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Runnells Elementary

Public Grades PK, KG-5

7^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 576 Iowa Elementary Schools

Better than 99% of Iowa elementary schools

Summary

Runnells Elementary is a public elementary school in Runnells, Iowa, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 276 students. The school is part of the Southeast Polk Community School District, which is ranked 121 out of 313 districts in Iowa and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Runnells Elementary consistently outperforms the Southeast Polk Community School District and the state of Iowa in standardized test scores across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, 89.4% of 3rd graders, 96.4% of 4th graders, and 89.7% of 5th graders were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the district scores of 74.6%, 82.6%, and 75.4%, respectively, and the state scores of 67.9%, 76%, and 69.8%. The school has also been ranked among the top elementary schools in Iowa, with a ranking of 7 out of 576 schools in the 2024-2025 school year.

While Runnells Elementary has experienced higher chronic absenteeism rates in recent years, ranging from 13.7% to 24.4%, these rates are still lower than the state average. The school also has a relatively low percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 25.52% to 33.7% over the past few years, which is lower than the rates of some nearby schools. Overall, Runnells Elementary is an exemplary elementary school that has consistently demonstrated academic excellence, statewide recognition, and a commitment to supporting student success.

260

Students ?

14.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,164

Per pupil spending ?

26.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6575 SE 116th Street
Runnells, IA 50237

(515) 966-2068

District: Southeast Polk Community School District

Students who attend Runnells Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Southeast Polk Middle School
High:	Southeast Polk High School
Alternative:	Southeast Polk Junior High

Racial breakdown:

White:

83.1%

Hispanic:

7.7%

Two or more races:

3.8%

See top rated Iowa elementary schools

Compare Runnells Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 96th percentile in 2015 → 99th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Iowa average (93% vs 71% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 1% of Iowa elementary schools

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Southeast Polk Community School District

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school93%

District avg77%

Iowa avg71%

7^th of 576

Iowa public elementary schools ?

Top 1%▲ up 3 pts since 2015

From top 4% (2015) to top 1% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Iowa Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 8Elementary Schools in the Southeast Polk Community School District

121^st of 313Southeast Polk 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	92.5	7 of 576	98.8%	★★★★★
2024	89.0	16 of 557	97.1%	★★★★★
2023	88.1	21 of 565	96.3%	★★★★★
2022	80.5	77 of 574	86.6%	★★★★☆
2021	84.2	56 of 567	90.1%	★★★★★
2019	87.2	32 of 603	94.7%	★★★★★
2018	80.0	66 of 567	88.4%	★★★★☆
2017	82.8	44 of 574	92.3%	★★★★★
2016	77.1	97 of 599	83.8%	★★★★☆
2015	84.2	27 of 616	95.6%	★★★★★
2014	87.4	13 of 603	97.8%	★★★★★
2013	83.6	27 of 624	95.7%	★★★★★
2012	81.8	39 of 626	93.8%	★★★★★

By subject vs Iowa (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics97%+23 vs state

English Language Arts91%+20 vs state

Science85%+20 vs state

★

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Schools Near Runnells 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 Mathematics 3rd Grade	ISASP Mathematics 4th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 5th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 6th Grade	ISASP Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Runnells Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6575 SE 116th Street	Runnells	50237	Polk County	Southeast Polk Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 966-2068	260	18	14.6	26.9%	216 (83.1%)	9 (3.5%)	20 (7.7%)	5 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.8%)	92.5	7^th of 576 public elementary schools	98.8%		89	16^th of 557 public elementary schools	97.1%	9	89.4	96.4	89.7		97.9	92.9	97.4		84.6	$14,164	$100	$14,065
Hartford Upper Elementary	Public	4-5	500 N. Vine	Hartford	50118	Warren County	Carlisle Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 989-0316	303	21	14.5	27.1%	248 (81.8%)	4 (1.3%)	24 (7.9%)	16 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	10 (3.3%)	73.8	130^th of 576 public elementary schools	77.4%		66	191^st of 557 public elementary schools	65.7%	61		82.4	78.5			84.9	84.7		70.8	$9,940	$408	$9,531
Carlisle Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-3	430 School St	Carlisle	50047	Warren County	Carlisle Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 989-0339	715	53	13.5	29.9%	561 (78.5%)	11 (1.5%)	82 (11.5%)	30 (4.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (4.2%)								(n/a)	78.4				82.0					$11,109	$400	$10,709
Four Mile Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	670 SE 68th St	Pleasant Hill	50327	Polk County	Southeast Polk Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 265-1972	495	36	13.8	37.8%	345 (69.7%)	23 (4.6%)	66 (13.3%)	27 (5.5%)	1 (0.2%)	9 (1.8%)	24 (4.8%)	71.2	157^th of 576 public elementary schools	72.7%		69.2	169^th of 557 public elementary schools	69.7%	12	69.3	88.9	76.0		76.0	91.4	84.0		72.0	$13,837	$290	$13,547
Prairie City Elementary School	Public	3-5	309 East Plainsmen Road	Prairie City	50228	Jasper County	PCM Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 994-8222	240	17	14.1	27.5%	221 (92.1%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.6%)	3 (1.3%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.3%)	50.6	326^th of 576 public elementary schools	43.4%		65.8	192^nd of 557 public elementary schools	65.5%	134	72.9	73.7	69.0		81.4	73.7	60.6		66.2	$14,507	$597	$13,910
Clay Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3200 First Avenue S.	Altoona	50009	Polk County	Southeast Polk Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 967-4198	700	43	16.4	36.1%	423 (60.4%)	98 (14.0%)	104 (14.9%)	22 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (7.6%)	48	343^rd of 576 public elementary schools	40.5%		61	242^nd of 557 public elementary schools	56.6%	101	68.3	77.7	68.3		74.0	73.8	61.0		66.3	$12,723	$186	$12,537
Pleasant Hill Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4801 E Oakwood Dr	Des Moines	50327	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 242-8432	241	20	11.8	68.9%	137 (56.8%)	25 (10.4%)	61 (25.3%)	6 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.0%)	24.5	477^th of 576 public elementary schools	17.2%		39.5	389^th of 557 public elementary schools	30.2%	88	58.3	67.7	60.0		66.7	64.5	56.0		44.0	$15,655	$628	$15,027
Centennial Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	910 7th Ave SE	Altoona	50009	Polk County	Southeast Polk Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 967-2109	423	32	13.1	38.1%	303 (71.6%)	36 (8.5%)	42 (9.9%)	5 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (8.7%)	71.2	155^th of 576 public elementary schools	73.1%		77.2	86^th of 557 public elementary schools	84.6%	69	81.5	78.7	72.9		87.7	85.2	87.1		65.7	$15,221	$767	$14,454
Pleasantville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	414 Jones St	Pleasantville	50225	Marion County	Pleasantville Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 848-0566	456	34	13.3	29.8%	428 (93.9%)	1 (0.2%)	18 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.8%)	73.8	131^st of 576 public elementary schools	77.3%		58.4	267^th of 557 public elementary schools	52.1%	136	88.9	84.7	78.3	67.3	88.9	86.4	89.1	80.0	78.3	$13,230	$553	$12,677
Mitchellville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	308 Elm Ave NW	Mitchellville	50169	Polk County	Southeast Polk Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 967-4274	255	19	13.4	31.0%	227 (89.0%)	4 (1.6%)	8 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.5%)	90.9	14^th of 576 public elementary schools	97.6%		86.9	27^th of 557 public elementary schools	95.2%	13	82.1	93.8	97.3		89.7	93.8	97.3		91.9	$16,832	$385	$16,447

Frequently Asked Questions about Runnells Elementary

How many students attend Runnells Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 260 students attended Runnells Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Runnells Elementary?

Students at Runnells Elementary are 83% White, 8% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 3% African American, 2% Asian.

What district is Runnells Elementary in?

Southeast Polk Community School District

What schools do graduates of Runnells Elementary attend?

Students who attend Runnells Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Southeast Polk Middle School
High : Southeast Polk High School
Alternative : Southeast Polk Junior High

Is Runnells Elementary a good school?

Yes! Runnells Elementary is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 7^th of 576 Iowa elementary schools.

Rate Runnells Elementary!

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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.