- Enrollment
- 2,364
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Des Moines, IA
Downtown School
Federal NCES profile for Downtown School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 62/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 190897000232
👥 S:T ratio 58
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 56
📋 Attendance 63
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Downtown School earns 62/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 92% of Iowa schools.
- #1 of 34
- elementary schools in Des Moines · Resource Index
- 62
- Resource Index · Higher
- 10.4:1
- small classes for Iowa
- 18.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Downtown School has class sizes smaller than 92% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Downtown School ranks #1 of 34 elementary schools in Des Moines, IA.
School address
District: Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190897000232 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-8 students YoY
Downtown School held near 235 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-8 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 19.7 → 9.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-8 students YoY 190897000232 · Des Moines, IA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
197 enr · 10.4:1 · 18.1% lunch · RII 62
Nearest enrollment peer: Lincoln High School (2,364 students)
Downtown School held near 235 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-8 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 19.7 → 9.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Downtown 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 197
Downtown School
197 students
What this shows Downtown School reports 197 students on the CCD universe file.
How Downtown School compares
Downtown 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 | 10.4:1 | ▼ 30% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 18.1% | ▼ 50% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 197 | top 77% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.4:1
Leaner classes than 87% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
197
Bigger than 19% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
18.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% 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
10.4:1
students per teacher
- 30% below state mean
Top 8% in Iowa - lower ratio than 92% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
14.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
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
Counselors0.9 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 67.5%
Hispanic or Latino 13.2%
Two or More 9.6%
African American 8.1%
Asian 1.5%
Largest group: White at 67.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.1, Downtown 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 Downtown 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 | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Downtown 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 elementary schools in Des Moines
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Brubaker Elementary School
Standard public school
622 students 12:1 students per teacher
Studebaker Elementary School
Standard public school
561 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Garton Elementary
Standard public school
535 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Morris Elementary School
Standard public school
519 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
River Woods Elementary School
Standard public school
493 students 12.6:1 students per teacher
Jackson Elementary School
Standard public school
490 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary 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 (~197 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~10.4:1)
Frequently asked questions about Downtown School
How many students attend Downtown School?
Downtown School has 197 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Des Moines, IA. CCD year-over-year: 243 (2022-23) → 235 (2023-24), nearly flat (-8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Downtown School?
The student-teacher ratio at Downtown School is 10.4:1, which is 30% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 34% 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 Downtown School?
18.1% of students at Downtown School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Downtown School?
The largest demographic group at Downtown School is White at 67.5% of enrollment, in Des Moines, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Downtown School?
Downtown School has a Resource Investment Index of 62/100 (higher 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 Downtown School rank among elementary schools in Des Moines?
By Resource Investment Index, Downtown School ranks #1 of 34 elementary 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 elementary schools in Des Moines on the city page.
What other schools are in Des Moines Independent Comm School District?
Besides Downtown 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.