Needs Improvement
#1185 of 1,280 schools in IA
Jackson Elementary School
Elementary School · Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Des Moines, IA
A Des Moines Independent Comm School District elementary school where students score 11 points below what's typical for similar communities.
3825 Indianola Ave, Des Moines, IA 50315
- Math 42% proficient (2022)
- Reading 47% proficient (2022)
- 15:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Jackson Elementary School score 44% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 55%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 18 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 45% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 53% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 51% (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
72.5%
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 Jackson Elementary 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 45Car-Dependent
- Transit 28Some Transit
- Bike 36Somewhat 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howe ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.6 | K–5 | 0.9 mi | 303 | Compare → |
| River Woods Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.7 | K–5 | 1.0 mi | 505 | Compare → |
| Lovejoy Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.5 | K–5 | 1.1 mi | 412 | Compare → |
| South Union Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.3 | K–5 | 1.2 mi | 424 | 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
- #37 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
Jackson Elementary School is listed in Des Moines Independent Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Jackson Elementary School
Jackson Elementary School is a public elementary school in Des Moines, IA, part of Des Moines Independent Comm School District, serving approximately 495 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 15:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.5 out of 10 and ranks #1,185 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Jackson Elementary School
What grades does Jackson Elementary School serve?
Jackson Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Jackson Elementary School?
Jackson Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 495 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Jackson Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Jackson Elementary School is 15:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Jackson Elementary School rank in IA?
Jackson Elementary School ranks #1,185 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Jackson Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Jackson Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.5 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 Jackson Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Jackson Elementary School has 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Jackson Elementary School a charter school?
No, Jackson Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Jackson Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Jackson Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Jackson Elementary School?
72.5% of students at Jackson Elementary 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
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 495
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 33
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Polk County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 31.7%
- Phone
- (515) 242-8415
- 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 · 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 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, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24
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