Very Good
#166 of 1,280 schools in IA
Top 13% in state
Garton Elementary
Elementary School · Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2820 E 24th St, Des Moines, IA 50317
Enrollment
429
Student-Teacher
11.9:1
Score
7.8
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
429
Student-Teacher
11.9:1
Score
7.8
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Des Moines
#2 of 64
public schools
Iowa elementary schools
#121 of 662
In district
#1 of 59
Des Moines Independent Comm School District
Academic growth
9.8 / 10
Exceptional
About Garton Elementary
Garton Elementary is a regular public elementary school located in Des Moines, Iowa. Serving kindergarten through fifth grade, Garton has an enrollment of 429 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 11.9:1, ensuring a supportive learning environment with 36 full-time equivalent teachers. Academically, Garton Elementary is ranked #1032 out of 1288 schools in Iowa, placing it at the 20th percentile state-wide.
The school's MySchoolScout rating stands at 3.9 out of 10, indicating there is room for improvement in academic performance. In reading and ELA, 39% of students are proficient or above; in math, this figure rises to 49%, while only 29% are proficient in science. Garton Elementary is situated in a mid-size city setting within Des Moines, providing a diverse range of cultural and educational opportunities for its students.
Despite the current academic challenges, Garton remains committed to fostering growth and development among its young learners.
What Parents Should Know
While current test scores at Garton Elementary 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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Garton Elementary — Students at Garton Elementary score 42% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
77.6%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)
Based on 20 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: 9.8/10.
How Garton Elementary Compares
See how Garton Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 47% (2019) to 45% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 42% (2019) to 38% (2022).
Location
2820 E 24th St, Des Moines, IA 50317
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Garton Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL (rated 8.4/10, 2.2 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Cattell Elementary School (rated 7.2/10, 1.5 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Phillips Elementary (rated 6.8/10, 0.9 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Des Moines, see our Des Moines schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 2.5 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Goodrell Middle School Des Moines | 0.6 mi | 4.3 |
| ONE SCHOOL GLOBAL DES MOINES CAMPUS Des Moines | 0.8 mi | 5.0 |
| Phillips Elementary Des Moines | 0.9 mi | 6.8 |
| JOSHUA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Des Moines | 1.5 mi | 8.2 |
| ST JOSEPH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Des Moines | 1.3 mi | 5.0 |
| GRAND VIEW CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Des Moines | 1.7 mi | 4.7 |
| Stowe Elementary School Des Moines | 1.7 mi | 4.6 |
| Cattell Elementary School Des Moines | 1.5 mi | 7.2 |
| Hiatt Middle School Des Moines | 1.9 mi | 7.0 |
| Willard Elementary School Des Moines | 2.3 mi | 6.3 |
| Capitol View Elementary School Des Moines | 2.2 mi | 4.4 |
| Madison Elementary School Des Moines | 1.9 mi | 3.4 |
| McKee Elementary School Des Moines | 1.9 mi | 5.1 |
| East High School Des Moines | 2.2 mi | 4.3 |
| HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL Des Moines | 2.2 mi | 8.4 |
| Brubaker Elementary School Des Moines | 2.1 mi | 4.9 |
| Hoyt Middle School Des Moines | 2.1 mi | 4.0 |
| Harding Middle School Des Moines | 2.2 mi | 3.2 |
| Findley Elementary School Des Moines | 2.2 mi | 5.8 |
| Carver Elementary Des Moines | 2.5 mi | 6.6 |
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
Community Profile
The community surrounding Garton Elementary has a median household income of $61,569. It is a community where 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $165,200, with a median rent of $1,079/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.9%. The average commute for residents is 22 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 |
|---|---|
| Clark Elementary School Le Mars, IA | 7.8 |
| Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Elementary School Garner, IA | 7.8 |
| Jesup Elementary School Jesup, IA | 7.8 |
| Lou Henry Elementary School Waterloo, IA | 7.8 |
| Nodaway Valley Elementary School Greenfield, IA | 7.8 |
| Sunset Heights Elementary School Webster City, IA | 7.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Garton Elementary
What grades does Garton Elementary serve?
Garton Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Garton Elementary?
Garton Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 429 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Garton Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Garton Elementary is 11.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Garton Elementary rank in IA?
Garton Elementary is ranked #166 out of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Garton Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Garton Elementary has a composite rating of 7.8 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 Garton Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Garton Elementary has 59.4% math proficiency and 55.1% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Garton Elementary a charter school?
No, Garton Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Garton Elementary a Title I school?
No, Garton Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Garton Elementary?
77.6% of students at Garton 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
- Walk Score
- 38 Car-Dependent
- Transit Score
- 28 Some Transit
- Bike Score
- 36 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
- 429
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 36
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 77.6%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Polk County
- Phone
- (515) 242-8408
- 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
- #1 of 59
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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