Average

#139 of 157 private schools in IA

St Joseph Elementary School

Elementary School

2107 E 33RD ST, Des Moines, IA 50317

Last updated: July 2026

Private

Enrollment

173

Student-Teacher

19.2:1

Score

5.0

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Enrollment

173

Student-Teacher

19.2:1

Score

5.0

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Data vintage
2021-22

Data vintage2021-22

How this school compares

Iowa private schools

#139 of 157

In Des Moines

#11 of 13

public schools

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About St Joseph Elementary School

St Joseph Elementary School is a private elementary school in Des Moines, IA. St Joseph Elementary School serves approximately 173 students, and covers grades Pre-K-8th, and has a 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio. St Joseph Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 out of 10 and ranks #139 of 157 private schools in IA.

Structured state assessment records for St Joseph Elementary School show 68% math proficiency (2025 ISASP) and 67% reading/ELA proficiency (2025 ISASP).

How it compares1.5 pts below IA schools

5.0

This school 5.0 · Average
IA avg 6.5

What Parents Should Know

At 173 students, St Joseph Elementary School is on the smaller side. That usually buys more individual attention and teachers who know every kid by name, with the trade-off of fewer electives and extracurriculars than a larger school can staff. Ask what activities it actually offers.

St Joseph Elementary School is private, so it runs independently of the local district and sets its own curriculum. That freedom cuts both ways depending on what you want for your child. If you're considering it, start with the practical questions: tuition, financial aid, and how admissions work.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How St Joseph Elementary School compares to 57 public schools serving similar grades in Des Moines, IA

Student-Teacher Ratio

19.2:1

This School

14:1

Public Avg

Avg School Size

173

This School

393

Public Avg

Avg School Scout Rating

5.0

This School

4.6

Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 60.7% vs 0%

Hispanic 28.9% vs 0%

Black 6.9% vs 0%

Asian 2.9% vs 0%

St Joseph Elementary School Des Moines Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School	Distance	Enrollment	STR	Rating
St Joseph Elementary School (this school)	—	173	19.2:1	5.0
Stowe Elementary School	0.5 mi	311	13:1	3.4
McKee Elementary School	0.6 mi	263	20.2:1	2.6
Goodrell Middle School	1.0 mi	493	14.5:1	2.4
Hoyt Middle School	1.0 mi	486	15.7:1	3.6
Brubaker Elementary School	1.1 mi	618	12.1:1	4.6
Phillips Elementary	1.1 mi	254	11:1	3.6
Garton Elementary	1.3 mi	429	11.9:1	6.0
Willard Elementary School	1.6 mi	282	11.8:1	7.4
Delaware Elementary	2.4 mi	423	12.1:1	8.9
Pleasant Hill Elementary School	2.4 mi	211	11.7:1	4.3
Hiatt Middle School	2.6 mi	466	12.9:1	3.1
Capitol View Elementary School	2.6 mi	545	12.4:1	5.0
Cattell Elementary School	2.8 mi	308	10.6:1	5.3
Madison Elementary School	3.2 mi	247	11.8:1	2.8
Carver Elementary	3.3 mi	419	12:1	3.8
Findley Elementary School	3.5 mi	284	11.8:1	4.0
Harding Middle School	3.5 mi	634	16.7:1	2.9
McKinley Elementary School	4.0 mi	269	12.8:1	3.3
Moulton Elementary School	4.0 mi	450	13.2:1	4.7
River Woods Elementary School	4.0 mi	505	11.7:1	4.7

Showing 20 of 57 schools. View all schools in Des Moines

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

Preliminary

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in IA.

Classroom Attention

C- 1.6 / 10

View breakdown

Student-Teacher Ratio 19.2:1

Instructional Commitment

C 2.7 / 10

View breakdown

School Day Length 6.1 hours

Annual Instructional Hours 1,134.6

Diversity & Inclusion

A 9.4 / 10

View breakdown

Diversity Index 54%

Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile

A- 8.1 / 10

View breakdown

Enrollment 173

View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in IA

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 68.4% (2025 ISASP)

School

State

74.0% (2025 ISASP)

ELA Proficiency 67.3% (2025 ISASP)

School

State

74.6% (2025 ISASP)

Based on 14 test records from IA state assessments. About our data

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 60.7%

Hispanic 28.9%

Black 6.9%

Asian 2.9%

Pacific Islander 0.6%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

2107 E 33RD ST, Des Moines, IA 50317

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering St Joseph Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Delaware Elementary (rated 8.9/10, 2.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL (rated 8.4/10, 3.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Willard Elementary School (rated 7.4/10, 1.6 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Des Moines, see our Des Moines schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.0 mi

School	Distance	Enrollment	Rating
Stowe Elementary School Des Moines	0.5 mi	311	3.4
McKee Elementary School Des Moines	0.6 mi	263	2.6
Goodrell Middle School Des Moines	1.0 mi	493	2.4
ONE SCHOOL GLOBAL DES MOINES CAMPUS Des Moines	1.2 mi	36	5.0
Hoyt Middle School Des Moines	1.0 mi	486	3.6
Brubaker Elementary School Des Moines	1.1 mi	618	4.6
Phillips Elementary Des Moines	1.1 mi	254	3.6
Willard Elementary School Des Moines	1.6 mi	282	7.4
Garton Elementary Des Moines	1.3 mi	429	6.0
GRAND VIEW CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Des Moines	2.1 mi	643	4.7
JOSHUA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Des Moines	2.1 mi	175	8.2
Delaware Elementary Des Moines	2.4 mi	423	8.9
Pleasant Hill Elementary School Des Moines	2.4 mi	211	4.3
Capitol View Elementary School Des Moines	2.6 mi	545	5.0
Hiatt Middle School Des Moines	2.6 mi	466	3.1
East High School Des Moines	2.8 mi	2,014	2.4
Cattell Elementary School Des Moines	2.8 mi	308	5.3
HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL Des Moines	3.0 mi	211	8.4
Madison Elementary School Des Moines	3.2 mi	247	2.8
River Woods Elementary School Des Moines	4.0 mi	505	4.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 50317 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$61,569

Median Home Value

$165,200

Median Rent

$1,079/mo

Population

36,721

College Educated

15.2%

Homeownership

70.9%

Avg Commute

22.1 min

Poverty Rate

14.9%

Median Age

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School	Enrollment	Rating
James Elementary School Ottumwa, IA	228	5.0
ST MARY SCHOOL Manchester, IA	203	5.0
Keystone Elementary School Keystone, IA	173	4.9
ST MALACHY SCHOOL Creston, IA	128	5.1
Twin Cedars Elementary School Bussey, IA	179	4.9
Laurens-Marathon Elementary School Laurens, IA	145	4.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about St Joseph Elementary School

What grades does St Joseph Elementary School serve?

St Joseph Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend St Joseph Elementary School?

St Joseph Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 173 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at St Joseph Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at St Joseph Elementary School is 19.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does St Joseph Elementary School rank in IA?

St Joseph Elementary School ranks #139 of 157 private schools in IA.

What is St Joseph Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

St Joseph Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 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 St Joseph Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, St Joseph Elementary School has 68% math proficiency (2025 ISASP) and 67% reading/ELA proficiency (2025 ISASP).

Is St Joseph Elementary School a private school?

Yes, St Joseph Elementary School is a private coeducational school with a Roman Catholic affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is St Joseph Elementary School a religious school?

St Joseph Elementary School has a Roman Catholic religious affiliation.

Explore More Schools

All schools in Des Moines, IA Schools in IA 20 nearby schools

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score: 22 Car-Dependent
Transit Score: 29 Some Transit
Bike Score: 24 Somewhat Bikeable

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades: Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment: 173
Gender Split: 50% M / 50% F
Student-Teacher Ratio: 19.2:1
Teachers (FTE): 9
Type: private
Coed Status: coed
Affiliation: Roman Catholic
School Day: 6.1 hours
Days Per Year: 186 days
Setting: Midsize City
County: Polk County
Phone: (515) 266-3433

Resources & Links

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How we rate schools

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Data sources

NCES PSSSY 2021-22 IA ISASP2024-25 Census ACS2019-2023 MySchoolScout Rankings2024 Full details →

St Joseph Elementary School

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