- Enrollment
- 2,364
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Des Moines, IA
Hillis Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Hillis Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 190897000541
👥 S:T ratio 54
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 44
📋 Attendance 22
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Hillis Elementary School earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 81% of Iowa schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #8 of 34
- elementary schools in Des Moines · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.6:1
- small classes for Iowa
- 70.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Hillis Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 81% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Hillis Elementary School ranks #8 of 34 elementary schools in Des Moines, IA.
School address
District: Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190897000541 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-14 students YoY
Hillis Elementary School held near 291 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-14 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 24.1 → 24.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-14 students YoY 190897000541 · Des Moines, IA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
279 enr · 11.6:1 · 70.2% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Lincoln High School (2,364 students)
Hillis Elementary School held near 291 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-14 headcount). Teacher FTE held 24.1 → 24.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Hillis 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 279
Hillis Elementary School
279 students
What this shows Hillis Elementary School reports 279 students on the CCD universe file.
How Hillis Elementary School compares
Hillis 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 | 11.6:1 | ▼ 22% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 70.2% | ▲ 93% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 279 | top 58% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.6:1
Leaner classes than 79% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
279
Bigger than 29% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
70.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 93% above the Iowa average of 36.4%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.6:1
students per teacher
- 22% below state mean
Top 19% in Iowa - lower ratio than 81% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
31.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
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 279 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
15
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 35.8%
Hispanic or Latino 25.4%
African American 21.5%
Asian 10.0%
Two or More 6.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 35.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 74.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 74.6, Hillis 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 Hillis Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Roosevelt High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hoover High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Hillis 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 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 (~279 students)
Frequently asked questions about Hillis Elementary School
How many students attend Hillis Elementary School?
Hillis Elementary School has 279 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Des Moines, IA. CCD year-over-year: 305 (2022-23) → 291 (2023-24), nearly flat (-14).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hillis Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Hillis Elementary School is 11.6:1, which is 22% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 26% 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 Hillis Elementary School?
70.2% of students at Hillis Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Hillis Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Hillis Elementary School is White at 35.8% of enrollment, in Des Moines, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 74.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Hillis Elementary School?
Hillis Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (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 Hillis Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Des Moines?
By Resource Investment Index, Hillis Elementary School ranks #8 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 Hillis 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.