Average
#761 of 1,280 schools in IA
Walnut Street School
Elementary School · Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Des Moines, IA
A Des Moines Independent Comm School District elementary school where students score 7 points below what's typical for similar communities.
901 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA 50309
- Math 51% vs IA 75% (2025)
- Reading 64% vs IA 72% (2025)
- 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Walnut Street School score 57% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 65%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 8 points since 2020, reaching 57% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 56% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 59% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 35 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
55.3%
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 Walnut Street School 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 82Very Walkable
- Transit 62Good Transit
- Bike 57Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,846/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Des Moines), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$57,974
Median home value
$286,900
Median rent
$1,166/mo
College educated
66.8%
Homeownership
11.7%
Poverty rate
17.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 50309; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.8 | K–5 | 0.7 mi | 235 | Compare → |
| Edmunds Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.0 | K–5 | 0.8 mi | 286 | Compare → |
| St Anthony Elementary SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.5private | PK–8 | 1.1 mi | 271 | Compare → |
| Carver ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 3.8 | PK–5 | 1.3 mi | 419 | 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.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Des Moines Independent Comm School District
- Schools in district
- 59
- Rank in district
- #9 of 59
- District spending per student
- $15,518NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 21.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Walnut Street School is listed in Des Moines Independent Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Walnut Street School
Walnut Street School is a public elementary school in Des Moines, IA, part of Des Moines Independent Comm School District, serving approximately 244 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.0 out of 10 and ranks #761 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 56% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Walnut Street School
What grades does Walnut Street School serve?
Walnut Street School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Walnut Street School?
Walnut Street School has an enrollment of approximately 244 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Walnut Street School?
The student-teacher ratio at Walnut Street School is 15.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Walnut Street School rank in IA?
Walnut Street School ranks #761 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Walnut Street School's MySchoolScout rating?
Walnut Street School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.0 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 Walnut Street School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Walnut Street School has 56% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Walnut Street School a charter school?
No, Walnut Street School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Walnut Street School a Title I school?
No, Walnut Street School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Walnut Street School?
55.3% of students at Walnut Street 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 244
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 16
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Polk County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 34.4%
- Phone
- (515) 242-8438
- Area population (ZIP 50309)
- 9,199
- Area median age
- 28.9
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 50309; 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, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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