Excellent
#160 of 1,280 schools in IA
Top 12% in state
South Prairie Elementary
Elementary School · Dallas Center-grimes Comm School District · Grimes, IA
A Dallas Center-grimes Comm School District elementary school where students score 3 points above what's typical for similar communities.
255 SW Jazzwood Drive, Grimes, IA 50111
- Math 81% vs IA 76% (2025)
- Reading 85% vs IA 73% (2025)
- 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at South Prairie Elementary score 83% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 80%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 9-year record (2017–2025), then recovered 8 points since 2020, reaching 83% in 2025.
Show all 7 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 79% (multi-year average, 2017-2025) · reading/ELA 80% (multi-year average, 2017-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 16 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
26.8%
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 South Prairie 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 34Car-Dependent
- Bike 51Bikeable
- County Safety: Low132/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$108,352
Median home value
$285,700
Median rent
$1,156/mo
College educated
48.1%
Homeownership
70.6%
Poverty rate
6.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 50111; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 3.3 | PK–4 | 1.2 mi | 567 | Compare → |
| North Ridge ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.0 | K–4 | 1.7 mi | 423 | Compare → |
| Horizon ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.8 | K–5 | 2.5 mi | 673 | Compare → |
| Beaver Creek Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.4 | K–5 | 3.0 mi | 564 | 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.
Dallas Center-grimes Comm School District
- Schools in district
- 7
- Rank in district
- #1 of 7
- District spending per student
- $11,408NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 5.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
South Prairie Elementary is listed in Dallas Center-Grimes Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About South Prairie Elementary
South Prairie Elementary is a public elementary school in Grimes, IA, part of Dallas Center-grimes Comm School District, serving approximately 455 students in grades Kindergarten-4th with a 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 out of 10 and ranks #160 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 79% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2017-2025) and 80% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2017-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about South Prairie Elementary
What grades does South Prairie Elementary serve?
South Prairie Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 4th.
How many students attend South Prairie Elementary?
South Prairie Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 455 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Prairie Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at South Prairie Elementary is 13.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does South Prairie Elementary rank in IA?
South Prairie Elementary ranks #160 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is South Prairie Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
South Prairie Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 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 South Prairie Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, South Prairie Elementary has 79% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2017-2025) and 80% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2017-2025).
Is South Prairie Elementary a charter school?
No, South Prairie Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is South Prairie Elementary a Title I school?
No, South Prairie Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for South Prairie Elementary?
26.8% of students at South Prairie 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 – 4th
- Enrollment
- 455
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 33
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Polk County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 18.7%
- Phone
- (515) 986-4057
- Area population (ZIP 50111)
- 16,254
- Area average commute
- 19.3 min
- Area median age
- 34.8
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 50111; 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, 2017-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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