Skip to main content

Excellent

#5 of 157 private schools in IA

Top 3% of private schools

Holy Family School

Elementary School

1265 E 9TH ST, Des Moines, IA 50316

Private

Enrollment

211

Student-Teacher

10:1

Score

8.4

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Data vintage2021-22

How this school compares

Iowa private schools

#5 of 157

In Des Moines

#2 of 13

public schools

School shortlistprofile + nearby

Shortlisting around Holy Family School?

Use this profile as one decision point, then compare nearby options, source confidence, and commute fit before picking a neighborhood around it.

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Holy Family School

8.4/10

Elementary School in Des Moines · grades Kindergarten – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Carver Elementary

3.8/10

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

East High School

2.4/10

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

About Holy Family School

Holy Family School is a private elementary school in Des Moines, IA. Holy Family School serves approximately 211 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-8th, and has a 10:1 student-teacher ratio. Holy Family School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 out of 10 and ranks #5 of 157 private schools in IA.

Structured state assessment records for Holy Family School show 78% math proficiency (2025 ISASP) and 84% reading/ELA proficiency (2025 ISASP).

How it compares1.9 pts above IA schools
  • This school 8.4 · Excellent
  • IA avg 6.5

What Parents Should Know

Holy Family School is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Holy Family School compares to 53 public schools serving similar grades in Des Moines, IA

Student-Teacher Ratio
10:1
This School
vs
13.6:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
211
This School
vs
404
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
8.4
This School
vs
4.7
Public Avg

Student Demographics

Hispanic 53.6% vs 0%
Asian 38.4% vs 0%
Black 5.7% vs 0%
White 2.4% vs 0%
Holy Family School Des Moines Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Holy Family School (this school) 8.4
Carver Elementary 3.8
Hiatt Middle School 3.1
Capitol View Elementary School 5.0
Moulton Elementary School 4.7
Cattell Elementary School 5.3
Findley Elementary School 4.0
Walnut Street School 6.0
Edmunds Elementary School 6.0
Phillips Elementary 3.6
Harding Middle School 2.9
King Elementary School 3.2
McKinley Elementary School 3.3
Madison Elementary School 2.8
Garton Elementary 6.0
Downtown School 5.8
Oak Park 3.0
Willard Elementary School 7.4
Ruby Van Meter 2.5
Goodrell Middle School 2.4
Callanan Middle School 4.3

Showing 20 of 53 schools. View all schools in Des Moines

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

Preliminary

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in IA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
B+ 7.2 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 10:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A+ 9.5 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,344
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A+ 9.5 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 56%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.1 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 211
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in IA

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 77.9% (2025 ISASP)
School
State
74.0% (2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency 83.8% (2025 ISASP)
School
State
74.6% (2025 ISASP)

Based on 14 test records from IA state assessments. About our data

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Hispanic 53.6%
Asian 38.4%
Black 5.7%
White 2.4%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

1265 E 9TH ST, Des Moines, IA 50316

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Holy Family School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. ST ANTHONY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 6.5/10, 2.1 miles away), a more accessible option. Another option is Walnut Street School (rated 6.0/10, 1.6 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, Edmunds Elementary School (rated 6.0/10, 1.8 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Des Moines, see our Des Moines schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Carver Elementary Des Moines 0.3 mi 3.8
East High School Des Moines 0.4 mi 2.4
Hiatt Middle School Des Moines 0.4 mi 3.1
Capitol View Elementary School Des Moines 0.9 mi 5.0
JOSHUA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Des Moines 0.9 mi 8.2
Moulton Elementary School Des Moines 1.2 mi 4.7
Cattell Elementary School Des Moines 1.5 mi 5.3
North High School Des Moines 1.4 mi 3.8
Findley Elementary School Des Moines 1.6 mi 4.0
Harding Middle School Des Moines 1.8 mi 2.9
Walnut Street School Des Moines 1.6 mi 6.0
McKinley Elementary School Des Moines 1.9 mi 3.3
Madison Elementary School Des Moines 2.1 mi 2.8
ST ANTHONY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Des Moines 2.1 mi 6.5
Edmunds Elementary School Des Moines 1.8 mi 6.0
Jessie Franklin Taylor Des Moines 1.8 mi 3.0
Phillips Elementary Des Moines 1.8 mi 3.6
King Elementary School Des Moines 1.9 mi 3.2
Oak Park Des Moines 2.3 mi 3.0
Garton Elementary Des Moines 2.2 mi 6.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 50316 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$53,090

Median Home Value

$137,300

Median Rent

$963/mo

Population

16,188

College Educated

12.7%

Homeownership

66.5%

Avg Commute

19.1 min

Poverty Rate

19.3%

Median Age

31.7

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Baxter Elementary School Baxter, IA 8.4
Clayton Ridge Elementary School Garnavillo, IA 8.4
Delhi Elementary School Delhi, IA 8.4
East Campus Elementary School Waukon, IA 8.4
Morning Sun Elementary School Morning Sun, IA 8.4
Sioux Center Intermediate School Sioux Center, IA 8.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Holy Family School

What grades does Holy Family School serve?

Holy Family School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

How many students attend Holy Family School?

Holy Family School has an enrollment of approximately 211 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Holy Family School?

The student-teacher ratio at Holy Family School is 10:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Holy Family School rank in IA?

Holy Family School ranks #5 of 157 private schools in IA.

What is Holy Family School's MySchoolScout rating?

Holy Family School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.4 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 Holy Family School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Holy Family School has 78% math proficiency (2025 ISASP) and 84% reading/ELA proficiency (2025 ISASP).

Is Holy Family School a private school?

Yes, Holy Family School is a private coeducational school with a Roman Catholic affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Holy Family School a religious school?

Holy Family School has a Roman Catholic religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
76 Very Walkable
Transit Score
35 Some Transit
Bike Score
54 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
211
Gender Split
71% M / 29% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
10:1
Teachers (FTE)
21
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Roman Catholic
School Day
7 hours
Days Per Year
192 days
Setting
Midsize City
County
Polk County

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 rate

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.