- Enrollment
- 1,722
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Des Moines, IA
Delaware Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Delaware Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 192682001568
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 12
📋 Attendance 52
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Delaware Elementary earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #3 of 14
- schools in Des Moines · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.3:1
- students per teacher
- 35.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Delaware Elementary has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Delaware Elementary ranks #3 of 14 schools in Des Moines, IA.
School address
District: Southeast Polk Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 192682001568 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+25 students YoY
Delaware Elementary grew from 398 students in 2022-23 to 423 in 2023-24 (+6.3%).
Teacher FTE added 33.0 → 35.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+25 students YoY 192682001568 · Des Moines, IA Other · SMALL · TRAD
440 enr · 13.3:1 · 35.9% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Southeast Polk High School (1,722 students)
Delaware Elementary grew from 398 students in 2022-23 to 423 in 2023-24 (+6.3%). Teacher FTE added 33.0 → 35.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Delaware Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Southeast Polk
Southeast Polk High School
1,722 students
- Spring Creek -
Spring Creek - 6th Grade
1,112 students
- Southeast Polk
Southeast Polk Junior High
1,088 students
- Clay Elementar
Clay Elementary
700 students
- Willowbrook El 523
Willowbrook Elementary
523 students
- This school 440
Delaware Elementary
440 students
What this shows Delaware Elementary reports 440 students on the CCD universe file.
How Delaware Elementary compares
Delaware Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.3:1 | ▼ 10% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 35.9% | ▼ 1% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 440 | top 27% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.3:1
Leaner classes than 64% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
440
Bigger than 53% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
35.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 1% below the Iowa average of 36.4%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13.3:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 40% in Iowa - lower ratio than 60% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
19.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,583
per pupil, district-wide
- below Iowa avg of $13,441
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 440 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 60.7%
African American 14.3%
Hispanic or Latino 13.0%
Two or More 5.9%
Asian 5.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Largest group: White at 60.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.7, Delaware Elementary is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Southeast Polk Comm School District reports $12,583 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Delaware Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Polk High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Spring Creek - 6th Grade | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southeast Polk Junior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Clay Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Willowbrook Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Delaware Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,112
- Students per teacher
- 32.7:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,088
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 700
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 523
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
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
Cowles Elementary School
Standard public school
392 students 18.7:1 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 (~440 students)
Frequently asked questions about Delaware Elementary
How many students attend Delaware Elementary?
Delaware Elementary has 440 students enrolled. It is a public school in Des Moines, IA. CCD year-over-year: 398 (2022-23) → 423 (2023-24), up 25.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Delaware Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Delaware Elementary is 13.3:1, which is 10% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 15% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Delaware Elementary?
35.9% of students at Delaware Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Delaware Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Delaware Elementary is White at 60.7% of enrollment, in Des Moines, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Delaware Elementary?
Delaware Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (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 Delaware Elementary rank among schools in Des Moines?
By Resource Investment Index, Delaware Elementary ranks #3 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 Southeast Polk Comm School District?
Besides Delaware Elementary, Southeast Polk Comm School District also operates Southeast Polk High School (1,722 students), Spring Creek - 6th Grade (1,112 students), and Southeast Polk Junior High (1,088 students). See the Southeast Polk Comm School District district page for the complete list.