Very Good
#389 of 1,280 schools in IA
Top 30% in state
River Woods Elementary School
Elementary School · Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2929 SE 22nd St, Des Moines, IA 50320
Enrollment
505
Student-Teacher
11.7:1
Score
7.1
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
505
Student-Teacher
11.7:1
Score
7.1
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Des Moines
#10 of 64
public schools
Iowa elementary schools
#248 of 662
In district
#8 of 59
Des Moines Independent Comm School District
School environment
9.8 / 10
Exceptional
About River Woods Elementary School
River Woods Elementary School is a regular public elementary school located in Des Moines, Iowa. Serving kindergarten through fifth grade, the school has an enrollment of 505 students and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 11.7:1 with 43 full-time equivalent teachers. The academic performance at River Woods shows that while it ranks in the 27th percentile among Iowa schools (#944 out of 1,288), there is room for growth.
In particular, 45% of students are proficient or above in both ELA/Reading and Math, with a slightly higher percentage—53%—proficient or above in Science. River Woods Elementary is situated in the heart of Des Moines, offering its students access to city amenities and resources while providing a supportive educational environment. The school community focuses on student development and strives to create an engaging learning atmosphere for all its young learners.
What Parents Should Know
While current test scores at River Woods Elementary School are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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River Woods Elementary School — Students at River Woods Elementary School score 40% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 46%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
80.4%
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
↑ ImprovingAverage 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: 8.5/10.
How River Woods Elementary School Compares
See how River Woods Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 39% (2019) to 41% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has remained stable from 40% (2019) to 38% (2022).
Location
2929 SE 22nd St, Des Moines, IA 50320
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering River Woods Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL (rated 8.4/10, 3.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is South Union Elementary School (rated 7.4/10, 2.1 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Phillips Elementary (rated 6.8/10, 3.5 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Des Moines, see our Des Moines schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 3.1 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson Elementary School Des Moines | 1.0 mi | 4.7 |
| Weeks Middle School Des Moines | 1.3 mi | 4.2 |
| Howe Elementary Des Moines | 1.4 mi | 5.7 |
| McKinley Elementary School Des Moines | 1.9 mi | 4.2 |
| Lovejoy Elementary School Des Moines | 2.1 mi | 6.3 |
| Willard Elementary School Des Moines | 2.4 mi | 6.3 |
| Capitol View Elementary School Des Moines | 2.5 mi | 4.4 |
| South Union Elementary School Des Moines | 2.1 mi | 7.4 |
| ST ANTHONY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Des Moines | 2.3 mi | 6.5 |
| East High School Des Moines | 3.0 mi | 4.3 |
| JOSHUA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Des Moines | 3.2 mi | 8.2 |
| Mitchell Early Childhood Center Des Moines | 2.7 mi | 5.0 |
| Park Ave Elementary School Des Moines | 2.5 mi | 3.8 |
| Hiatt Middle School Des Moines | 3.2 mi | 7.0 |
| Phillips Elementary Des Moines | 3.5 mi | 6.8 |
| Lincoln High School Des Moines | 2.6 mi | 3.8 |
| HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL Des Moines | 3.4 mi | 8.4 |
| Carver Elementary Des Moines | 3.3 mi | 6.6 |
| Stowe Elementary School Des Moines | 3.5 mi | 4.6 |
| CHRIST THE KING SCHOOL Des Moines | 3.1 mi | 6.0 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 50320 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$83,710
Median Home Value
$207,700
Median Rent
$1,110/mo
Population
23,903
College Educated
24%
Homeownership
75.5%
Avg Commute
21.6 min
Poverty Rate
9.2%
Median Age
34.3
Community Profile
The community surrounding River Woods Elementary School has a median household income of $83,710. It is a community where 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $207,700, with a median rent of $1,110/month. The local poverty rate of 9.2% 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 |
|---|---|
| Beaver Creek Elementary School Johnston, IA | 7.1 |
| Bronson Elementary School Bronson, IA | 7.1 |
| Fellows Elementary School Ames, IA | 7.1 |
| Hunt Elementary School Sioux City, IA | 7.1 |
| Lincoln Center Albia, IA | 7.1 |
| Prairie Heights Elementary School Cedar Rapids, IA | 7.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about River Woods Elementary School
What grades does River Woods Elementary School serve?
River Woods Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend River Woods Elementary School?
River Woods Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 505 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at River Woods Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at River Woods Elementary School is 11.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does River Woods Elementary School rank in IA?
River Woods Elementary School is ranked #389 out of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is River Woods Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
River Woods Elementary School has a composite rating of 7.1 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 River Woods Elementary School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, River Woods Elementary School has 44.7% math proficiency and 45.3% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is River Woods Elementary School a charter school?
No, River Woods Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is River Woods Elementary School a Title I school?
No, River Woods Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for River Woods Elementary School?
80.4% of students at River Woods 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.
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- High (3,846/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Des Moines). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 505
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 43
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 80.4%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Polk County
- Phone
- (515) 242-8433
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Des Moines Independent Comm School District- District Enrollment
- 30,277
- Schools in District
- 59
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $15,518
- District Rank
- #8 of 59
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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