Clay Elementary

Q: Is Clay Elementary a good school?

Clay Elementary ranks 242 nd of 557 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Clay Elementary is a public elementary school in Altoona, Iowa, serving 657 students in grades PK-5. It is part of the Southeast Polk Community School District, which is ranked 112 out of 309 school districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Clay Elementary generally performs well, with a higher percentage of students proficient or better in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science compared to the state average. For example, in 2023-2024, 82% of 5th-grade students at Clay Elementary were proficient or better in ELA, compared to 69% statewide. The school also has a relatively diverse student population, with 70.47% White, 10.35% African American, 10.5% Hispanic, and 6.54% two or more races. Additionally, Clay Elementary has a lower percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (30.14%) compared to some nearby schools like Altoona Elementary (49.64%) and Willowbrook Elementary (50.47%).

While Clay Elementary performs well overall, the nearby schools with higher percentages of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, such as Altoona Elementary, Willowbrook Elementary, and schools in the Des Moines Independent Community School District, tend to have lower test scores. This suggests potential equity issues that may need to be addressed. Additionally, the relatively lower spending per student at Clay Elementary compared to some of the higher-performing nearby schools, such as Delaware Elementary and Centennial Elementary, suggests that factors other than just funding, such as teaching quality, curriculum, and school leadership, may play a significant role in student outcomes.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

3200 First Avenue S.
Altoona, IA 50009

(515) 967-4198

District: Southeast Polk Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
242^nd of 557 Iowa Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,723

Students who attend Clay Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Southeast Polk Junior High
	Spring Creek - 6th Grade
High:	Southeast Polk High School

Student/teacher ratio: 16.6

Number of students: 670

Racial breakdown:

White:

66.0%

Hispanic:

13.6%

African American:

10.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 33.6%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Clay Elementary ranks better than 56.6% of elementary schools in Iowa. It also ranks 7^th among 8 ranked elementary schools in the Southeast Polk Community School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 61.05. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Clay Elementary has the largest elementary school student body size in the Southeast Polk Community School District. Racial makeup is: White (66%), Hispanic (13.6%), African American (10.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 33.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Southeast Polk Community School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Clay Elementary is 16.6. 6 elementary schools in the Southeast Polk Community School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Clay Elementary employs 40.1 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Clay Elementary is $12,723, which is the lowest among 8 elementary schools in the Southeast Polk Community School District!

Schooldigger Rankings:

Clay Elementary was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Southeast Polk Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Southeast Polk Community School District 112^th of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Clay Elementary

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	59.11	285^th	626	54.5%
2013	71.68	133^rd	624	78.7%
2014	74.72	108^th	603	82.1%
2015	69.46	191^st	616	69.0%
2016	67.52	209^th	599	65.1%
2017	68.33	198^th	574	65.5%
2018	68.25	178^th	567	68.6%
2019	67.50	196^th	603	67.5%
2021	71.16	147^th	567	74.1%
2022	74.69	120^th	574	79.1%
2023	61.20	231^st	565	59.1%
2024	61.05	242^nd	557	56.6%

See the entire list of Iowa Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Iowa Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Clay Elementary

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2008	282	18	7	10	2	n/a	n/a	319
2009	344	16	10	13	1	n/a	n/a	384
2010	346	10	6	14	1	0	11	388
2011	374	4	5	18	1	0	11	413
2012	400	4	6	22	0	0	15	447
2013	415	3	4	18	0	0	12	452
2014	442	3	6	16	0	0	10	477
2015	492	31	9	20	1	1	20	574
2016	521	28	11	29	0	0	31	620
2017	500	31	10	37	0	0	31	609
2018	506	40	14	46	2	0	36	644
2019	485	36	16	47	1	0	42	627
2020	468	53	11	48	1	0	41	622
2021	457	46	8	49	1	0	43	604
2022	475	52	13	56	1	0	47	644
2023	463	68	12	69	2	0	43	657
2024	442	70	17	91	2	0	48	670

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Clay Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2008	319	24.1	13.2	21
2009	384	26.6	14.4	22.4
2010	388	26.9	14.4	23.2
2011	413	24.2	17.0	20.8
2012	447	25.6	17.4	18.8
2013	452	26.5	17.0	17.3
2014	477	26.2	18.1	17.2
2015	574	32.0	17.9	16.2
2016	620	37.0	16.7	16.6
2017	609	35.4	17.1	18.4
2018	644	36.2	17.7	25.2
2019	627	38.7	16.1	23.9
2020	622	39.0	15.9	27.2
2021	604	38.5	15.6	24.2
2022	644	38.5	16.7	25.2
2023	657	37.5	17.5	30.1
2024	670	40.1	16.6	33.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Clay Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2008	319	24.1	13.2	21
2009	384	26.6	14.4	22.4
2010	388	26.9	14.4	23.2
2011	413	24.2	17.0	20.8
2012	447	25.6	17.4	18.8
2013	452	26.5	17.0	17.3
2014	477	26.2	18.1	17.2
2015	574	32.0	17.9	16.2
2016	620	37.0	16.7	16.6
2017	609	35.4	17.1	18.4
2018	644	36.2	17.7	25.2
2019	627	38.7	16.1	23.9
2020	622	39.0	15.9	27.2
2021	604	38.5	15.6	24.2
2022	644	38.5	16.7	25.2
2023	657	37.5	17.5	30.1
2024	670	40.1	16.6	33.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Clay Elementary

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$186 (1.5%)	$12,537 (98.5%)	$12,723

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Clay Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 196^th of 603 Elementary schools	Ranks 231^st of 565 Elementary schools	8.4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Clay Elementary)	78.4	68.5	9.9%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Southeast Polk Community School District)	76.6	73.5	3.1%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	65.3	66.3	1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Clay Elementary)	81.4	77.5	3.9%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Southeast Polk Community School District)	82	81.9	0.1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	71.7	75.3	3.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Clay Elementary)	71	77.6	6.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Southeast Polk Community School District)	80.4	78.6	1.8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	70.5	73.1	2.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Clay Elementary)	74.2	82.7	8.5%
4th Grade Mathematics (Southeast Polk Community School District)	85.1	84.8	0.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	72.5	72.9	0.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Clay Elementary)	74.8	67.7	7.1%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Southeast Polk Community School District)	81.3	75.8	5.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	67.3	68.3	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Clay Elementary)	77.8	78.8	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Southeast Polk Community School District)	84.8	85.1	0.3%
5th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	69.4	71.3	1.9%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	627	657	4.8%
African American	36	68	88.9%
American Indian	1	2	100%
Asian	16	12	25%
Hispanic	47	69	46.8%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	485	463	4.5%
Two or More Races	42	43	2.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	23.9%	30.1%	6.2%

Schools Near Clay Elementary

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				ISASP English Language Arts (2024)			ISASP Mathematics (2024)			ISASP Science (2024)	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 (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISASP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 4th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 5th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 3rd Grade	ISASP Mathematics 4th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 5th Grade	ISASP Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
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	670	40	16.6	33.6%	442 (66.0%)	70 (10.4%)	91 (13.6%)	17 (2.5%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (7.2%)	61	242^nd of 557 public elementary schools	56.6%		61.2	231^st of 565 public elementary schools	59.1%	11	64.3	68.4	82.0	76.5	76.8	76.0	69.0	$12,723	$186	$12,537
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	409	32	12.6	37.4%	314 (76.8%)	18 (4.4%)	38 (9.3%)	6 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (8.1%)	77.2	86^th of 557 public elementary schools	84.6%		78.6	96^th of 565 public elementary schools	83.0%	10	77.4	81.3	73.8	85.5	85.9	90.2	70.5	$15,221	$767	$14,454
Altoona Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	301 6th St SW	Altoona	50009	Polk County	Southeast Polk Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 967-3771	423	35	12.0	53.2%	289 (68.3%)	58 (13.7%)	42 (9.9%)	9 (2.1%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.7%)	21 (5.0%)	73.5	122^nd of 557 public elementary schools	78.1%		70.6	164^th of 565 public elementary schools	71.0%	42	62.7	80.6	84.3	78.4	79.0	91.3	73.5	$14,305	$587	$13,718
Willowbrook Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	300 17th Ave SW	Altoona	50009	Polk County	Southeast Polk Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 967-7512	546	38	14.3	52.4%	344 (63.0%)	62 (11.4%)	61 (11.2%)	17 (3.1%)	1 (0.2%)	6 (1.1%)	55 (10.1%)	35.2	413^th of 557 public elementary schools	25.9%		44.2	371^st of 565 public elementary schools	34.3%	42	42.9	66.3	67.6	70.2	68.8	62.0	59.2	$13,785	$487	$13,298
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	489	35	14.0	42.5%	348 (71.2%)	14 (2.9%)	65 (13.3%)	24 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.0%)	33 (6.7%)	69.2	169^th of 557 public elementary schools	69.7%		78.1	102^nd of 565 public elementary schools	81.9%	67	74.7	82.6	69.1	91.1	92.8	76.5	52.9	$13,837	$290	$13,547
Delaware Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4401 E 46th St	Des Moines	50317	Polk County	Southeast Polk Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 262-3197	423	35	12.0	46.1%	264 (62.4%)	52 (12.3%)	53 (12.5%)	26 (6.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (6.6%)	72.2	138^th of 557 public elementary schools	75.2%		76.7	109^th of 565 public elementary schools	80.7%	29	80.3	80.3	76.6	88.5	77.8	73.4	71.0	$15,865	$1,352	$14,513
Brubaker Elementary School	Public	K-5	2900 E 42nd Street	Des Moines	50317	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 242-8405	618	51	12.1	75.2%	228 (36.9%)	124 (20.1%)	178 (28.8%)	23 (3.7%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	62 (10.0%)	2.6	547^th of 557 public elementary schools	1.8%		6.5	536^th of 565 public elementary schools	5.1%	11	33.7	51.4	31.3	44.6	34.9	32.5	25.0	$16,004	$1,458	$14,547
Pleasant Hill Elementary School	Public	K-5	4801 E Oakwood Dr	Des Moines	50327	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 242-8432	211	19	11.1	63.0%	117 (55.5%)	17 (8.1%)	55 (26.1%)	6 (2.8%)	1 (0.5%)	2 (0.9%)	13 (6.2%)	39.5	389^th of 557 public elementary schools	30.2%		25.7	459^th of 565 public elementary schools	18.8%	70	51.5	72.0	74.3	63.6	60.0	62.9	62.9	$15,655	$628	$15,027
McKee Elementary School	Public	PK	2115 E 39th St	Des Moines	50317	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 323-8628	263	13	20.2	71.5%	122 (46.4%)	38 (14.4%)	66 (25.1%)	12 (4.6%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (9.1%)								(n/a)
Stowe Elementary School	Public	K-5	1411 E 33rd St	Des Moines	50317	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 242-8435	311	25	12.5	77.8%	107 (34.4%)	59 (19.0%)	109 (35.0%)	11 (3.5%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	23 (7.4%)	2	548^th of 557 public elementary schools	1.6%		2.2	558^th of 565 public elementary schools	1.2%	10	28.1	38.2	27.5	25.0	23.5	49.0	17.6	$17,791	$1,908	$15,883

Frequently Asked Questions about Clay Elementary

Is Clay Elementary a good school?

Clay Elementary ranks 242^nd of 557 Iowa elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Clay Elementary in?

Southeast Polk Community School District

What is the racial makeup of Clay Elementary?

Students at Clay Elementary are 66% White, 14% Hispanic, 10% African American, 7% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

What schools do graduates of Clay Elementary attend?

Students who attend Clay Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Southeast Polk Junior High
Middle : Spring Creek - 6th Grade
High : Southeast Polk High School

How many students attend Clay Elementary?

In the 2023-24 school year, 670 students attended Clay 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.