cresco’s public schools are run by Howard-Winneshiek Community School District, which also serves Chester, Elma, Lime Springs and Ridgeway. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Howard-Winneshiek Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 1,021 students · 12.3 per teacher (IA 14.1)
$15,077IA $13,713 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading73%
State average 69.7% · 713 students tested
Math65%
State average 63.8% · 713 students tested

Cresco vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Iowa towns that share Cresco’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
CrescoB+Howard-Winneshiek

Every school in Cresco

5 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Iowa’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Crescoby address
Cresco Early Childhood Development Center
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
43 students13:1Rate it →
Crestwood Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–4
B−
349 students11:1Rate it →
Crestwood Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8
283 students14:1Rate it →
Crestwood High School
High · Grades 9–12
C+
346 students13:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Notre Dame Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
Private · Catholic
166 students17:1Rate it →

Questions about Cresco’s schools

Are Cresco’s schools good?

By Iowa’s own tests, yes: the public schools Cresco children attend outscore 66% of Iowa’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #56 of 140 Iowa towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 72%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Cresco in?

Howard-Winneshiek Community School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,021 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do Cresco kids go to high school?

Crestwood High School, with 346 students; its own test results earn a C+.

What is Cresco’s graduation rate?

95–100% of the class of 2023 in Howard-Winneshiek Community School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Iowa.

How much does Cresco spend per student?

$15,077 in Howard-Winneshiek Community School District (FY2024), against $13,713 across Iowa. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Cresco?

Yes: Notre Dame Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–5, 166 students).

Parents talk

What Cresco families are saying about school.

Town Square →
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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Cresco → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Iowa. Stars are from neighbors.