Penn Elementary School

230 North Dubuque Street

School District

Iowa City Community
Grade

PK, K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
Type

public

School Map for Iowa City Community School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on March 02, 2015

We LOVE this school. Excellent principal and experienced, enthusiastic, and committed teachers. We have an outstanding Family Resource worker and an exceptional counselor. Even our office and support staff are wonderful. We are so glad that this is our neighborhood school.
Submitted by parent on February 14, 2011

My children have had great experiences at this school. Despite the fact that one is special needs and the other is gifted both have done very well at Penn. The teachers and principle have been very responsive to any concerns and have always treated myself and my children with the greatest respect. I don't see any issue with academics or staff.
Submitted by parent on January 20, 2011

My Child went to Penn Elementary from grades K thru 6. I also have been disappointed that my child was not learning academic concepts at Penn. During 5th and 6th grades my child always had home work that required hours of help. This tells me that my child was not being taught in the classroom. The student to teacher ratio is appalling with the 6th grade year being 33 to 1. I don't care how good a teacher is you can not reach every student with so many. I felt the teachers focused more on who they could teach and if they couldn't help some students they passed them on to the next grade anyway. Of course my child enjoyed the teachers and enjoys school but when there is 8 hours of school and 2 hours of homework for a 5th and 6th grader something is not being taught during the day. Sometimes I feel Penn was a day care center and it was my responsibility to teach my child. I completely agree with the previous 2 ratings!!