Washington Elementary

Set in Fairfield, Iowa, Washington Elementary is a cozy K-5 school, overseen by Fairfield Comm School District. It hosts 239 students across grades pre-K through 1. Compared to the state average of about 325 students per school, that is 26% leaner than typical.

Washington Elementary is one of 4 schools operated by Fairfield Comm School District, a district that teaches 1,408 students overall.

Demographically, Washington Elementary lists that the largest single group is White, at 74% of enrollment. Other groups include 10% multiracial, 8% Hispanic, 6% Asian, 3% Black. The wider county runs roughly 84% White, putting the school's mix meaningfully less White than the area baseline.

On the resource side, Staff filings list 20 full-time-equivalent teachers, which works out to roughly 12.2:1 students per teacher. The state averages around 13.7:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. About 52% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator.

Zooming out to the county, ACS estimates for Jefferson County put the typical household earns roughly $61,620 per year, roughly 43% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. In all, Jefferson County runs 6 public schools (combined enrollment of about 1,974 students), of which Washington Elementary is one.

The closest other public school is Fairfield High School, roughly 0.4 miles away. Counting just inside five miles, 3 other public schools cluster around Washington Elementary.

The campus sits in a town-center setting.

Looking at the recent track record. Over the past 7-year window, the student count shrank 14%: 279 students in 2018 compared to 239 in 2025. Over the same period, the White share edged down from 84% to 74%. Class-load math has tightened: from 16.8:1 in 2018 to 12.2:1 in 2025.

In the discussion threads here, recent activity here tends to focus on school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.