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Excellent

#130 of 1,280 schools in IA

Top 10% in state

Altoona Elementary

Elementary School · Southeast Polk Comm School District

301 6th St SW, Altoona, IA 50009

Enrollment

423

Student-Teacher

12.4:1

Score

8.4

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Iowa schools

#130 of 1,280

In Altoona

#1 of 4

public schools

In district

#3 of 11

Southeast Polk Comm School District

Equity

9.2 / 10

Excellent

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Altoona Elementary

8.4/10

Elementary School in Altoona · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Centennial Elementary

8.1/10

0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Willowbrook Elementary

4.9/10

0.9 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Altoona Elementary

Altoona Elementary is a public elementary school in Altoona, IA, part of Southeast Polk Comm School District. Altoona Elementary serves approximately 423 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Altoona Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 out of 10 and ranks #130 of 1,280 schools in IA.

Structured state assessment records for Altoona Elementary show 82% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 79% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.8 pts above district
  • This school 8.4 · Excellent
  • District avg 7.6
  • IA avg 6.5

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.5Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.14 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics8.4Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency80.9% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency76.8% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg+4.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+7.7 pts
Overall Proficiency79% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)66% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected+13.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile76th
Resources & Environment8.1Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,583
Chronic Absenteeism20.3%

Altoona Elementary — Students at Altoona Elementary score 79% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 66%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

53.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 81.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
74.6% (2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency 79.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
72.3% (2025 ISASP)

Based on 35 test records from IA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
78%
ELA
72%
2010
Math
87%
ELA
82%
2011
Math
86%
ELA
79%
2012
Math
82%
ELA
77%
2013
Math
77%
ELA
87%
2014
Math
82%
ELA
82%
2015
Math
82%
ELA
87%
2016
Math
82%
ELA
87%
2017
Math
82%
ELA
87%
2018
Math
82%
ELA
77%
2019
Math
82%
ELA
77%
2020*
Math
82%
ELA
72%
2021*
Math
82%
ELA
72%
2022
Math
82%
ELA
77%
2025
Math
80.9%
ELA
76.8%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.5/10.

How Altoona Elementary Compares

See how Altoona Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.4/10
90th percentile in IA
Academic
8.4/10
Excellent
Growth
8.5/10
Excellent
Environment
8.1/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
53%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
34 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
20.3%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

301 6th St SW, Altoona, IA 50009

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Altoona Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Delaware Elementary (rated 8.9/10, 2.8 miles away, in nearby Des Moines), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Centennial Elementary (rated 8.1/10, 0.6 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Four Mile Elementary (rated 7.5/10, 4.6 miles away, in nearby Pleasant Hill), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Altoona, see our Altoona schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 5.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Centennial Elementary Altoona 0.6 mi 8.1
Willowbrook Elementary Altoona 0.9 mi 4.9
Clay Elementary Altoona 1.7 mi 5.4
Morris Elementary Bondurant 3.3 mi 6.8
Anderson Elementary School Bondurant 3.5 mi 6.0
Bondurant - Farrar Intermediate School Bondurant 3.5 mi 6.8
Delaware Elementary Des Moines 2.8 mi 8.9
Southeast Polk High School Pleasant Hill 3.6 mi 5.2
Spring Creek - 6th Grade Pleasant Hill 3.6 mi 6.4
Southeast Polk Junior High Pleasant Hill 3.7 mi 6.6
Bondurant-Farrar High School Bondurant 4.5 mi 5.1
Bondurant-Farrar Junior High Bondurant 4.6 mi 5.9
Four Mile Elementary Pleasant Hill 4.6 mi 7.5
Brubaker Elementary School Des Moines 3.8 mi 4.6
Hoyt Middle School Des Moines 3.9 mi 3.6
McKee Elementary School Des Moines 4.3 mi 2.6
Pleasant Hill Elementary School Des Moines 4.9 mi 4.3
ST JOSEPH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Des Moines 4.9 mi 5.0
GRAND VIEW CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Des Moines 4.7 mi 4.7
Stowe Elementary School Des Moines 5.1 mi 3.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 50009 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$90,393

Median Home Value

$261,800

Median Rent

$1,201/mo

Population

21,992

College Educated

33.2%

Homeownership

70.3%

Avg Commute

23.5 min

Poverty Rate

7.1%

Median Age

36.7

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Clayton Ridge Elementary School Garnavillo, IA 8.4
North Polk Central Elementary School Alleman, IA 8.4
Prairie View Elementary School Cedar Rapids, IA 8.4
Roland-Story Elementary School Story City, IA 8.4
Springville Elementary School Springville, IA 8.4
Tri-Center Elementary School Neola, IA 8.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Altoona Elementary

What grades does Altoona Elementary serve?

Altoona Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Altoona Elementary?

Altoona Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 423 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Altoona Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Altoona Elementary is 12.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Altoona Elementary rank in IA?

Altoona Elementary ranks #130 of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is Altoona Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Altoona Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Altoona Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Altoona Elementary has 82% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 79% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Altoona Elementary a charter school?

No, Altoona Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Altoona Elementary a Title I school?

No, Altoona Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Altoona Elementary?

53.2% of students at Altoona Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
63 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
58 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
423
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
34
Free/Reduced Lunch
53.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Polk County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
20.3%

District

Southeast Polk Comm School District
District Enrollment
7,424
Schools in District
11
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,583
District Rank
#3 of 11

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