Needs Improvement
#1237 of 1,280 schools in IA
Harding Middle School
Middle School · Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Des Moines, IA
A Des Moines Independent Comm School District middle school where students score 16 points below what's typical for similar communities.
203 E Euclid Ave, Des Moines, IA 50313
- Math 30% proficient (2022)
- Reading 38% proficient (2022)
- 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Harding Middle School score 34% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 50%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 15 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 34% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 45% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 42% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
81.9%
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 Harding Middle 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 74Very Walkable
- Transit 36Some Transit
- Bike 49Somewhat 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
$64,077
Median home value
$161,800
Median rent
$1,077/mo
College educated
16.2%
Homeownership
74%
Poverty rate
13.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 50313; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiatt Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.1 | 6–8 | 2.0 mi | 466 | Compare → |
| Joshua Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 8.2private | K–12 | 2.1 mi | 175 | Compare → |
| Goodrell Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 2.4 | 6–8 | 2.8 mi | 493 | Compare → |
| One School Global Des Moines CampusPrivate · tuition | 5.0private | 3–12 | 2.8 mi | 36 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
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
- #50 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
Harding Middle School is listed in Des Moines Independent Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Harding Middle School
Harding Middle School is a public middle school in Des Moines, IA, part of Des Moines Independent Comm School District, serving approximately 634 students in grades 6th-8th with a 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 2.9 out of 10 and ranks #1,237 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 45% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Harding Middle School
What grades does Harding Middle School serve?
Harding Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Harding Middle School?
Harding Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 634 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Harding Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Harding Middle School is 16.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Harding Middle School rank in IA?
Harding Middle School ranks #1,237 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Harding Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Harding Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 2.9 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 Harding Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Harding Middle School has 45% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Harding Middle School a charter school?
No, Harding Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Harding Middle School a Title I school?
No, Harding Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Harding Middle School?
81.9% of students at Harding Middle 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
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 634
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 38
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Polk County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 56.5%
- Phone
- (515) 242-8445
- Area population (ZIP 50313)
- 18,280
- Area average commute
- 17.5 min
- Area median age
- 37.6
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 · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
- Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- 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 50313; 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, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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