Below Average
#1061 of 1,280 schools in IA
Howe Elementary
Elementary School · Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Des Moines, IA
A Des Moines Independent Comm School District elementary school where students score 10 points below what's typical for similar communities.
2900 Indianola, Des Moines, IA 50315
- Math 42% vs IA 75% (2025)
- Reading 43% vs IA 72% (2025)
- 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Howe Elementary score 42% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 53%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 12 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 42% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 48% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 50% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 35 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
77.9%
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 Howe Elementary 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 55Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 28Some Transit
- Bike 40Somewhat 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
$62,036
Median home value
$164,000
Median rent
$977/mo
College educated
18.5%
Homeownership
61.2%
Poverty rate
13.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 50315; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.5 | PK–5 | 0.9 mi | 495 | Compare → |
| Mckinley Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.3 | PK–5 | 1.0 mi | 269 | Compare → |
| South Union Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.3 | K–5 | 1.0 mi | 424 | Compare → |
| Park Ave Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.1 | K–5 | 1.1 mi | 408 | 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.
Des Moines Independent Comm School District
- Schools in district
- 59
- Rank in district
- #21 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
Howe Elementary is listed in Des Moines Independent Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Howe Elementary
Howe Elementary is a public elementary school in Des Moines, IA, part of Des Moines Independent Comm School District, serving approximately 303 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 out of 10 and ranks #1,061 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 48% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Howe Elementary
What grades does Howe Elementary serve?
Howe Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Howe Elementary?
Howe Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 303 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Howe Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Howe 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 Howe Elementary rank in IA?
Howe Elementary ranks #1,061 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Howe Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Howe Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 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 Howe Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Howe Elementary has 48% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Howe Elementary a charter school?
No, Howe Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Howe Elementary a Title I school?
No, Howe Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Howe Elementary?
77.9% of students at Howe 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 303
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 25
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Polk County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 34.0%
- Phone
- (515) 242-8413
- Area population (ZIP 50315)
- 35,349
- Area average commute
- 22.5 min
- Area median age
- 36.8
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 · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
- 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 50315; 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, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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