Summary:
The 50317 zip code area in Des Moines, Iowa is home to 8 schools, including 6 elementary schools and 2 middle schools, all part of the Des Moines Independent Community School District, except for one elementary school, Delaware Elementary, which is part of the Southeast Polk Community School District. While the majority of the schools in the Des Moines district perform below state averages, Delaware Elementary stands out as a high-performing school, consistently ranking in the top 25% of Iowa elementary schools and significantly outperforming the state and district on standardized tests.
Another standout school is Willard Elementary, which performs above the district and state averages, especially in math, despite being part of the low-performing Des Moines district. The schools in the area have diverse student populations, with minority enrollment ranging from 34% to 80%. However, the schools also have high percentages of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student populations.
While the schools in the 50317 zip code area generally spend between $14,771 and $17,791 per student, which is in line with the state average, the lower-performing schools tend to have higher per-student spending. Additionally, the student-teacher ratios, which range from 11.4 to 16.6, do not appear to be the primary driver of academic performance, as the higher-spending and lower-ratio schools are not necessarily the top performers. These findings suggest that factors beyond just funding and staffing, such as district-level policies, community resources, and socioeconomic status, play a significant role in shaping the academic outcomes of these schools.
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