The top reported proficiency rate is 83% in Math. The lowest is 76% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Downtown School
Downtown School is a regular public elementary school in Des Moines, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. Its enrollment is small for that grade band, and the student body is predominantly white, with a notable share of students who are Hispanic, Black, or identify as two or more races. A modest portion of families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is lower than what is typical in many urban districts. The school sits within the Des Moines Independent Community School District and is located on Grand Avenue in the city's downtown core.
Academically, the school stands out within Des Moines and across Polk County. On the state assessments administered in the 2024-25 school year, proficiency rates were strong in mathematics, English language arts, and science, with all three subjects showing participation rates above ninety-nine percent. When measured together as an overall proficiency index, the school's performance sits above the midpoint among the districts in Polk County. The available data covers only a single year, so there is no local trend to examine, but the results as reported are well above what many elementary schools in the same county produce.
Because this is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report, and data on chronic absenteeism and discipline was not available in the source material. Parents looking into these topics would need to ask the school or district directly. The school's website and the district office are the right places to start.
Des Moines itself is the state capital and Iowa's largest city, with a metropolitan area that has been growing steadily in recent years. The city's economy is anchored by insurance and financial services, and major employers such as Principal Financial Group, Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Wells Fargo maintain a significant presence. The downtown area where the school is located sits at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers and is surrounded by over a hundred miles of trails and a large park system. Housing in the immediate neighborhood reflects a mix of older single-family homes and newer apartment and condo developments; the typical home value in the area has seen a slight dip recently, while rents have edged upward. Nationally, mortgage rates and the unemployment rate have been relatively stable, and real median household income has inched up in recent years.
For families considering Downtown School, the academic profile is the clearest strength. The school combines a small, diverse elementary setting with proficiency results that are higher than many of its counterparts in the county. The modest share of students receiving meal assistance suggests a student body that is not heavily economically disadvantaged by Des Moines standards, though the school does serve families across a range of incomes. The downtown location means the school is embedded in a growing urban center with ample parks and cultural amenities, but families should be aware that some data points—such as chronic absenteeism, staffing ratios, and specific program offerings—were not provided in the available records, so a direct conversation with the school would be wise to fill in those gaps.
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