- Enrollment
- 2,364
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Des Moines, IA
Perkins Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Perkins Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 190897000570
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 12
📋 Attendance 16
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Perkins Elementary School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of Iowa schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #31 of 34
- elementary schools in Des Moines · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.6:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 56.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Perkins Elementary School has class sizes larger than 73% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Perkins Elementary School ranks #31 of 34 elementary schools in Des Moines, IA.
School address
District: Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190897000570 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+6 students YoY
Perkins Elementary School held near 444 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 28.1 → 29.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+6 students YoY 190897000570 · Des Moines, IA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
438 enr · 15.6:1 · 56.8% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Lincoln High School (2,364 students)
Perkins Elementary School held near 444 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount). Teacher FTE added 28.1 → 29.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Perkins 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 438
Perkins Elementary School
438 students
What this shows Perkins Elementary School reports 438 students on the CCD universe file.
How Perkins Elementary School compares
Perkins 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 | 15.6:1 | ▲ 5% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 56.8% | ▲ 56% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 438 | top 27% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.6:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
438
Bigger than 53% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
56.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 56% 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
15.6:1
students per teacher
- 5% above state mean
Top 73% in Iowa - lower ratio than 27% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
33.6%
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 438 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 19 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 43.0%
Hispanic or Latino 22.4%
African American 19.5%
Two or More 9.6%
Asian 5.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: White at 43.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.5, Perkins 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 Perkins 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 | 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 Perkins 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 (~438 students)
Frequently asked questions about Perkins Elementary School
How many students attend Perkins Elementary School?
Perkins Elementary School has 438 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Des Moines, IA. CCD year-over-year: 438 (2022-23) → 444 (2023-24), nearly flat (+6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Perkins Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Perkins Elementary School is 15.6:1, which is 5% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Perkins Elementary School?
56.8% of students at Perkins Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Perkins Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Perkins Elementary School is White at 43.0% of enrollment, in Des Moines, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Perkins Elementary School?
Perkins Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (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 Perkins Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Des Moines?
By Resource Investment Index, Perkins Elementary School ranks #31 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 Perkins 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.