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Appendix 279

Downtown School

Standing Ovations (Awards)

■ 1999—Working Mother magazine: named one of the “10 Best Schools
for Today’s Families.”
■ 1997—National Center for Community Education recognized in their
publication Community Schools Across the Nation: 135 Community/
School Partnerships that Are Making a Difference.
■ 1996—The governor of Iowa presented the school with the statewide
F.I.N.E., First in the Nation in Education award.
■ 1994—Community Solutions for Education award sponsored by the
Coalition on Education Initiatives and USA Today for grass roots
programs which improve learning opportunities for young people
through comprehensive community involvement.

Business Summary

■ Began in 1993 with 45 students.
■ 2005–2006 school year: 271 students with almost 900 on a waiting list.
■ National 2005 average of fourth and fifth grade children reading
at or above grade level was 30 percent as reported by the National
Assessment of Educational Progress and Education Week magazine;
Downtown School goal is 90 percent of their students at or above
grade level; they have reported 89 percent above grade level and 8
percent at grade level as they enter middle school.
■ National 2005 average forth and fifth grade math scores at or above
grade level was 35 percent as reported by the National Assessment of
Educational Progress and Education Week magazine; at Downtown
School 75 percent exceed grade level.

Ernst & Young

Standing Ovations (Awards)
■ 2006—Fortune magazine’s “Top 100 Companies to Work for” in the
United States for the eighth consecutive year.
■ 2006—Training magazine’s “Top 100,” third place out of over
500 entries; the fifth year in a row the firm has been honored for their
commitment to a vast array of learning and development initiatives in
support of its people.