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Windsor Elementary

Public Grades K-5

478^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 576 Iowa Elementary Schools

Better than 17% of Iowa elementary schools

Summary

Windsor Elementary is a public elementary school in Des Moines, Iowa, serving students from kindergarten to 5th grade. The school is part of the Des Moines Independent Community School District, which is ranked 306 out of 313 school districts in the state.

Windsor Elementary has seen a decline in its statewide ranking over the past several years, dropping from 322 out of 567 Iowa elementary schools in the 2020-2021 school year to 478 out of 576 in the 2024-2025 school year. The school has consistently been rated 1 or 2 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger during this period. Key areas of concern include high chronic absenteeism rates, which have ranged from 21.4% to 42.0% in recent years, and test scores in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science that are below the state and district averages.

When comparing Windsor Elementary to nearby schools within the Des Moines Independent Community School District, it becomes evident that Windsor is one of the lower-performing schools in the district. For example, Cowles Elementary, located just 0.65 miles away, consistently outperforms Windsor Elementary in test scores and has a higher statewide ranking. Similarly, Greenwood Elementary and Perkins Elementary, both within a 2-mile radius, also demonstrate stronger academic performance compared to Windsor.

254

Students ?

11.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,936

Per pupil spending ?

57.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5912 University Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50311

(515) 242-8440

District: Des Moines Independent Community School District

Students who attend Windsor Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Merrill Middle School
High:	Roosevelt High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

50.4%

Hispanic:

22.0%

African American:

13.8%

See top rated Iowa elementary schools

Compare Windsor Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 20th percentile in 2015 → 17th in 2025

Strengths

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

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Iowa average (60% vs 71% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (17th percentile)

!Science scores 20 pts below the Iowa average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school60%

District avg50%

Iowa avg71%

478^th of 576

Iowa public elementary schools ?

Bottom 17%▼ down 3 pts since 2015

From bottom 20% (2015) to bottom 17% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Iowa Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

9^th 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Iowa percentile	Rating
2025	24.4	478 of 576	17.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.0	448 of 557	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	35.2	428 of 565	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	47.9	345 of 574	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	48.8	322 of 567	43.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.9	446 of 603	26.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	31.9	435 of 567	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	32.3	447 of 574	22.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	17.4	526 of 599	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	30.5	492 of 616	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	16.6	537 of 603	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	14.5	575 of 624	7.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	30.9	519 of 626	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Iowa (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts63%-8 vs state

Mathematics61%-13 vs state

Science44%-20 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

5★1

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1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, September 21, 2023

My 2 children as well as my husband and his 2 siblings all have or do attend Windsor and I can't say enough about how amazing it has been! My daughter is the last one attending and so far it has been just excellent! Close Quote

Schools Near Windsor Elementary

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
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
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
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
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
Hubbell Elementary	Public	K-5	800 42nd St	Des Moines	50312	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 242-8414	362	24	14.8	42.8%	213 (58.8%)	57 (15.7%)	49 (13.5%)	7 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (9.9%)	44.2	375^th of 576 public elementary schools	34.9%		45.4	360^th of 557 public elementary schools	35.4%	15	67.2	76.7	67.2				70.7	66.7	70.5				60.7		$14,542	$654	$13,888
Hanawalt Elementary	Public	K-5	225 56th Street	Des Moines	50312	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 242-8411	312	24	13.0	49.4%	173 (55.4%)	81 (26.0%)	42 (13.5%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.5%)	34.8	437^th of 576 public elementary schools	24.1%		50.3	325^th of 557 public elementary schools	41.7%	112	47.3	70.2	64.0				58.2	72.3	80.0				58.0		$14,934	$665	$14,269
Hillside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	713 8th St	West Des Moines	50265	Polk County	West Des Moines Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 633-6200	548	47	11.6	71.7%	247 (45.1%)	98 (17.9%)	141 (25.7%)	12 (2.2%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (8.4%)	40.7	397^th of 576 public elementary schools	31.1%		22.8	463^rd of 557 public elementary schools	16.9%	66	67.8	81.1	64.7	60.3			71.2	81.1	69.1	64.7			47.1		$14,221	$423	$13,798
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

Frequently Asked Questions about Windsor Elementary

How many students attend Windsor Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 254 students attended Windsor Elementary.

Is Windsor Elementary a good school?

Windsor Elementary ranks in the bottom 17.0% of Iowa elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Windsor Elementary?

Students at Windsor Elementary are 50% White, 22% Hispanic, 14% African American, 11% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Windsor Elementary attend?

Students who attend Windsor Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Merrill Middle School
High : Roosevelt High School

What district is Windsor Elementary in?

Des Moines Independent Community School District

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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.