Average

#53 of 157 private schools in IA

Top 33% of private schools

St Theresa Catholic School

Elementary School

5810 CARPENTER AVE, Des Moines, IA 50311

Last updated: July 2026

Private

Enrollment

230

Student-Teacher

11.8:1

Score

6.7

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Enrollment

230

Student-Teacher

11.8:1

Score

6.7

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Data vintage
2021-22

Data vintage2021-22

How this school compares

Iowa private schools

#53 of 157

In Des Moines

#5 of 13

public schools

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About St Theresa Catholic School

St Theresa Catholic School is a private elementary school in Des Moines, IA. St Theresa Catholic School serves approximately 230 students, and covers grades Pre-K-8th, and has a 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio. St Theresa Catholic School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 out of 10 and ranks #53 of 157 private schools in IA.

Structured state assessment records for St Theresa Catholic School show 79% math proficiency (2025 ISASP) and 88% reading/ELA proficiency (2025 ISASP).

How it comparesOn par with IA schools

6.7

This school 6.7 · Average
IA avg 6.5

What Parents Should Know

St Theresa Catholic 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 Theresa Catholic School compares to 57 public schools serving similar grades in Des Moines, IA

Student-Teacher Ratio

11.8:1

This School

14:1

Public Avg

Avg School Size

230

This School

393

Public Avg

Avg School Scout Rating

6.7

This School

4.6

Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 74.3% vs 0%

Asian 9.1% vs 0%

Black 8.7% vs 0%

Hispanic 7% vs 0%

St Theresa Catholic School Des Moines Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School	Distance	Enrollment	STR	Rating
St Theresa Catholic School (this school)	—	230	11.8:1	6.7
Windsor Elementary	0.1 mi	267	12.1:1	6.3
Cowles Elementary School	0.5 mi	403	18.3:1	7.7
Hillis Elementary School	1.0 mi	291	12.1:1	3.0
Clive Learning Academy	1.1 mi	512	11.9:1	6.1
Perkins Elementary School	1.2 mi	444	15.3:1	4.0
Merrill Middle School	1.3 mi	651	17.6:1	6.2
Hubbell Elementary	1.4 mi	383	15.3:1	5.3
Hanawalt Elementary	1.6 mi	317	12.2:1	4.6
Moore Elementary School	1.9 mi	298	13:1	6.9
Greenwood Elementary School	2.1 mi	307	15.3:1	6.0
Callanan Middle School	2.2 mi	543	17:1	4.3
Monroe Elementary School	2.2 mi	377	11.1:1	4.6
Ruby Van Meter	2.3 mi	112	5.1:1	2.5
Meredith Middle School	2.4 mi	653	14.5:1	5.5
Woodlawn Early Childhood Center	2.8 mi	215	19.5:1	2.7
King Elementary School	2.9 mi	273	11.4:1	3.2
Samuelson Elementary School	3.1 mi	384	11.6:1	5.7
Edmunds Elementary School	3.1 mi	286	11.4:1	6.0
Downtown School	3.2 mi	235	29.4:1	5.8
Jessie Franklin Taylor	3.2 mi	194	17.6:1	3.0

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

B 5.6 / 10

View breakdown

Student-Teacher Ratio 11.8:1

Instructional Commitment

B- 5.0 / 10

View breakdown

School Day Length 7 hours

Annual Instructional Hours 1,204

Diversity & Inclusion

A 8.5 / 10

View breakdown

Diversity Index 43%

Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile

A- 8.1 / 10

View breakdown

Enrollment 230

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 79.2% (2025 ISASP)

School

State

74.0% (2025 ISASP)

ELA Proficiency 87.9% (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 74.3%

Asian 9.1%

Black 8.7%

Hispanic 7.0%

Two or More 0.9%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

5810 CARPENTER AVE, Des Moines, IA 50311

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering St Theresa Catholic School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. MT OLIVE LUTHERAN SCHOOL (rated 8.5/10, 0.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is BERGMAN ACADEMY (rated 8.2/10, 2.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Cowles Elementary School (rated 7.7/10, 0.5 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Des Moines, see our Des Moines schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.1 mi

School	Distance	Enrollment	Rating
Windsor Elementary Des Moines	0.1 mi	267	6.3
Cowles Elementary School Des Moines	0.5 mi	403	7.7
MT OLIVE LUTHERAN SCHOOL Des Moines	0.7 mi	126	8.5
Hillis Elementary School Des Moines	1.0 mi	291	3.0
AIRAZI ACADEMY West Des Moines	1.1 mi	23	—
Merrill Middle School Des Moines	1.3 mi	651	6.2
Clive Learning Academy Des Moines	1.1 mi	512	6.1
Walnut Creek Campus West Des Moines	1.4 mi	165	3.7
Roosevelt High School Des Moines	1.2 mi	2,039	4.1
Hanawalt Elementary Des Moines	1.6 mi	317	4.6
Perkins Elementary School Des Moines	1.2 mi	444	4.0
Hillside Elementary School West Des Moines	1.6 mi	581	4.9
DOWLING CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL West Des Moines	1.3 mi	1,389	5.2
Hubbell Elementary Des Moines	1.4 mi	383	5.3
ST PIUS X CATHOLIC SCHOOL Urbandale	1.9 mi	349	4.8
Moore Elementary School Des Moines	1.9 mi	298	6.9
ST AUGUSTIN CATHOLIC SCHOOL Des Moines	1.7 mi	240	5.2
BERGMAN ACADEMY Des Moines	2.0 mi	273	8.2
HOLY TRINITY Des Moines	1.9 mi	320	6.7
Karen Acres Elementary School Urbandale	2.1 mi	244	7.4

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 50311 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$63,233

Median Home Value

$228,000

Median Rent

$1,019/mo

Population

15,889

College Educated

41.4%

Homeownership

48%

Avg Commute

18.1 min

Poverty Rate

20.3%

Median Age

30.8

Similar Schools

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

School	Enrollment	Rating
Central City Elementary School Central City, IA	174	6.7
Dexter Elementary School Dexter, IA	181	6.7
HOLY TRINITY Des Moines, IA	320	6.7
LOURDES CATHOLIC SCHOOL Bettendorf, IA	236	6.7
MATER DEI SCHOOL Sioux City, IA	153	6.7
Solon Intermediate Solon, IA	208	6.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about St Theresa Catholic School

What grades does St Theresa Catholic School serve?

St Theresa Catholic School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend St Theresa Catholic School?

St Theresa Catholic School has an enrollment of approximately 230 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at St Theresa Catholic School?

The student-teacher ratio at St Theresa Catholic School is 11.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does St Theresa Catholic School rank in IA?

St Theresa Catholic School ranks #53 of 157 private schools in IA.

What is St Theresa Catholic School's MySchoolScout rating?

St Theresa Catholic School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 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 Theresa Catholic School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, St Theresa Catholic School has 79% math proficiency (2025 ISASP) and 88% reading/ELA proficiency (2025 ISASP).

Is St Theresa Catholic School a private school?

Yes, St Theresa Catholic 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 Theresa Catholic School a religious school?

St Theresa Catholic 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: 44 Car-Dependent
Transit Score: 31 Some Transit
Bike Score: 33 Somewhat Bikeable

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades: Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment: 230
Gender Split: 45% M / 55% F
Student-Teacher Ratio: 11.8:1
Teachers (FTE): 20
Type: private
Coed Status: coed
Affiliation: Roman Catholic
School Day: 7 hours
Days Per Year: 172 days
Setting: Midsize City
County: Polk County
Phone: (515) 277-0178

Resources & Links

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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.

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Data sources

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

St Theresa Catholic School

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