Very Good
#411 of 1,280 schools in IA
Top 32% in state
Karen Acres Elementary School
Elementary School · Urbandale Comm School District · Urbandale, IA
An Urbandale Comm School District elementary school where students score 11 points above what's typical for similar communities.
3500 74th St, Urbandale, IA 50322
- Math 77% vs IA 75% (2025)
- Reading 81% vs IA 72% (2025)
- 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Karen Acres Elementary School score 79% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 68%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 15 points since 2020, reaching 79% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 81% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 77% (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
48.4%
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 Karen Acres 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 61Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 44Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated726/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Urbandale), 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
$89,323
Median home value
$263,900
Median rent
$1,151/mo
College educated
42%
Homeownership
71.2%
Poverty rate
9.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 50322; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olmsted Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.4 | PK–5 | 0.6 mi | 641 | Compare → |
| St Pius X Catholic SchoolPrivate · tuition | 4.8private | PK–8 | 0.8 mi | 349 | Compare → |
| Crestview School of InquiryEnrollment path unverified | 3.8 | PK–6 | 1.2 mi | 549 | Compare → |
| Clive Learning AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 6.1 | PK–6 | 1.3 mi | 512 | 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.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Urbandale Comm School District
- Schools in district
- 6
- Rank in district
- #3 of 5
- District spending per student
- $12,693NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 8.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Karen Acres Elementary School is listed in Urbandale Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Karen Acres Elementary School
Karen Acres Elementary School is a public elementary school in Urbandale, IA, part of Urbandale Comm School District, serving approximately 244 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10 and ranks #411 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 81% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 77% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Karen Acres Elementary School
What grades does Karen Acres Elementary School serve?
Karen Acres Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Karen Acres Elementary School?
Karen Acres Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 244 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Karen Acres Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Karen Acres Elementary School is 12.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Karen Acres Elementary School rank in IA?
Karen Acres Elementary School ranks #411 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Karen Acres Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Karen Acres Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 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 Karen Acres Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Karen Acres Elementary School has 81% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 77% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Karen Acres Elementary School a charter school?
No, Karen Acres Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Karen Acres Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Karen Acres Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Karen Acres Elementary School?
48.4% of students at Karen Acres 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
- 244
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 20
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Polk County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 9.0%
- Phone
- (515) 457-5700
- Area population (ZIP 50322)
- 31,694
- Area average commute
- 18.1 min
- Area median age
- 40.1
Official sources & links
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 50322; 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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