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Excellent

#8 of 157 private schools in IA

Top 5% of private schools

Bergman Academy

Elementary School

100 45TH ST, Des Moines, IA 50312

Private

Enrollment

273

Student-Teacher

7.3:1

Score

8.2

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Data vintage2021-22

How this school compares

Iowa private schools

#8 of 157

In Des Moines

#4 of 13

public schools

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Bergman Academy

8.2/10

Elementary School in Des Moines · grades Pre-K – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

St Augustin Catholic School

5.2/10

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

Merrill Middle School

6.2/10

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

About Bergman Academy

Bergman Academy is a private elementary school in Des Moines, IA. Bergman Academy serves approximately 273 students, and covers grades Pre-K-8th, and has a 7.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Bergman Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 out of 10 and ranks #8 of 157 private schools in IA.

Structured state assessment records for Bergman Academy show 95% math proficiency (2025 ISASP) and 99% reading/ELA proficiency (2025 ISASP).

How it compares1.7 pts above IA schools
  • This school 8.2 · Excellent
  • IA avg 6.5

What Parents Should Know

At 7.3:1 students to teachers, Bergman Academy sits well below the national average. Smaller classes like that usually mean more one-on-one time between students and teachers.

Bergman Academy is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Bergman Academy compares to 57 public schools serving similar grades in Des Moines, IA

Student-Teacher Ratio
7.3:1
This School
vs
14:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
273
This School
vs
393
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
8.2
This School
vs
4.6
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 72.9% vs 0%
Asian 7.7% vs 0%
Black 2.6% vs 0%
Hispanic 2.6% vs 0%
Bergman Academy Des Moines Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Bergman Academy (this school) 8.2
Hanawalt Elementary 4.6
Merrill Middle School 6.2
Greenwood Elementary School 6.0
Hubbell Elementary 5.3
Callanan Middle School 4.3
Ruby Van Meter 2.5
Windsor Elementary 6.3
Brody Middle School 3.3
Downtown School 5.8
Perkins Elementary School 4.0
Jefferson Elementary School 3.4
Cowles Elementary School 7.7
Edmunds Elementary School 6.0
Walnut Street School 6.0
Hillis Elementary School 3.0
King Elementary School 3.2
Monroe Elementary School 4.6
Clive Learning Academy 6.1
Park Ave Elementary School 3.1
Jessie Franklin Taylor 3.0

Showing 20 of 57 schools. View all schools in Des Moines

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

Preliminary

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in IA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A 9.1 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 7.3:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B 6.1 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,225
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A 8.7 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 44%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.1 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 273
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in IA

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 95.2% (2025 ISASP)
School
State
74.0% (2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency 99.0% (2025 ISASP)
School
State
74.6% (2025 ISASP)

Based on 14 test records from IA state assessments. About our data

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 72.9%
Two or More 14.3%
Asian 7.7%
Black 2.6%
Hispanic 2.6%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

100 45TH ST, Des Moines, IA 50312

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Bergman Academy may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. MT OLIVE LUTHERAN SCHOOL (rated 8.5/10, 2.6 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Cowles Elementary School (rated 7.7/10, 2.5 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, ST THERESA CATHOLIC SCHOOL (rated 6.7/10, 2.0 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Des Moines, see our Des Moines schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.5 mi
School Distance Rating
ST AUGUSTIN CATHOLIC SCHOOL Des Moines 0.5 mi 5.2
Merrill Middle School Des Moines 0.7 mi 6.2
Hanawalt Elementary Des Moines 0.7 mi 4.6
Greenwood Elementary School Des Moines 0.8 mi 6.0
Roosevelt High School Des Moines 1.1 mi 4.1
Hubbell Elementary Des Moines 1.1 mi 5.3
Callanan Middle School Des Moines 1.5 mi 4.3
Ruby Van Meter Des Moines 1.6 mi 2.5
AIRAZI ACADEMY West Des Moines 1.6 mi
Windsor Elementary Des Moines 1.9 mi 6.3
Hillside Elementary School West Des Moines 1.6 mi 4.9
ST THERESA CATHOLIC SCHOOL Des Moines 2.0 mi 6.7
Perkins Elementary School Des Moines 2.2 mi 4.0
Walnut Creek Campus West Des Moines 1.8 mi 3.7
Brody Middle School Des Moines 2.1 mi 3.3
MT OLIVE LUTHERAN SCHOOL Des Moines 2.6 mi 8.5
Cowles Elementary School Des Moines 2.5 mi 7.7
Downtown School Des Moines 2.1 mi 5.8
Virtual Campus Des Moines 2.1 mi 2.1
Jefferson Elementary School Des Moines 2.5 mi 3.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 50312 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$82,720

Median Home Value

$274,400

Median Rent

$1,057/mo

Population

15,492

College Educated

61.9%

Homeownership

64.5%

Avg Commute

15.8 min

Poverty Rate

8%

Median Age

40.5

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Dunkerton Elementary Dunkerton, IA 8.2
Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Elementary School Garner, IA 8.2
Lincoln Center Albia, IA 8.2
St Ansgar Elementary School St. Ansgar, IA 8.2
Woodrow Wilson Elementary School Newton, IA 8.2
Central Elementary Elkader, IA 8.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Bergman Academy

What grades does Bergman Academy serve?

Bergman Academy serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend Bergman Academy?

Bergman Academy has an enrollment of approximately 273 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Bergman Academy?

The student-teacher ratio at Bergman Academy is 7.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Bergman Academy rank in IA?

Bergman Academy ranks #8 of 157 private schools in IA.

What is Bergman Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Bergman Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 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 Bergman Academy?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Bergman Academy has 95% math proficiency (2025 ISASP) and 99% reading/ELA proficiency (2025 ISASP).

Is Bergman Academy a private school?

Yes, Bergman Academy is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Bergman Academy a religious school?

No, Bergman Academy is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
18 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
7 Minimal Transit
Bike Score
27 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
273
Gender Split
48% M / 52% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
7.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
38
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
7 hours
Days Per Year
175 days
Setting
Midsize City
County
Polk County

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