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Very Good

#374 of 1,280 schools in IA

Top 29% in state

Four Mile Elementary

Elementary School · Southeast Polk Comm School District

670 SE 68th St, Pleasant Hill, IA 50327

Enrollment

489

Student-Teacher

14.4:1

Score

7.5

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Iowa schools

#374 of 1,280

In Pleasant Hill

#1 of 4

public schools

In district

#6 of 11

Southeast Polk Comm School District

Equity

9.0 / 10

Excellent

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Four Mile Elementary

7.5/10

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

Southeast Polk High School

5.2/10

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

Spring Creek - 6th Grade

6.4/10

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

About Four Mile Elementary

Four Mile Elementary is a public elementary school in Pleasant Hill, IA, part of Southeast Polk Comm School District. Four Mile Elementary serves approximately 489 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Four Mile Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10 and ranks #374 of 1,280 schools in IA.

Structured state assessment records for Four Mile Elementary show 84% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 81% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 7.5 · Very Good
  • District avg 7.6
  • IA avg 6.5

What Parents Should Know

Four Mile Elementary sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.1Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.51 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics8.6Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency83.8% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency78.1% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg+7.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+9 pts
Overall Proficiency81% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)72% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected+9.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile79th
Resources & Environment6.9Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,583
Chronic Absenteeism14.3%

Four Mile Elementary — Students at Four Mile Elementary score 81% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 72%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

42.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 84.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
74.6% (2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency 81.1% (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
81%
ELA
82%
2010
Math
87%
ELA
84%
2011
Math
86%
ELA
87%
2012
Math
86%
ELA
79%
2013
Math
87%
ELA
87%
2014
Math
92%
ELA
86%
2015
Math
88%
ELA
89%
2016
Math
88%
ELA
91%
2017
Math
86%
ELA
87%
2018
Math
86%
ELA
80%
2019
Math
86%
ELA
80%
2020*
Math
76%
ELA
70%
2021*
Math
76%
ELA
70%
2022
Math
79%
ELA
73%
2025
Math
83.8%
ELA
78.1%

* 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: 7.1/10.

How Four Mile Elementary Compares

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

Overall Score
7.5/10
71th percentile in IA
Academic
8.6/10
Excellent
Growth
7.1/10
Very Good
Environment
6.9/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
43%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
34 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
14.3%

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

670 SE 68th St, Pleasant Hill, IA 50327

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Four Mile Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Delaware Elementary (rated 8.9/10, 4.8 miles away, in nearby Des Moines), which scores notably higher. Another option is Altoona Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 4.6 miles away, in nearby Altoona), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Centennial Elementary (rated 8.1/10, 4.3 miles away, in nearby Altoona), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Pleasant Hill, see our Pleasant Hill schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 5.7 mi
School Distance Rating
Southeast Polk High School Pleasant Hill 1.9 mi 5.2
Spring Creek - 6th Grade Pleasant Hill 2.1 mi 6.4
Southeast Polk Junior High Pleasant Hill 2.2 mi 6.6
Clay Elementary Altoona 3.0 mi 5.4
Pleasant Hill Elementary School Des Moines 2.4 mi 4.3
Centennial Elementary Altoona 4.3 mi 8.1
Altoona Elementary Altoona 4.6 mi 8.4
Willowbrook Elementary Altoona 4.8 mi 4.9
Hoyt Middle School Des Moines 4.1 mi 3.6
Brubaker Elementary School Des Moines 4.2 mi 4.6
McKee Elementary School Des Moines 4.1 mi 2.6
Delaware Elementary Des Moines 4.8 mi 8.9
Stowe Elementary School Des Moines 4.4 mi 3.4
Carlisle Elementary School Carlisle 5.8 mi 6.8
Carlisle High School Carlisle 5.8 mi 4.8
ST JOSEPH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Des Moines 4.6 mi 5.0
Willard Elementary School Des Moines 4.5 mi 7.4
Carlisle Middle School Carlisle 5.9 mi 6.0
Goodrell Middle School Des Moines 5.6 mi 2.4
ONE SCHOOL GLOBAL DES MOINES CAMPUS Des Moines 5.7 mi 5.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 50327 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$90,759

Median Home Value

$303,000

Median Rent

$1,219/mo

Population

12,875

College Educated

32.3%

Homeownership

78.6%

Avg Commute

21.3 min

Poverty Rate

8.7%

Median Age

41.2

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Crossroads Park Elementary School West Des Moines, IA 7.5
Highland Elementary School Waterloo, IA 7.5
Kittrell Elementary School Waterloo, IA 7.5
Maple Grove Elementary School West Des Moines, IA 7.5
Northeast Elementary Ankeny, IA 7.5
Spirit Lake Elementary School Spirit Lake, IA 7.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Four Mile Elementary

What grades does Four Mile Elementary serve?

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

How many students attend Four Mile Elementary?

Four Mile Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 489 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Four Mile Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Four Mile Elementary is 14.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Four Mile Elementary rank in IA?

Four Mile Elementary ranks #374 of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is Four Mile Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Four Mile Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 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 Four Mile Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Four Mile Elementary has 84% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 81% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Four Mile Elementary a charter school?

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

Is Four Mile Elementary a Title I school?

No, Four Mile Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

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

42.5% of students at Four Mile 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
2 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
26 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
489
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
34
Free/Reduced Lunch
42.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Polk County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
14.3%

District

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

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