- Enrollment
- 2,364
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Des Moines, IA
Park Ave Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Park Ave Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 190897000569
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 24
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Park Ave Elementary School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #30 of 34
- elementary schools in Des Moines · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.6:1
- students per teacher
- 72.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Park Ave Elementary School has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Park Ave Elementary School ranks #30 of 34 elementary schools in Des Moines, IA.
School address
District: Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190897000569 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+30 students YoY
Park Ave Elementary School grew from 378 students in 2022-23 to 408 in 2023-24 (+7.9%).
Teacher FTE added 28.5 → 28.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+30 students YoY 190897000569 · Des Moines, IA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
380 enr · 13.6:1 · 72.8% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Lincoln High School (2,364 students)
Park Ave Elementary School grew from 378 students in 2022-23 to 408 in 2023-24 (+7.9%). Teacher FTE added 28.5 → 28.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Park Ave 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 380
Park Ave Elementary School
380 students
What this shows Park Ave Elementary School reports 380 students on the CCD universe file.
How Park Ave Elementary School compares
Park Ave Elementary School 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 | 13.6:1 | ▼ 8% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 72.8% | ▲ 100% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 380 | top 36% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.6:1
Leaner classes than 61% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
380
Bigger than 44% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
72.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 100% 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
13.6:1
students per teacher
- 8% below state mean
Top 44% in Iowa - lower ratio than 56% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
52.4%
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 380 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 20 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 38.9%
Hispanic or Latino 27.6%
African American 22.1%
Two or More 5.3%
Asian 4.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.8%
Largest group: White at 38.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.9, Park Ave 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 Park Ave 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 Park Ave 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 (~380 students)
Frequently asked questions about Park Ave Elementary School
How many students attend Park Ave Elementary School?
Park Ave Elementary School has 380 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Des Moines, IA. CCD year-over-year: 378 (2022-23) → 408 (2023-24), up 30.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Park Ave Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Park Ave Elementary School is 13.6:1, which is 8% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 13% 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 Park Ave Elementary School?
72.8% of students at Park Ave Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Park Ave Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Park Ave Elementary School is White at 38.9% of enrollment, in Des Moines, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Park Ave Elementary School?
Park Ave Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (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 Park Ave Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Des Moines?
By Resource Investment Index, Park Ave Elementary School ranks #30 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 Park Ave 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.