The top reported proficiency rate is 85% in Math. The lowest is 73% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on North Ridge Elementary
North Ridge Elementary is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fourth grade in Grimes, a fast-growing suburban community northwest of Des Moines. It is part of the Dallas Center–Grimes Community School District, a system that also includes other elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school, all located within the city. Grimes has seen substantial population growth in recent years, and the school reflects that expansion—its enrollment is large enough to fill several grade-level sections.
Academically, North Ridge posts strong results on the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress. Across the tested grades and subjects, the school’s overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile relative to districts in Polk County. In both math and English language arts, the share of students scoring at the proficient level is high, and participation rates on the assessment are near complete. A science result from an earlier school year, while more dated, also showed a strong proficiency rate. The school offers only the early elementary grades, so no graduation rate applies, and no chronic absenteeism data was reported for this age band. The district did not have recent parent-relevant changes—no large referendum, curriculum overhaul, or boundary shift surfaced in publicly available records for the past several years.
The student body is predominantly white, with small shares of Asian, Black, Hispanic, multiracial, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. A modest share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, reflecting an economically mixed but generally above-average income profile. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the source material; a parent seeking that information would want to follow up with the school directly.
Grimes itself is a car-oriented suburb with a small-town feel. Housing values in the area are elevated compared to the state as a whole, and the home-owning majority is typical. The city has a growing business community, an extensive parks system, and a community complex that serves as a civic hub. The school campuses are spread across the town rather than clustered in one core—North Ridge sits in one residential area, while other district buildings are elsewhere. The city’s rapid growth is a notable feature; it has more than doubled over the past couple of decades and continues to add housing.
For a family considering this school, the picture is one of a high-performing elementary within a growing suburban district. The strong test scores and low poverty rate suggest a peer environment where academic expectations are consistently met. The lack of certain data points—on special education caseload, English learner services, and chronic absenteeism among the youngest students—means a parent with a child who needs specific support should contact the school to get a fuller sense of those programs. The school’s size and the district’s reputation in the metro area make it a common choice for families moving into the new developments in and around Grimes. There is no high-stakes transition within the school itself; students move on to district middle and high schools, which carry their own academic profiles.
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