Needs Improvement
#1215 of 1,280 schools in IA
Park Ave 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.
3141 SW 9th St, Des Moines, IA 50315
- Math 47% vs IA 75% (2025)
- Reading 39% vs IA 72% (2025)
- 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Park Ave Elementary School score 43% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 54%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 21 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 43% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 52% (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
75.2%
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 Park Ave 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 57Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 28Some Transit
- Bike 39Somewhat 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Union Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.3 | K–5 | 0.9 mi | 424 | Compare → |
| Howe ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.6 | K–5 | 1.1 mi | 303 | Compare → |
| St Anthony Elementary SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.5private | PK–8 | 1.2 mi | 271 | Compare → |
| Des Moines Adventist SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.5private | PK–8 | 1.3 mi | 39 | 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.
Des Moines Independent Comm School District
- Schools in district
- 59
- Rank in district
- #45 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
Park Ave Elementary School is listed in Des Moines Independent Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Park Ave Elementary School
Park Ave Elementary School is a public elementary school in Des Moines, IA, part of Des Moines Independent Comm School District, serving approximately 408 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.1 out of 10 and ranks #1,215 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Park Ave Elementary School
What grades does Park Ave Elementary School serve?
Park Ave Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Park Ave Elementary School?
Park Ave Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 408 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Park Ave Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Park Ave 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 Park Ave Elementary School rank in IA?
Park Ave Elementary School ranks #1,215 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Park Ave Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Park Ave Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.1 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 Park Ave Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Park Ave Elementary School has 52% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Park Ave Elementary School a charter school?
No, Park Ave Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Park Ave Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Park Ave Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Park Ave Elementary School?
75.2% of students at Park Ave 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
- 408
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 28
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Polk County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 39.2%
- Phone
- (515) 242-8429
- 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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