Average
#504 of 1,280 schools in IA
Top 39% in state
Prairie Trail Elementary
Elementary School · Ankeny Comm School District
1850 SW College Ave, Ankeny, IA 50023
Enrollment
542
Student-Teacher
15.1:1
Score
6.7
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
542
Student-Teacher
15.1:1
Score
6.7
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Ankeny
#5 of 17
public schools
Iowa elementary schools
#308 of 662
In district
#5 of 17
Ankeny Comm School District
Equity
9.4 / 10
Exceptional
About Prairie Trail Elementary
Prairie Trail Elementary stands out as one of Iowa's top-performing elementary schools, serving 542 students in kindergarten through fifth grade in Ankeny's thriving suburban community. With a student-teacher ratio of 15.1:1 and 36 full-time equivalent teachers, the school provides strong individual attention that translates into exceptional academic results. The school's impressive performance speaks for itself, ranking 39th out of 1,288 elementary schools statewide and earning a spot in the 97th percentile.
Students consistently excel in core subjects, with 88% achieving proficiency or above in English Language Arts and an outstanding 92% meeting or exceeding proficiency standards in mathematics. This academic excellence has earned Prairie Trail Elementary a MySchoolScout rating of 8.0 out of 10. Prairie Trail Elementary serves a well-educated community where 56% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, and the median household income reaches $109,044.
The neighborhood's low poverty rate of 4.8% reflects the area's economic stability, while median home values of $293,000 indicate a solid residential community investment in education. Located at 1850 SW College Ave in Ankeny's large suburban setting, Prairie Trail Elementary benefits from being part of a growing, family-oriented community that strongly values educational achievement and provides students with an environment conducive to learning and growth.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Prairie Trail Elementary — Students at Prairie Trail Elementary score 90% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 87%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
6.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)
Based on 13 test records from IA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.0/10.
How Prairie Trail Elementary Compares
See how Prairie Trail Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 92% (2019) to 92% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 87% (2019) to 88% (2022).
Location
1850 SW College Ave, Ankeny, IA 50023
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Prairie Trail Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Cornell Elementary School (rated 7.9/10, 3.4 miles away, in nearby Des Moines), which scores notably higher. Another option is Heritage Elementary (rated 7.7/10, 1.4 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Crocker Elementary School (rated 6.2/10, 0.9 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Ankeny, see our Ankeny schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 3.1 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Crocker Elementary School Ankeny | 0.9 mi | 6.2 |
| ANKENY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Ankeny | 1.4 mi | 6.6 |
| Southview Middle School Ankeny | 1.2 mi | 7.0 |
| Northwest Elementary School Ankeny | 1.6 mi | 4.5 |
| Heritage Elementary Ankeny | 1.4 mi | 7.7 |
| Ankeny High School Ankeny | 1.4 mi | 6.4 |
| Westwood Elementary School Ankeny | 1.8 mi | 5.9 |
| Prairie Ridge Middle School Ankeny | 2.0 mi | 5.5 |
| Parkview Middle School Ankeny | 1.9 mi | 6.9 |
| Terrace Learning Center Ankeny | 2.0 mi | 6.1 |
| ST LUKE THE EVANGELIST CATHOLIC SCHOOL Ankeny | 2.3 mi | 4.5 |
| COTTONTAIL CREEK MONTESSORI SCHOOL Ankeny | 2.1 mi | — |
| Ankeny Centennial High School Ankeny | 2.6 mi | 6.7 |
| Northview Middle School Ankeny | 2.5 mi | 7.2 |
| Southeast Elementary School Ankeny | 2.1 mi | 5.9 |
| East Elementary School Ankeny | 2.4 mi | 6.0 |
| Ashland Ridge Elementary Ankeny | 3.0 mi | 5.1 |
| Cornell Elementary School Des Moines | 3.4 mi | 7.9 |
| Rock Creek Elementary Ankeny | 3.5 mi | 5.5 |
| Northeast Elementary Ankeny | 3.1 mi | 4.9 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 50023 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$113,914
Median Home Value
$327,200
Median Rent
$1,191/mo
Population
45,286
College Educated
55.3%
Homeownership
70.4%
Avg Commute
21.5 min
Poverty Rate
4.4%
Median Age
32.5
Community Profile
The community surrounding Prairie Trail Elementary has a median household income of $113,914. It is a well-educated community where 55% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $327,200, with a median rent of $1,191/month. The local poverty rate of 4.4% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 22 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 |
|---|---|
| Bowman Woods Elementary School Cedar Rapids, IA | 6.7 |
| Centennial Elementary Altoona, IA | 6.7 |
| Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Elementary School Clarion, IA | 6.7 |
| Crossroads Park Elementary School West Des Moines, IA | 6.7 |
| Eisenhower Elementary School Dubuque, IA | 6.7 |
| Ernest Horn Elementary School Iowa City, IA | 6.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Prairie Trail Elementary
What grades does Prairie Trail Elementary serve?
Prairie Trail Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Prairie Trail Elementary?
Prairie Trail Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 542 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Prairie Trail Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Prairie Trail Elementary is 15.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Prairie Trail Elementary rank in IA?
Prairie Trail Elementary is ranked #504 out of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Prairie Trail Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Prairie Trail Elementary has a composite rating of 6.7 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 Prairie Trail Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Prairie Trail Elementary has 93.0% math proficiency and 88.3% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Prairie Trail Elementary a charter school?
No, Prairie Trail Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Prairie Trail Elementary a Title I school?
No, Prairie Trail Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Prairie Trail Elementary?
6.8% of students at Prairie Trail 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- Elevated (1,188/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Ankeny). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 542
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 36
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 6.8%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Polk County
- Phone
- (515) 965-9605
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Ankeny Comm School District- District Enrollment
- 12,669
- Schools in District
- 17
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $12,127
- District Rank
- #5 of 17
Other Schools in This District
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 methodologyRelated reading
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