Very Good
#351 of 1,280 schools in IA
Top 27% in state
Cattell Elementary School
Elementary School · Des Moines Independent Comm School District
3101 E 12th St, Des Moines, IA 50316
Enrollment
308
Student-Teacher
10.6:1
Score
7.2
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
308
Student-Teacher
10.6:1
Score
7.2
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Des Moines
#7 of 64
public schools
Iowa elementary schools
#225 of 662
In district
#5 of 59
Des Moines Independent Comm School District
School environment
9.8 / 10
Exceptional
About Cattell Elementary School
Cattell Elementary School is a regular public elementary school located in Des Moines, Iowa. Serving kindergarten through fifth grade, Cattell has an enrollment of 308 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 10.6:1 with 29 full-time equivalent teachers. The school's setting offers a supportive learning environment within the heart of a mid-size city.
Cattell Elementary School’s academic performance shows room for improvement, as indicated by its MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 out of 10 and state ranking of #758 out of 1288 schools in Iowa (41st percentile). Test scores reveal that 47% of students are proficient or above in ELA/Reading, 46% in Math, and 26% in Science. These figures suggest areas for focused academic development to enhance student achievement.
Cattell Elementary School is situated in a vibrant mid-size city setting, offering its students access to diverse educational resources and community support.
What Parents Should Know
While current test scores at Cattell Elementary School are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
Data not available for this school
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Cattell Elementary School — Students at Cattell Elementary School score 47% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
78.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)
Based on 13 test records from IA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↑ ImprovingAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 8.0/10.
How Cattell Elementary School Compares
See how Cattell Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 42% (2019) to 42% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 42% (2019) to 52% (2022).
Location
3101 E 12th St, Des Moines, IA 50316
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Cattell Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL (rated 8.4/10, 1.5 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Garton Elementary (rated 7.8/10, 1.5 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Moulton Elementary School (rated 7.6/10, 1.7 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Des Moines, see our Des Moines schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.4 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Madison Elementary School Des Moines | 0.6 mi | 3.4 |
| Harding Middle School Des Moines | 0.7 mi | 3.2 |
| Findley Elementary School Des Moines | 0.7 mi | 5.8 |
| North High School Des Moines | 1.1 mi | 5.3 |
| HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL Des Moines | 1.5 mi | 8.4 |
| Hiatt Middle School Des Moines | 1.6 mi | 7.0 |
| Oak Park Des Moines | 1.3 mi | 5.6 |
| JOSHUA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Des Moines | 1.6 mi | 8.2 |
| Carver Elementary Des Moines | 1.8 mi | 6.6 |
| East High School Des Moines | 1.9 mi | 4.3 |
| Moulton Elementary School Des Moines | 1.7 mi | 7.6 |
| Garton Elementary Des Moines | 1.5 mi | 7.8 |
| Capitol View Elementary School Des Moines | 2.2 mi | 4.4 |
| Phillips Elementary Des Moines | 2.0 mi | 6.8 |
| Jessie Franklin Taylor Des Moines | 2.0 mi | 5.5 |
| Saydel High School Des Moines | 2.6 mi | 3.9 |
| Goodrell Middle School Des Moines | 2.1 mi | 4.3 |
| ONE SCHOOL GLOBAL DES MOINES CAMPUS Des Moines | 2.2 mi | 5.0 |
| Woodside Middle School Des Moines | 2.9 mi | 6.6 |
| King Elementary School Des Moines | 2.4 mi | 7.2 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 50316 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$53,090
Median Home Value
$137,300
Median Rent
$963/mo
Population
16,188
College Educated
12.7%
Homeownership
66.5%
Avg Commute
19.1 min
Poverty Rate
19.3%
Median Age
31.7
Community Profile
The community surrounding Cattell Elementary School has a median household income of $53,090. It is a community where 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $137,300, with a median rent of $963/month. The area has a poverty rate of 19.3%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 19 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Adams Elementary School Carroll, IA | 7.2 |
| Atkins Elementary School Atkins, IA | 7.2 |
| Big Creek Elementary Polk City, IA | 7.2 |
| Boyer Valley Elementary School Dow City, IA | 7.2 |
| Carter Lake Elementary School Carter Lake, IA | 7.2 |
| Clark Elementary School New London, IA | 7.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Cattell Elementary School
What grades does Cattell Elementary School serve?
Cattell Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Cattell Elementary School?
Cattell Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 308 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cattell Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cattell Elementary School is 10.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Cattell Elementary School rank in IA?
Cattell Elementary School is ranked #351 out of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Cattell Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Cattell Elementary School has a composite rating of 7.2 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Cattell Elementary School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Cattell Elementary School has 45.7% math proficiency and 47.4% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Cattell Elementary School a charter school?
No, Cattell Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Cattell Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Cattell Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Cattell Elementary School?
78.9% of students at Cattell Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Neighborhood Context
- Walk Score
- 69 Somewhat Walkable
- Transit Score
- 33 Some Transit
- Bike Score
- 47 Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety
- High (3,846/100K)
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Des Moines). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 308
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 10.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 29
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 78.9%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Polk County
- Phone
- (515) 242-8403
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Des Moines Independent Comm School District- District Enrollment
- 30,277
- Schools in District
- 59
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $15,518
- District Rank
- #5 of 59
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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