Best elementary schools in Des Moines Independent Comm School District (2025)

Schools classified as elementary by NCES. Ranked by the Success Index (US) from official American data; 38 schools in Des Moines Independent Comm School District, Iowa. Rank positions shown on each profile are within United States and Iowa.

1
85
Cowles Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary83% Math proficiency · 392 students
2
84
Downtown SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary72% Math proficiency · 197 students
3
74
Jefferson Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary77% Math proficiency · 312 students
4
72
Hanawalt ElementaryDes Moines · Public Elementary67% Math proficiency · 312 students
5
70
Greenwood Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary67% Math proficiency · 293 students
6
69
Pleasant Hill Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary67% Math proficiency · 241 students
7
68
Windsor ElementaryDes Moines · Public Elementary67% Math proficiency · 254 students
8
65
Hubbell ElementaryDes Moines · Public Elementary58% Math proficiency · 362 students
9
64
Perkins Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary70% Math proficiency · 438 students
10
58
Moore Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary57% Math proficiency · 285 students
11
58
Willard Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary67% Math proficiency · 247 students
12
58
Walnut Street SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary62% Math proficiency · 257 students
13
55
Wright Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary57% Math proficiency · 265 students
14
53
Samuelson Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary55% Math proficiency · 386 students
15
50
Oak ParkDes Moines · Public Elementary47% Math proficiency · 288 students
16
49
Phillips ElementaryDes Moines · Public Elementary47% Math proficiency · 263 students
17
48
Park Ave Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary47% Math proficiency · 380 students
18
47
Brubaker Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary46% Math proficiency · 622 students
19
46
Hillis Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary42% Math proficiency · 279 students
20
46
Studebaker Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary53% Math proficiency · 561 students
21
45
Findley Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary47% Math proficiency · 324 students
22
45
Madison Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary47% Math proficiency · 285 students
23
45
Capitol View Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary51% Math proficiency · 533 students
24
42
Morris Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary46% Math proficiency · 519 students
25
41
Cattell Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary42% Math proficiency · 314 students
26
41
Stowe Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary42% Math proficiency · 297 students
27
40
McKinley Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary42% Math proficiency · 275 students
28
40
Jackson Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary46% Math proficiency · 490 students
29
40
Howe ElementaryDes Moines · Public Elementary42% Math proficiency · 297 students
30
39
River Woods Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary39% Math proficiency · 493 students
31
38
Garton ElementaryDes Moines · Public Elementary47% Math proficiency · 535 students
32
34
South Union Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary38% Math proficiency · 422 students
33
33
Edmunds Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary42% Math proficiency · 259 students
34
32
Lovejoy Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary37% Math proficiency · 394 students
35
29
Carver ElementaryDes Moines · Public Elementary43% Math proficiency · 436 students
36
28
Monroe Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary30% Math proficiency · 341 students
37
27
Moulton Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary36% Math proficiency · 465 students
38
20
King Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary27% Math proficiency · 315 students

#	School	Sector	Success Index (US)	Key result	Students
1	Cowles Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades PK–8	Public	84.8 Top 5%	83% Math proficiency	392
2	Downtown School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	83.7 Top 10%	72% Math proficiency	197
3	Jefferson Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	73.9 Top 25%	77% Math proficiency	312
4	Hanawalt Elementary Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	71.9 Top 25%	67% Math proficiency	312
5	Greenwood Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	69.7 Top 25%	67% Math proficiency	293
6	Pleasant Hill Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	69.0 Top 25%	67% Math proficiency	241
7	Windsor Elementary Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	67.9 Top 50%	67% Math proficiency	254
8	Hubbell Elementary Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	65.2 Top 50%	58% Math proficiency	362
9	Perkins Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	63.8 Top 50%	70% Math proficiency	438
10	Moore Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	58.4 Top 50%	57% Math proficiency	285
11	Willard Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	58.0 Top 50%	67% Math proficiency	247
12	Walnut Street School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	57.5 Top 50%	62% Math proficiency	257
13	Wright Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	55.0 Top 50%	57% Math proficiency	265
14	Samuelson Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	52.5 Top 50%	55% Math proficiency	386
15	Oak Park Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	49.5 Lower 50%	47% Math proficiency	288
16	Phillips Elementary Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	48.6 Lower 50%	47% Math proficiency	263
17	Park Ave Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	47.5 Lower 50%	47% Math proficiency	380
18	Brubaker Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	46.8 Lower 50%	46% Math proficiency	622
19	Hillis Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	46.3 Lower 50%	42% Math proficiency	279
20	Studebaker Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	46.3 Lower 50%	53% Math proficiency	561
21	Findley Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–6	Public	45.1 Lower 50%	47% Math proficiency	324
22	Madison Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	44.9 Lower 50%	47% Math proficiency	285
23	Capitol View Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	44.6 Lower 50%	51% Math proficiency	533
24	Morris Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	41.5 Lower 50%	46% Math proficiency	519
25	Cattell Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	41.3 Lower 50%	42% Math proficiency	314
26	Stowe Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	40.7 Lower 50%	42% Math proficiency	297
27	McKinley Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	40.3 Lower 50%	42% Math proficiency	275
28	Jackson Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	39.8 Lower 50%	46% Math proficiency	490
29	Howe Elementary Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	39.6 Lower 50%	42% Math proficiency	297
30	River Woods Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	38.5 Lower 50%	39% Math proficiency	493
31	Garton Elementary Des Moines · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	37.8 Lower 50%	47% Math proficiency	535
32	South Union Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	34.2 Lower 50%	38% Math proficiency	422
33	Edmunds Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	32.8 Lower 50%	42% Math proficiency	259
34	Lovejoy Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	32.0 Lower 50%	37% Math proficiency	394
35	Carver Elementary Des Moines · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	29.1 Lower 50%	43% Math proficiency	436
36	Monroe Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	28.1 Lower 50%	30% Math proficiency	341
37	Moulton Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	26.9 Lower 50%	36% Math proficiency	465
38	King Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	19.7 Lower 50%	27% Math proficiency	315

Cowles Elementary School in Des Moines leads the 2025 list of elementary schools in Des Moines Independent Comm School District with a Success Index (US) of 84.8. Of the 38 schools shown, 38 are public.

For the full picture see the wider Iowa elementary schools rankings, every school on the Des Moines Independent Comm School District page, or the comparison tool to put a shortlist side by side.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best elementary school in Des Moines Independent Comm School District?

Cowles Elementary School in Des Moines, Iowa ranks first among elementary schools in Des Moines Independent Comm School District with a Success Index (US) of 84.8 out of 100 (Enrollment: 392).

How are elementary schools in Des Moines Independent Comm School District ranked?

Each school's Success Index (US) combines 4 factors: math proficiency (30%), reading proficiency (30%), community advantage (fewer free/reduced-price lunch) (25%), students per teacher (15%). Each factor is a percentile against schools of the same type across United States. Schools with fewer than 60 students are excluded from rankings.

Are these 2025 rankings official?

No. They are computed by Success Tutoring from official American data (Urban Institute Education Data Portal (NCES CCD, EDFacts); NCES Common Core of Data). States set their own assessments and proficiency cut scores, so proficiency rates are most comparable within a state. Use the state rankings for like-for-like comparisons.