The top reported proficiency rate is 39% in Math. The lowest is 21% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Edmunds Elementary School
Edmunds Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Des Moines, as part of the Des Moines Independent Community School District. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. The school’s enrollment is of a size typical for an elementary building in an urban district. The student body is diverse in composition, with the largest racial group being Black students, followed by Hispanic students, White students, Asian students, and a small number of students of two or more races. A very large share of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a community with considerable economic need.
State testing results from the most recent school year are available for reading, math, and science. In reading, just over a third of students met the state’s proficiency standard. In math, slightly less than two-fifths of students were proficient. In science, roughly one in five students scored proficient. These proficiency rates fall well below the average for elementary schools across the state and place the school in the bottom quartile among districts in Polk County when considering overall proficiency across subjects. A parent reviewing these numbers will see that, at every tested grade, the majority of students are not reaching the state’s proficiency benchmarks. There is only one year of data available in the trend series, so there is no way to tell from this information alone whether performance is improving or declining; a parent may want to ask the school for any more recent internal assessments or trend data they track.
Housing in the surrounding area is notably more affordable than the statewide and national medians. Home values and rents are below the benchmarks for Iowa as a whole, and the estimated cost of a monthly mortgage is moderately lower than typical rents in the area, which could be relevant for a family weighing whether to buy or rent. Des Moines itself is the state’s capital and largest city, with a diversified economy anchored by insurance, financial services, and a growing technology sector with data centers from major firms. The city has maintained a substantial park and trail system and offers a range of civic and cultural institutions. The metropolitan area has experienced population growth in recent years, and the construction of data-processing facilities signals ongoing economic development.
Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and data on chronic absenteeism and discipline were not available. Information on specialized programs, such as gifted education, arts, or STEM offerings, was not provided, nor were details on staffing ratios or English learner services. The absence of these details does not mean the school lacks them, but a parent would want to inquire directly with the school or district about what is available.
This is a school where a family should expect that the majority of students are working below grade-level standards in the core subjects, and where the student body reflects a high level of economic disadvantage. The surrounding housing market is relatively affordable by state and national standards, and the city offers an active civic and economic environment. A parent considering this school will want to learn about the specific instructional supports in place, the school’s approach to raising achievement, and what enrichment opportunities exist beyond the tested curriculum.
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