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Creston, IAPhoto: Jared Winkler · CC BY-SA 4.0
B+
Schools in Creston · Creston Community School District

Creston’s public schools outscore 68% of Iowa districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Creston, 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.

#50of 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
67%
▲ 3 pts vs IA 64%
2021–22
Graduate on time
95–100%
▲ 8–12 pts vs IA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.7K
▼ 7% vs IA $13.7K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.2
IA 14.1 · smaller classes
Schools in town
5
1,303 students on the public path
In brief

Creston’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 426 Iowa towns with household incomes within a quarter of Creston’s, its schools beat 82%, higher than their 68% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 73% and math 67% 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 $12,701 per student, against $13,713 across Iowa (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one elementary, one middle and one high school

From grade 1 the district’s path is Creston Elementary School, then Creston Middle School, then Creston High School. Enrollment is down 5% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Malachy 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 Creston’s grade

B− Test scoresA− Graduation

B+: better than 68% of Iowa school districts, #50 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 68%
Lower resultsHigher results
Iowa towns with similar household incomes (426)Better than 82%
B−A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 964 test results and a graduating class of 134 could put Creston anywhere from B− to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Creston’s students in the tested grades sat them (963 in math, 964 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–KCreston Early Childhood CenterCreston Community School DistrictNo scores
1–5Creston Elementary SchoolCreston Community School DistrictC−
6–8Creston Middle SchoolCreston Community School DistrictB−
9–12Creston High SchoolCreston Community School DistrictB

Creston’s public schools are run by Creston Community School District, which also serves Cromwell and Prescott. 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.

Creston Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 1,303 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 13.2 per teacher (IA 14.1)
$12,701IA $13,713 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading73%
State average 69.7% · 964 students tested
Math67%
State average 63.8% · 963 students tested

Creston vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
CrestonB+Creston

Every school in Creston

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 Crestonby address
Creston Early Childhood Center
Elementary · Grades PK–K
142 students13:1Rate it →
Creston Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 1–5
C−
416 students13:1Rate it →
Creston Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
B−
259 students10:1Rate it →
Creston High School
High · Grades 9–12
B
486 students16:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Malachy School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
183 students12:1Rate it →

Questions about Creston’s schools

Are Creston’s schools good?

By Iowa’s own tests, yes: the public schools Creston children attend outscore 68% of Iowa’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #50 of 140 Iowa towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 82%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Creston in?

Creston Community School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,303 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do Creston kids go to high school?

Creston High School, with 486 students; its own test results earn a B.

What is Creston’s graduation rate?

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

How much does Creston spend per student?

$12,701 in Creston Community School District (FY2024), against $13,713 across Iowa. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Creston?

Yes: St. Malachy School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 183 students).

Parents talk

What Creston families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Creston → 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.