Average
#907 of 1,280 schools in IA
Clay Elementary
Elementary School · Southeast Polk Comm School District
3200 First Avenue S., Altoona, IA 50009
Enrollment
670
Student-Teacher
16.8:1
Score
5.4
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
670
Student-Teacher
16.8:1
Score
5.4
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
Iowa schools
#907 of 1,280
In Altoona
#3 of 4
public schools
In district
#9 of 11
Southeast Polk Comm School District
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Clay Elementary
Elementary School in Altoona · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Centennial Elementary
1.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Altoona Elementary
1.7 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Clay Elementary
Clay Elementary is a public elementary school in Altoona, IA, part of Southeast Polk Comm School District. Clay Elementary serves approximately 670 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 16.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Clay Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 out of 10 and ranks #907 of 1,280 schools in IA.
Structured state assessment records for Clay Elementary show 79% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 78% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
- This school 5.4 · Average
- District avg 7.6
- IA avg 6.5
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Clay Elementary — Students at Clay Elementary score 71% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 76%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
33.6%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)
Based on 35 test records from IA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage 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: 6.1/10.
How Clay Elementary Compares
See how Clay Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Programs & Offerings
Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more
Location
3200 First Avenue S., Altoona, IA 50009
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Clay Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Delaware Elementary (rated 8.9/10, 3.1 miles away, in nearby Des Moines), which scores notably higher. Another option is Altoona Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 1.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Centennial Elementary (rated 8.1/10, 1.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Altoona, see our Altoona schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 5.0 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Centennial Elementary Altoona | 1.4 mi | 8.1 |
| Altoona Elementary Altoona | 1.7 mi | 8.4 |
| Southeast Polk High School Pleasant Hill | 2.0 mi | 5.2 |
| Willowbrook Elementary Altoona | 2.1 mi | 4.9 |
| Spring Creek - 6th Grade Pleasant Hill | 2.1 mi | 6.4 |
| Southeast Polk Junior High Pleasant Hill | 2.2 mi | 6.6 |
| Four Mile Elementary Pleasant Hill | 3.0 mi | 7.5 |
| Delaware Elementary Des Moines | 3.1 mi | 8.9 |
| Pleasant Hill Elementary School Des Moines | 3.7 mi | 4.3 |
| Hoyt Middle School Des Moines | 3.5 mi | 3.6 |
| Brubaker Elementary School Des Moines | 3.5 mi | 4.6 |
| Morris Elementary Bondurant | 5.0 mi | 6.8 |
| McKee Elementary School Des Moines | 3.8 mi | 2.6 |
| Anderson Elementary School Bondurant | 5.1 mi | 6.0 |
| Bondurant - Farrar Intermediate School Bondurant | 5.2 mi | 6.8 |
| ST JOSEPH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Des Moines | 4.4 mi | 5.0 |
| Stowe Elementary School Des Moines | 4.5 mi | 3.4 |
| Bondurant-Farrar High School Bondurant | 6.2 mi | 5.1 |
| Bondurant-Farrar Junior High Bondurant | 6.3 mi | 5.9 |
| GRAND VIEW CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Des Moines | 5.0 mi | 4.7 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Beaver Creek Elementary School Johnston, IA | 5.4 |
| Bloomer Elementary School Council Bluffs, IA | 5.4 |
| Lou Henry Elementary School Waterloo, IA | 5.4 |
| Fairmeadows Elementary School West Des Moines, IA | 5.5 |
| Fillmore Elementary School Davenport, IA | 5.5 |
| Roosevelt Elementary School Council Bluffs, IA | 5.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Clay Elementary
What grades does Clay Elementary serve?
Clay Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Clay Elementary?
Clay Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 670 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Clay Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Clay Elementary is 16.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Clay Elementary rank in IA?
Clay Elementary ranks #907 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Clay Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Clay Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 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 Clay Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Clay Elementary has 79% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 78% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Clay Elementary a charter school?
No, Clay Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Clay Elementary a Title I school?
No, Clay Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Clay Elementary?
33.6% of students at Clay 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.
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 670
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 40
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 33.6%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Polk County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 14.9%
- Phone
- (515) 967-4198
Resources & Links
District
Southeast Polk Comm School District- District Enrollment
- 7,424
- Schools in District
- 11
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,583
- District Rank
- #9 of 11
Other Schools in This District
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