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Cowles Elementary School

Q: Is Cowles Elementary School a good school?

Cowles Elementary School ranks 167 th of 576 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-8

167^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 576 Iowa Elementary Schools

Better than 71% of Iowa elementary schools

Summary

Cowles Elementary School is a public elementary school in Des Moines, Iowa, serving grades PK-8 with a total enrollment of 403 students. This school consistently outperforms the Des Moines Independent Community School District and the state of Iowa in academic proficiency across various subjects and grade levels.

For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, 93.8% of 7th-grade students at Cowles Elementary were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 54.8% for the district and 74.9% for the state. Similarly, in 8th-grade Mathematics, Cowles had a 96.8% proficiency rate, compared to 51.2% for the district and 74.4% for the state. Additionally, Cowles Elementary has lower chronic absenteeism rates and a relatively low percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch compared to the district average.

When comparing Cowles Elementary to nearby schools, both within the Des Moines Independent Community School District and in other districts, it is clear that Cowles outperforms most of them academically. The school's consistent academic excellence and its performance compared to the district and state averages suggest that it may have effective teaching practices, curriculum, or other factors that contribute to its success.

392

Students ?

16.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,566

Per pupil spending ?

20.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6401 College Ave
Des Moines, IA 50324

(515) 242-7818

District: Des Moines Independent Community School District

Students who attend Cowles Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Merrill Middle School
High:	Roosevelt High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

78.6%

Two or more races:

9.2%

Hispanic:

7.7%

See top rated Iowa elementary schools

Compare Cowles Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 54th percentile in 2023 → 71st in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Iowa average (87% vs 73% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 71st (2025) from a 54th-percentile low (2023)

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Des Moines Independent Community School District

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school87%

District avg50%

Iowa avg73%

Elementary school

167^th of 576

Iowa public elementary schools ?

Top 29%▼ down 7 pts since 2015

From top 22% (2015) to top 29% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Iowa Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

9^th of 344

Iowa public middle schools ?

Top 3%▼ down 2 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Iowa Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 38Elementary Schools in the Des Moines Independent Community School District

306^th of 313Des Moines Independent Community School District among Iowa districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Iowa percentile	Rating
2025	70.6	167 of 576	71.0%	★★★★☆
2024	61.0	243 of 557	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.7	259 of 565	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	67.2	198 of 574	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	60.7	230 of 567	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	81.6	81 of 603	86.6%	★★★★☆
2018	76.8	95 of 567	83.2%	★★★★☆
2017	84.7	30 of 574	94.8%	★★★★★
2016	78.4	83 of 599	86.1%	★★★★☆
2015	74.9	133 of 616	78.4%	★★★★☆
2014	73.4	125 of 603	79.3%	★★★★☆
2013	69.6	156 of 624	75.0%	★★★★☆
2012	72.3	119 of 626	81.0%	★★★★☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Iowa percentile	Rating
2025	88.1	9 of 344	97.4%	★★★★★
2024	69.4	92 of 337	72.7%	★★★★☆
2023	81.9	28 of 334	91.6%	★★★★★
2022	94.2	2 of 337	99.4%	★★★★★
2021	91.0	6 of 324	98.1%	★★★★★
2019	86.7	17 of 342	95.0%	★★★★★
2018	78.0	41 of 318	87.1%	★★★★☆
2017	93.8	3 of 327	99.1%	★★★★★
2016	86.5	10 of 343	97.1%	★★★★★
2015	93.2	3 of 349	99.1%	★★★★★
2014	86.5	10 of 337	97.0%	★★★★★
2013	86.1	8 of 350	97.7%	★★★★★
2012	84.4	14 of 349	96.0%	★★★★★

By subject vs Iowa (2024-2025) ?

Science90%+23 vs state

English Language Arts88%+14 vs state

Mathematics84%+11 vs state

★

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Schools Near Cowles Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ISASP English Language Arts (2025)						ISASP Mathematics (2025)						ISASP Science (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISASP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 4th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 5th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 6th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 7th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 8th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 3rd Grade	ISASP Mathematics 4th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 5th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 6th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 7th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 8th Grade	ISASP Science 5th Grade	ISASP Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Cowles Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	6401 College Ave	Des Moines	50324	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 242-7818	392	23	16.7	20.2%	308 (78.6%)	4 (1.0%)	30 (7.7%)	12 (3.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (9.2%)	70.6	167^th of 576 public elementary schools	71.0%		61	243^rd of 557 public elementary schools	56.4%	76	62.2	97.0	93.3	85.2	93.8	100.0	70.3	84.8	83.3	77.8	93.8	96.8	83.3	96.8	$14,566	$624	$13,942
Windsor Elementary	Public	K-5	5912 University Avenue	Des Moines	50311	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 242-8440	254	22	11.7	57.5%	128 (50.4%)	35 (13.8%)	56 (22.0%)	7 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (11.0%)	24.4	478^th of 576 public elementary schools	17.0%		28	448^th of 557 public elementary schools	19.6%	30	50.0	75.0	55.6				61.8	64.7	54.5				44.4		$15,936	$723	$15,213
Clive Learning Academy	Public	PK, KG-6	1600 73rd Street	Des Moines	50324	Polk County	West Des Moines Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 633-5800	551	43	12.6	59.7%	250 (45.4%)	100 (18.1%)	99 (18.0%)	41 (7.4%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	59 (10.7%)	49	334^th of 576 public elementary schools	42.0%		50.2	327^th of 557 public elementary schools	41.3%	7	62.0	74.6	75.4	79.1			64.8	71.2	72.5	73.5			66.7		$14,178	$481	$13,696
Hillis Elementary School	Public	K-5	2401 56th St	Des Moines	50310	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 242-8412	279	24	11.4	76.3%	100 (35.8%)	60 (21.5%)	71 (25.4%)	28 (10.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (6.8%)	4.2	557^th of 576 public elementary schools	3.3%		17.8	479^th of 557 public elementary schools	14.0%	78	38.1	50.0	41.5				50.0	56.5	34.1				29.3		$16,776	$1,702	$15,074
Horizon Science Academy Des Moines	Public, Charter	PK, KG-4	4801 Franklin Ave 2nd	Des Moines	50310	Polk County	Charter Organization: Concept Schools	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(515) 335-1937	150	8	18.7	79.3%	68 (45.3%)	41 (27.3%)	21 (14.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (13.3%)	18.1	496^th of 576 public elementary schools	13.9%					(n/a)	36.8	50.0					73.7	58.3
Crestview School of Inquiry	Public	PK, KG-6	8355 Franklin Avenue	Clive	50325	Polk County	West Des Moines Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 633-5700	558	48	11.6	84.1%	96 (17.2%)	54 (9.7%)	324 (58.1%)	65 (11.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (3.4%)	11.3	524^th of 576 public elementary schools	9.0%		17.7	481^st of 557 public elementary schools	13.6%	43	50.7	43.1	54.5	58.6			50.7	39.2	54.5	60.3			50.9		$14,822	$670	$14,152
Perkins Elementary School	Public	K-5	4301 College	Des Moines	50311	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 242-8430	438	29	15.0	62.8%	188 (42.9%)	85 (19.4%)	98 (22.4%)	22 (5.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (9.6%)	24.7	474^th of 576 public elementary schools	17.7%		49	342^nd of 557 public elementary schools	38.6%	132	53.8	60.9	64.5				64.6	62.5	59.2				55.3		$14,697	$1,156	$13,541
Karen Acres Elementary School	Public	K-5	3500 74th St	Urbandale	50322	Polk County	Urbandale Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 457-5700	233	19	11.9	52.8%	122 (52.4%)	11 (4.7%)	48 (20.6%)	37 (15.9%)	3 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.2%)	64.7	225^th of 576 public elementary schools	60.9%		57.8	271^st of 557 public elementary schools	51.3%	46	89.5	81.1	72.5				92.1	62.2	77.5				67.5		$13,768	$98	$13,670
Moore Elementary School	Public	K-5	3725 52nd St	Des Moines	50310	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 242-8426	285	24	12.0	67.0%	101 (35.4%)	59 (20.7%)	61 (21.4%)	29 (10.2%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.7%)	32 (11.2%)	17.6	497^th of 576 public elementary schools	13.7%		10.4	510^th of 557 public elementary schools	8.4%	13	54.8	56.5	60.7				64.3	50.0	42.6				55.7		$16,099	$1,236	$14,863
Olmsted Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7110 Prairie Avenue	Urbandale	50322	Polk County	Urbandale Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 457-5100	622	49	12.8	51.0%	319 (51.3%)	88 (14.1%)	104 (16.7%)	72 (11.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	37 (5.9%)	48.6	337^th of 576 public elementary schools	41.5%		44.7	366^th of 557 public elementary schools	34.3%	29	68.3	72.2	71.7				73.2	66.7	75.8				63.6

Frequently Asked Questions about Cowles Elementary School

What district is Cowles Elementary School in?

Des Moines Independent Community School District

What is the racial makeup of Cowles Elementary School?

Students at Cowles Elementary School are 79% White, 9% Two or more races, 8% Hispanic, 3% Asian, 1% African American.

Is Cowles Elementary School a good school?

Cowles Elementary School ranks 167^th of 576 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Cowles Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Cowles Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Merrill Middle School
High : Roosevelt High School

How many students attend Cowles Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 392 students attended Cowles Elementary School.

Rate Cowles Elementary School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Iowa Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.