Needs Improvement
#1190 of 1,280 schools in IA
Jefferson 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 6 points below what's typical for similar communities.
2425 Watrous Ave, Des Moines, IA 50321
- Math 67% proficient (2022)
- Reading 67% proficient (2022)
- 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Jefferson Elementary School score 67% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 73%).
2022 EdFacts proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 21 points across the 14-year record (2009–2022) and has held near 67% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 80% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 77% (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
40.2%
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 Jefferson 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 53Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 17Minimal Transit
- Bike 35Somewhat 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
$77,636
Median home value
$294,100
Median rent
$1,098/mo
College educated
41.2%
Homeownership
60.5%
Poverty rate
10.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 50321; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines Adventist SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.5private | PK–8 | 0.1 mi | 39 | Compare → |
| Wright Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.5 | K–5 | 1.1 mi | 244 | Compare → |
| Park Ave Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.1 | K–5 | 1.4 mi | 408 | Compare → |
| Cowles Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.7 | PK–8 | Not available | 403 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
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
- #39 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
Jefferson Elementary School is listed in Des Moines Independent Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Jefferson Elementary School
Jefferson Elementary School is a public elementary school in Des Moines, IA, part of Des Moines Independent Comm School District, serving approximately 306 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.4 out of 10 and ranks #1,190 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 80% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 77% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Jefferson Elementary School
What grades does Jefferson Elementary School serve?
Jefferson Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Jefferson Elementary School?
Jefferson Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 306 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Jefferson Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Jefferson Elementary School is 14.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Jefferson Elementary School rank in IA?
Jefferson Elementary School ranks #1,190 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Jefferson Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Jefferson Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.4 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 Jefferson Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Jefferson Elementary School has 80% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 77% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).
Is Jefferson Elementary School a charter school?
No, Jefferson Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Jefferson Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Jefferson Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Jefferson Elementary School?
40.2% of students at Jefferson 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
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 306
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 21
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Polk County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 33.0%
- Phone
- (515) 242-8416
- Area population (ZIP 50321)
- 7,787
- Area average commute
- 19.7 min
- Area median age
- 36
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 50321; 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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