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Decatur County Courthouse - 27684816662Photo: Carl Wycoff · CC BY 2.0
B
Schools in Leon · Central Decatur Community School District

Leon’s public schools outscore 60% of Iowa districts

The grade covers the public school district serving Leon, 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.

≈could be anywhere from C+ to A−K–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
74%
▲ 4 pts vs IA 70%
2021–22
Math proficiency
61%
▼ 3 pts vs IA 64%
2021–22
Graduate on time
95–100%
▲ 8–12 pts vs IA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.4K
▲ 5% vs IA $13.7K
FY2024
Students per teacher
11.7
IA 14.1 · smaller classes
Schools in town
3
632 students on the public path
In brief

Leon’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 463 Iowa towns with household incomes within a quarter of Leon’s, its schools beat 71%, higher than their 60% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state in reading, below in math

Reading proficiency is 74% and math 61% 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 $14,404 per student, against $13,713 across Iowa (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle and one middle school

From grade 3 the district’s path is North Elementary School, then Central Decatur MS/HS High School. Enrollment is down 10% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

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 Leon’s grade

C+ Test scoresA− Graduation

B: better than 60% of Iowa school districts. 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 60%
Lower resultsHigher results
Iowa towns with similar household incomes (463)Better than 71%
C+A−A rough placement. Ordinary sampling error in 474 test results and a graduating class of 65 could put Leon anywhere from C+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Leon’s students in the tested grades sat them (474 in math, 474 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–2South Elementary SchoolCentral Decatur Community School DistrictNo scores
3–6North Elementary SchoolCentral Decatur Community School DistrictB−
7–12Central Decatur MS/HS High SchoolCentral Decatur Community School DistrictC+

Leon’s public schools are run by Central Decatur Community School District, which also serves Davis City, Decatur, Grand River and Pleasanton. 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.

Central Decatur Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 632 students, down 10% since 2020–21 · 11.7 per teacher (IA 14.1)
$14,404IA $13,713 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading74%
State average 69.7% · 474 students tested
Math61%
State average 63.8% · 474 students tested

Leon vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
LeonBCentral Decatur

Every school in Leon

3 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 Leonby address
South Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–2
173 students10:1Rate it →
North Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 3–6
B−
168 students11:1Rate it →
Central Decatur MS/HS High School
High · Grades 7–12
C+
291 students13:1Rate it →

Questions about Leon’s schools

Are Leon’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Iowa: the public schools Leon children attend outscore 60% of Iowa’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 71%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Leon in?

Central Decatur Community School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 632 students in 3 schools (2024–25).

What is Leon’s graduation rate?

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

How much does Leon spend per student?

$14,404 in Central Decatur Community School District (FY2024), against $13,713 across Iowa. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Leon families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Leon → 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.