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Excellent

#7 of 157 private schools in IA

Top 4% of private schools

Joshua Christian Academy

School

1740 GARFIELD AVE, Des Moines, IA 50316

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 60 schools in Des Moines. Learn more

Enrollment

175

Student-Teacher

10.5:1

Score

8.2

Grades

Kindergarten – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Des Moines

#3 of 13

public schools

Iowa schools

#3 of 35

About Joshua Christian Academy

Joshua Christian Academy serves 175 students from kindergarten through 12th grade in Des Moines, offering a comprehensive educational experience with an impressive 10.5:1 student-teacher ratio. With 17 full-time equivalent teachers, the school provides personalized attention that allows educators to focus closely on individual student needs and development. The school has earned a solid 7.8 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranks #77 out of 157 schools statewide, placing it in the 52nd percentile among Iowa schools.

This mid-range performance indicates a school with room for academic growth while maintaining steady educational standards. Located on Garfield Avenue in the 50316 ZIP code area, Joshua Christian Academy sits in a diverse neighborhood where the median household income is $51,803 and median home values average $129,300. The surrounding community reflects a working-class character, with 22.1% of residents facing economic challenges, while 12% hold bachelor's degrees or higher.

The school's manageable size creates an intimate learning environment where students can build strong relationships with both peers and faculty throughout their educational journey. Joshua Christian Academy operates within Des Moines' mid-size city setting, providing students access to urban opportunities while maintaining a close-knit school community atmosphere.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 175 students, Joshua Christian Academy is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

As a private school, Joshua Christian Academy operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$8,697
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$10,865
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.25x — Strong
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
14%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$2.9M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 175 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Joshua Christian Academy compares to 60 public schools serving similar grades in Des Moines, IA

Student-Teacher Ratio
10.5:1
This School
vs
14.7:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
175
This School
vs
520
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
8.2
This School
vs
5.6
Public Avg

Student Demographics

Black 42.3% vs 0%
White 34.3% vs 0%
Hispanic 16.6% vs 0%
Asian 6.9% vs 0%
Joshua Christian Academy Des Moines Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
Joshua Christian Academy (this school) 8.2
Hiatt Middle School 7.0
East High School 4.3
Capitol View Elementary School 4.4
Phillips Elementary 6.8
Carver Elementary 6.6
Garton Elementary 7.8
Cattell Elementary School 7.2
Willard Elementary School 6.3
Findley Elementary School 5.8
North High School 5.3
Moulton Elementary School 7.6
Stowe Elementary School 4.6
Goodrell Middle School 4.3
Harding Middle School 3.2
Madison Elementary School 3.4
McKinley Elementary School 4.2
Walnut Street School 5.0
Edmunds Elementary School 5.7
King Elementary School 7.2
Oak Park 5.6

Showing 20 of 60 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

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+ 6.6 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 10.5:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A 9.0 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 8 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,296
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A+ 9.9 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 67%
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 175
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 56.8%
School
State
74.0%
ELA Proficiency 61.7%
School
State
74.6%

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

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Black 42.3%
White 34.3%
Hispanic 16.6%
Asian 6.9%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

1740 GARFIELD AVE, Des Moines, IA 50316

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Joshua Christian Academy may also want to explore other schools in the area. HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL (rated 8.4/10, 0.9 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Garton Elementary (rated 7.8/10, 1.5 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Moulton Elementary School (rated 7.6/10, 2.0 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Des Moines, see our Des Moines schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.5 mi
School Distance Rating
Hiatt Middle School Des Moines 0.5 mi 7.0
Capitol View Elementary School Des Moines 0.8 mi 4.4
East High School Des Moines 0.7 mi 4.3
HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL Des Moines 0.9 mi 8.4
Phillips Elementary Des Moines 1.0 mi 6.8
Carver Elementary Des Moines 1.2 mi 6.6
Garton Elementary Des Moines 1.5 mi 7.8
Cattell Elementary School Des Moines 1.6 mi 7.2
Willard Elementary School Des Moines 1.8 mi 6.3
Findley Elementary School Des Moines 1.9 mi 5.8
Madison Elementary School Des Moines 2.2 mi 3.4
McKinley Elementary School Des Moines 2.2 mi 4.2
Goodrell Middle School Des Moines 2.0 mi 4.3
Harding Middle School Des Moines 2.1 mi 3.2
North High School Des Moines 2.0 mi 5.3
ONE SCHOOL GLOBAL DES MOINES CAMPUS Des Moines 2.3 mi 5.0
Moulton Elementary School Des Moines 2.0 mi 7.6
Stowe Elementary School Des Moines 2.0 mi 4.6
ST JOSEPH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Des Moines 2.1 mi 5.0
ST ANTHONY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Des Moines 2.5 mi 6.5

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

Community Profile

The community surrounding Joshua Christian Academy has a median household income of $53,090. It is a community where 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $137,300, with a median rent of $963/month. The area has a poverty rate of 19.3%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 19 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
RIVERMONT COLLEGIATE Bettendorf, IA 8.0
CEDAR VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Cedar Rapids, IA 7.3
PRINCE OF PEACE CATHOLIC SCHOOL Clinton, IA 7.1
ST MARY'S SCHOOL Remsen, IA 7.1
MAHARISHI SCHOOL Fairfield, IA 9.4
MARQUETTE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS PK-12 Bellevue, IA 6.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Joshua Christian Academy

What grades does Joshua Christian Academy serve?

Joshua Christian Academy serves students in grades Kindergarten through 12th.

How many students attend Joshua Christian Academy?

Joshua Christian Academy has an enrollment of approximately 175 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Joshua Christian Academy?

The student-teacher ratio at Joshua Christian Academy is 10.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Joshua Christian Academy rank in IA?

Joshua Christian Academy is ranked #7 out of 157 private schools in IA.

What is Joshua Christian Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Joshua Christian Academy has a composite rating of 8.2 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Joshua Christian Academy?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Joshua Christian Academy has 56.8% math proficiency and 61.7% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Joshua Christian Academy a private school?

Yes, Joshua Christian Academy is a private coeducational school with a Christian, no specific denomination affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Joshua Christian Academy a religious school?

Joshua Christian Academy has a Christian, no specific denomination religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
40 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
35 Some Transit
Bike Score
41 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (3,846/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Des Moines). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Enrollment
175
Gender Split
49% M / 51% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
17
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Christian, no specific denomination
School Day
8 hours
Days Per Year
162 days
Setting
Midsize City
County
POLK
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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