- Enrollment
- 2,364
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Des Moines, IA
Cowles Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Cowles Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 190897002011
👥 S:T ratio 25
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 22
📋 Attendance 58
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cowles Elementary School earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of Iowa schools.
- #4 of 14
- schools in Des Moines · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.7:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 13.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Cowles Elementary School has class sizes larger than 91% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cowles Elementary School ranks #4 of 14 schools in Des Moines, IA.
School address
District: Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190897002011 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+12 students YoY
Cowles Elementary School held near 403 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+12 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 21.9 → 22.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+12 students YoY 190897002011 · Des Moines, IA Other · SMALL · TRAD
392 enr · 18.7:1 · 13.0% lunch · RII 44
Nearest enrollment peer: Lincoln High School (2,364 students)
Cowles Elementary School held near 403 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+12 headcount). Teacher FTE added 21.9 → 22.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Cowles Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lincoln High S
Lincoln High School
2,364 students
- Roosevelt High
Roosevelt High School
2,051 students
- East High Scho
East High School
1,952 students
- North High Sch
North High School
1,428 students
- Hoover High Sc 898
Hoover High School
898 students
- This school 392
Cowles Elementary School
392 students
What this shows Cowles Elementary School reports 392 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cowles Elementary School compares
Cowles Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.7:1 | ▲ 26% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 13.0% | ▼ 64% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 392 | top 34% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.7:1
Leaner classes than 21% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
392
Bigger than 46% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
13.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 64% below the Iowa average of 36.4%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
18.7:1
students per teacher
- 26% above state mean
Top 91% in Iowa - lower ratio than 9% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
16.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$15,286
per pupil, district-wide
- above Iowa avg of $13,441
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 392 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 78.8%
Two or More 9.2%
Hispanic or Latino 7.7%
Asian 3.1%
African American 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 78.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 36.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 36.4, Cowles Elementary School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Des Moines Independent Comm School District reports $15,286 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Cowles Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Roosevelt High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hoover High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cowles Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,051
- Students per teacher
- 31.1:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,952
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,428
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 898
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar other schools in Des Moines
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Cornell Elementary School
Standard public school
555 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Clive Learning Academy
Standard public school
551 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
Capitol View Elementary School
Standard public school
533 students 12.4:1 students per teacher
Moulton Elementary School
Standard public school
465 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Delaware Elementary
Standard public school
440 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
Virtual Campus
Standard public school
380 students 10:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~392 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cowles Elementary School
How many students attend Cowles Elementary School?
Cowles Elementary School has 392 students enrolled. It is a public school in Des Moines, IA. CCD year-over-year: 391 (2022-23) → 403 (2023-24), nearly flat (+12).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cowles Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cowles Elementary School is 18.7:1, which is 26% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 19% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cowles Elementary School?
13.0% of students at Cowles Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cowles Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Cowles Elementary School is White at 78.8% of enrollment, in Des Moines, IA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cowles Elementary School?
Cowles Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Cowles Elementary School rank among schools in Des Moines?
By Resource Investment Index, Cowles Elementary School ranks #4 of 14 schools in Des Moines, IA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Des Moines on the city page.
What other schools are in Des Moines Independent Comm School District?
Besides Cowles Elementary School, Des Moines Independent Comm School District also operates Lincoln High School (2,364 students), Roosevelt High School (2,051 students), and East High School (1,952 students). See the Des Moines Independent Comm School District district page for the complete list.