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Excellent

#51 of 1,280 schools in IA

Top 4% in state

Delaware Elementary

Elementary School · Southeast Polk Comm School District

4401 E 46th St, Des Moines, IA 50317

Enrollment

423

Student-Teacher

12.1:1

Score

8.9

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Iowa schools

#51 of 1,280

In Des Moines

#1 of 64

public schools

In district

#2 of 11

Southeast Polk Comm School District

School environment

9.3 / 10

Excellent

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Delaware Elementary

8.9/10

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

Brubaker Elementary School

4.6/10

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

Hoyt Middle School

3.6/10

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

About Delaware Elementary

Delaware Elementary is a public elementary school in Des Moines, IA, part of Southeast Polk Comm School District. Delaware Elementary serves approximately 423 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Delaware Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.9 out of 10 and ranks #51 of 1,280 schools in IA.

Structured state assessment records for Delaware Elementary show 81% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 78% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.3 pts above district
  • This school 8.9 · Excellent
  • District avg 7.6
  • IA avg 6.5

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.9Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.01 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics8.5Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency78.3% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency81.2% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg+1.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+12.1 pts
Overall Proficiency80% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)70% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected+10.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile76th
Resources & Environment9.3Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,583
Chronic Absenteeism12.1%

Delaware Elementary — Students at Delaware Elementary score 80% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 70%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

46.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 80.7% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
74.6% (2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency 77.6% (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
82%
ELA
75%
2010
Math
85%
ELA
85%
2011
Math
84%
ELA
73%
2012
Math
80%
ELA
73%
2013
Math
82%
ELA
75%
2014
Math
76%
ELA
69%
2015
Math
81%
ELA
69%
2016
Math
85%
ELA
79%
2017
Math
82%
ELA
82%
2018
Math
82%
ELA
82%
2019
Math
82%
ELA
82%
2020*
Math
82%
ELA
77%
2021*
Math
82%
ELA
77%
2022
Math
72%
ELA
77%
2025
Math
78.3%
ELA
81.2%

* 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: 8.9/10.

How Delaware Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
8.9/10
96th percentile in IA
Academic
8.5/10
Excellent
Growth
8.9/10
Excellent
Environment
9.3/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
46%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
35 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
12.1%

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

4401 E 46th St, Des Moines, IA 50317

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Delaware Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Altoona Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 2.8 miles away, in nearby Altoona), with a comparable rating. Another option is Centennial Elementary (rated 8.1/10, 3.3 miles away, in nearby Altoona), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Four Mile Elementary (rated 7.5/10, 4.8 miles away, in nearby Pleasant Hill), a more accessible option. For more schools in Des Moines, see our Des Moines schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Brubaker Elementary School Des Moines 1.4 mi 4.6
Hoyt Middle School Des Moines 1.5 mi 3.6
McKee Elementary School Des Moines 2.0 mi 2.6
Willowbrook Elementary Altoona 2.0 mi 4.9
GRAND VIEW CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Des Moines 2.0 mi 4.7
ST JOSEPH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Des Moines 2.4 mi 5.0
ONE SCHOOL GLOBAL DES MOINES CAMPUS Des Moines 2.3 mi 5.0
Goodrell Middle School Des Moines 2.4 mi 2.4
Stowe Elementary School Des Moines 2.8 mi 3.4
Pleasant Hill Elementary School Des Moines 3.6 mi 4.3
Altoona Elementary Altoona 2.8 mi 8.4
Garton Elementary Des Moines 3.0 mi 6.0
Clay Elementary Altoona 3.1 mi 5.4
Phillips Elementary Des Moines 3.4 mi 3.6
Willard Elementary School Des Moines 3.9 mi 7.4
Centennial Elementary Altoona 3.3 mi 8.1
Four Mile Elementary Pleasant Hill 4.8 mi 7.5
JOSHUA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Des Moines 4.3 mi 8.2
Morris Elementary Bondurant 4.8 mi 6.8
Anderson Elementary School Bondurant 4.9 mi 6.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 50317 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$61,569

Median Home Value

$165,200

Median Rent

$1,079/mo

Population

36,721

College Educated

15.2%

Homeownership

70.9%

Avg Commute

22.1 min

Poverty Rate

14.9%

Median Age

35

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Alta Elementary School Alta, IA 8.9
Bridgeview Elementary School Leclaire, IA 8.9
Hinton Elementary School Hinton, IA 8.9
South Hamilton Elem Jewell, IA 8.9
Danville Elementary School Danville, IA 9.0
Denver Elementary School - Lincoln Street Building Denver, IA 8.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Delaware Elementary

What grades does Delaware Elementary serve?

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

How many students attend Delaware Elementary?

Delaware Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 423 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Delaware Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Delaware Elementary is 12.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Delaware Elementary rank in IA?

Delaware Elementary ranks #51 of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is Delaware Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Delaware Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.9 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 Delaware Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Delaware Elementary has 81% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 78% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Delaware Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Delaware Elementary a Title I school?

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

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

46.1% of students at Delaware 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
14 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
32 Some Transit
Bike Score
27 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
423
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
35
Free/Reduced Lunch
46.1%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Polk County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
12.1%

District

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

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