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Fairfield iowa (cropped1)Photo: Bill Whittaker · CC BY-SA 3.0
C
Schools in Fairfield · Fairfield Community School District

Fairfield’s public schools score below 67% of Iowa districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Fairfield, 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.

#91of 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
72%
▲ 2 pts vs IA 70%
2021–22
Math proficiency
58%
▼ 6 pts vs IA 64%
2021–22
Graduate on time
85–89%
▼ 2–2 pts vs IA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.6K
▲ 6% vs IA $13.7K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.3
IA 14.1 · smaller classes
Schools in town
5
1,408 students on the public path
In brief

Fairfield’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 395 Iowa towns with household incomes within a quarter of Fairfield’s, its schools beat 43%, higher than their 33% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 72% and math 58% in spring 2022, against 70% and 64% statewide; 85–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $14,585 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 2 the district’s path is Pence Elementary, then Fairfield Middle School, then Fairfield High School. Enrollment is down 12% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Maharishi 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 Fairfield’s grade

C Test scoresC+ Graduation

C: better than 33% of Iowa school districts, #91 of 140 Iowa towns. Both inputs trail the Iowa average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

Iowa school districts we grade (326)Better than 33%
Lower resultsHigher results
Iowa towns with similar household incomes (395)Better than 43%
C−B−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,000 test results and a graduating class of 137 could put Fairfield anywhere from C− to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Fairfield’s students in the tested grades sat them (998 in math, 1,001 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–1Washington ElementaryFairfield Community School DistrictNo scores
2–4Pence ElementaryFairfield Community School DistrictC−
5–8Fairfield Middle SchoolFairfield Community School DistrictB−
9–12Fairfield High SchoolFairfield Community School DistrictC

Fairfield’s public schools are run by Fairfield Community School District, which also serves Libertyville, Lockridge, Maharishi Vedic City and Pleasant Plain. 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.

Fairfield Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 1,408 students, down 12% since 2020–21 · 13.3 per teacher (IA 14.1)
$14,585IA $13,713 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading72%
State average 69.7% · 1001 students tested
Math58%
State average 63.8% · 998 students tested

Fairfield vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
FairfieldCFairfield

Every school in Fairfield

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 Fairfieldby address
Washington Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–1
239 students12:1Rate it →
Pence Elementary
Elementary · Grades 2–4
C−
317 students12:1Rate it →
Fairfield Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8
B−
410 students14:1Rate it →
Fairfield High School
High · Grades 9–12
C
442 students15:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Maharishi School
Grades PK–12
Private · Nonsectarian
148 students7:1Rate it →

Questions about Fairfield’s schools

Are Fairfield’s schools good?

On Iowa’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Fairfield children attend score below 67% of Iowa’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #91 of 140 Iowa towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 43%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Fairfield in?

Fairfield Community School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,408 students in 4 schools (2024–25).

Where do Fairfield kids go to high school?

Fairfield High School, with 442 students; its own test results earn a C.

What is Fairfield’s graduation rate?

85–89% of the class of 2023 in Fairfield Community School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Iowa.

How much does Fairfield spend per student?

$14,585 in Fairfield Community School District (FY2024), against $13,713 across Iowa. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Fairfield?

Yes: Maharishi School (nonsectarian, grades PK–12, 148 students).

Parents talk

What Fairfield families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Fairfield → 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.