- Enrollment
- 1,846
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Des Moines, WA
Des Moines Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Des Moines Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 530354000525
👥 S:T ratio 31
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 78
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Des Moines Elementary earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Washington schools.
- #1 of 4
- schools in Des Moines · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.2:1
- students per teacher
- 51.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Des Moines Elementary has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Des Moines Elementary ranks #1 of 4 schools in Des Moines, WA.
School address
District: Highline School District · Washington
NCES ID 530354000525 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-13 students YoY
Des Moines Elementary held near 507 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-13 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 29.2 → 28.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-13 students YoY 530354000525 · Des Moines, WA Other · MID · TRAD
500 enr · 17.2:1 · 51.3% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Mount Rainier High School (1,846 students)
Des Moines Elementary held near 507 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-13 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 29.2 → 28.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Des Moines Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier High School
1,846 students
- Highline High
Highline High School
1,423 students
- Evergreen High
Evergreen High School
1,080 students
- Glacier Middle
Glacier Middle School
803 students
- Cascade Middle 671
Cascade Middle School
671 students
- This school 500
Des Moines Elementary
500 students
What this shows Des Moines Elementary reports 500 students on the CCD universe file.
How Des Moines Elementary compares
Des Moines Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.2:1 | ▼ 2% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 51.3% | ▲ 14% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 500 | top 31% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.2:1
Leaner classes than 29% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
500
Bigger than 62% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
51.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 14% above the Washington average of 45.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.2:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 58% in Washington - lower ratio than 42% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
8.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$20,594
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $20,912
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 500 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 29.0%
White 22.2%
African American 16.8%
Two or More 16.8%
Asian 11.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 3.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 29.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 79.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 79.6, Des Moines Elementary is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Highline School District reports $20,594 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Des Moines Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Rainier High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Highline High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Evergreen High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Glacier Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cascade Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Des Moines Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,423
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,080
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 803
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 671
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
Similar other schools in Des Moines
3 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~500 students)
Frequently asked questions about Des Moines Elementary
How many students attend Des Moines Elementary?
Des Moines Elementary has 500 students enrolled. It is a public school in Des Moines, WA. CCD year-over-year: 520 (2022-23) → 507 (2023-24), nearly flat (-13).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Des Moines Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Des Moines Elementary is 17.2:1, which is 2% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 10% higher 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 Des Moines Elementary?
51.3% of students at Des Moines Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Des Moines Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Des Moines Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 29.0% of enrollment, in Des Moines, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 79.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Des Moines Elementary?
Des Moines 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 Des Moines Elementary rank among schools in Des Moines?
By Resource Investment Index, Des Moines Elementary ranks #1 of 4 schools in Des Moines, WA. 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 Highline School District?
Besides Des Moines Elementary, Highline School District also operates Mount Rainier High School (1,846 students), Highline High School (1,423 students), and Evergreen High School (1,080 students). See the Highline School District district page for the complete list.