Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Elementary· 59 schools in district

Cowles Elementary School

6401 College Ave, Des Moines, IA 50324Des Moines Independent Comm School District →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades PK–08Non-Charter
391
Students
Total enrolled
$16,525
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 15% vs nat'l
17.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 16% vs nat'l
47/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 391 students in grades PK–08 in Des Moines, Iowa.
15% above average funding
District spends $16,525 per pupil, 15% more than the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 47th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Cowles Elementary School is a mid-sized elementary in Des Moines, Iowa, serving grades PK–08 with 391 students. The district invests $16,525 per student — 15% above the national average of $14,347, with a 17.9:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. With only 17% of students on free or reduced-price lunch, the school primarily serves an economically stable community.

Student Body & Demographics at Cowles Elementary School

391
Total Students
17.9 : 1
Student:Teacher
17%
Free Lunch
22
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (PK–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution187 male · 202 female
48%
52%
Male 48%Female 52%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility17%
National avg 52% · 66 students
Student Composition
78%
10%
Asian3%
White78%
Hispanic / Latino6%
Black2%
Multiracial10%
Native American1%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 190897002011

Academic Outcomes at Cowles Elementary School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
47
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 47th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 69th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 50324

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$16,525Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$16,525
State avg
$17,386
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$7,271
Student Support$3,140
Administration$1,983
Operations$2,479
Other$1,653
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $16,525 spent per student, an estimated $7,321 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
56%
29%
State government
56.2%
Local (property tax)
29.4%
Federal programs
14.4%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $16,525/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • Low economic disadvantage rate — only 17% of students on free or reduced lunch
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Brubaker Elementary SchoolStudebaker Elementary SchoolCapitol View Elementary SchoolRiver Woods Elementary School
+10 more
↓
Middle
Weeks Middle SchoolMeredith Middle SchoolHarding Middle SchoolMcCombs Middle School
+6 more
↓
High School
Lincoln High SchoolEast High SchoolRoosevelt High SchoolNorth High School
+2 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelElementary
GradesPK – 08
Location—
CountyPolk County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictDes Moines Independent Comm School District →
Phone: (515)242-7818
NCES ID: 190897002011
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Des Moines seeking a public elementary school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Des Moines Independent Comm School District
High
Lincoln High School
2,403 students · 09–12
● 47 opp76% FRL
High
East High School
2,040 students · 09–12
● 42 opp79% FRL
High
Roosevelt High School
1,986 students · 09–12
● 42 opp53% FRL
High
North High School
1,458 students · 09–12
● 42 opp87% FRL
High
Hoover High School
991 students · 09–12
● 48 opp78% FRL
Mid
Weeks Middle School
684 students · 06–08
● 47 opp86% FRL
High
Virtual Campus
668 students · 06–12
79% FRL
Mid
Meredith Middle School
664 students · 06–08
● 48 opp84% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
6401 College Ave, Des Moines, IA 50324
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Elementary
1
How is early reading and literacy taught?
Look for evidence-based, structured approaches
2
How does the school communicate with families?
Frequency, channels, translation support
3
What support exists for students who fall behind?
Tutoring, intervention programs, IEPs
4
What's the average class size here?
National avg is ~23 for elementary
5
What before/after-school programs are available?
Important for working parents
6
How is student social-emotional wellbeing supported?
Counselors, community circles, conflict resolution
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.