Shell Rock Elementary School

Located at 214 N Cherry St, in Shell Rock, Iowa, Shell Rock Elementary School is a rural-scale elementary school that caters to 116 students (grades pre-K through 4), overseen by Waverly-Shell Rock Comm School District. Enrollment runs roughly 64% smaller than the state mean of about 325.

Waverly-Shell Rock Comm School District comprises 9 schools with combined enrollment of 2,722 students; Shell Rock Elementary School is among them.

Demographically, Shell Rock Elementary School shows that nearly all students (90%) are White; the rest consists of 4% multiracial, 3% Hispanic, 3% Asian.

In terms of school funding signals, The school reports having 11 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 10.6:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.7:1, putting Shell Rock Elementary School tighter than the state norm the norm. About 30% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, often used as a Title I proxy.

Zooming out to the county, community-level numbers for Butler County indicate the typical household earns roughly $73,715 per year, 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 7%. Shell Rock Elementary School is one of 11 public schools in Butler County (combined enrollment of about 2,120 students).

Nearest neighbor: Prairie West Elementary, around 3.8 miles off. Counting just inside five miles, 5 other public schools cluster around Shell Rock Elementary School.

Shell Rock Elementary School operates from a rural location.

Five-year trend. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Shell Rock Elementary School has declined 28%, going from 161 students in 2018 to 116 in 2025. The White share of enrollment contracted from 94% to 90% over that span. Class-load math has pulled in: from 12.3:1 in 2018 to 10.6:1 in 2025.

On the community side, recent activity here tends to focus on school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. The community welcomes input from current and former families.