Very Good
#317 of 1,280 schools in IA
Top 25% in state
Cowles Elementary School
Elementary School · Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Des Moines, IA
A Des Moines Independent Comm School District elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 8th.
6401 College Ave, Des Moines, IA 50324
- Math 85% vs IA 74% (2025)
- Reading 89% vs IA 75% (2025)
- 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Cowles Elementary School score 87% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 86%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency has held near 87% across the 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 84% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 89% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 42 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
15.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Cowles Elementary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 39Car-Dependent
- Bike 38Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,846/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Des Moines), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$89,083
Median home value
$251,800
Median rent
$1,355/mo
College educated
44.3%
Homeownership
77.8%
Poverty rate
6.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 50324; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Theresa Catholic SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.7private | PK–8 | 0.5 mi | 230 | Compare → |
| Mt Olive Lutheran SchoolPrivate · tuition | 8.5private | PK–8 | 0.6 mi | 126 | Compare → |
| Windsor ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.3 | K–5 | 0.6 mi | 267 | Compare → |
| Clive Learning AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 6.1 | PK–6 | 0.7 mi | 512 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Des Moines Independent Comm School District
- Schools in district
- 59
- Rank in district
- #1 of 59
- District spending per student
- $15,518NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 21.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Cowles Elementary School is listed in Des Moines Independent Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Cowles Elementary School
Cowles Elementary School is a public elementary school in Des Moines, IA, part of Des Moines Independent Comm School District, serving approximately 403 students in grades Pre-K-8th with a 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10 and ranks #317 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 84% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 89% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Cowles Elementary School
What grades does Cowles Elementary School serve?
Cowles Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Cowles Elementary School?
Cowles Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 403 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cowles Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cowles Elementary School is 18.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Cowles Elementary School rank in IA?
Cowles Elementary School ranks #317 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Cowles Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Cowles Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 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 Cowles Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Cowles Elementary School has 84% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 89% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Cowles Elementary School a charter school?
No, Cowles Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Cowles Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Cowles Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Cowles Elementary School?
15.9% of students at Cowles 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 403
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 18.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 22
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Polk County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 12.7%
- Phone
- (515) 242-7818
- Area population (ZIP 50324)
- 5,171
- Area median age
- 41.5
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 50324; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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