Needs Improvement
#1174 of 1,280 schools in IA
Phillips Elementary
Elementary School · Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Des Moines, IA
A Des Moines Independent Comm School District elementary school where students score 7 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1701 Lay St, Des Moines, IA 50317
- Math 55% vs IA 75% (2025)
- Reading 47% vs IA 72% (2025)
- 11:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Phillips Elementary score 51% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 57%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 31 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 51% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 65% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 64% (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
68.9%
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 Phillips Elementary 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 64Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 30Some Transit
- Bike 48Somewhat 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
$61,569
Median home value
$165,200
Median rent
$1,079/mo
College educated
15.2%
Homeownership
70.9%
Poverty rate
14.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 50317; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garton ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 6.0 | K–5 | 0.9 mi | 429 | Compare → |
| Joshua Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 8.2private | K–12 | 1.0 mi | 175 | Compare → |
| St Joseph Elementary SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.0private | PK–8 | 1.1 mi | 173 | Compare → |
| Stowe Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.4 | K–5 | 1.1 mi | 311 | 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
- #36 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
Phillips Elementary is listed in Des Moines Independent Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Phillips Elementary
Phillips Elementary is a public elementary school in Des Moines, IA, part of Des Moines Independent Comm School District, serving approximately 254 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 11:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.6 out of 10 and ranks #1,174 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 65% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Phillips Elementary
What grades does Phillips Elementary serve?
Phillips Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Phillips Elementary?
Phillips Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 254 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Phillips Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Phillips Elementary is 11:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Phillips Elementary rank in IA?
Phillips Elementary ranks #1,174 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Phillips Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Phillips Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.6 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 Phillips Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Phillips Elementary has 65% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Phillips Elementary a charter school?
No, Phillips Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Phillips Elementary a Title I school?
No, Phillips Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Phillips Elementary?
68.9% of students at Phillips Elementary 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
- 254
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 23
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Polk County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 16.9%
- Phone
- (515) 242-8431
- Area population (ZIP 50317)
- 36,721
- Area average commute
- 22.1 min
- Area median age
- 35
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 50317; 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
Related reading
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