The top reported proficiency rate is 42% in Math. The lowest is 32% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Lovejoy Elementary School
Lovejoy Elementary School is a regular public elementary school in Des Moines, Iowa, within the Des Moines Independent Community School District. It serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade. As a K-5 school, there is no graduation rate to report because that measure applies only to high schools.
The school’s student body is diverse. The largest ethnic groups are Hispanic students and Black students, each comprising a substantial share of the enrollment. White students and Asian students also make up notable portions of the population. A significant majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a standard indicator of economic need in public schools. Data on the share of students receiving special education services or classified as English learners was not available in the state data we examined.
On the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) from the 2024-25 school year, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects placed it in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Polk County. In both math and English language arts, about two out of every five students scored at or above the proficient level. In science, roughly one in three students met that bar. The participation rate on the assessments, while above the threshold that would trigger a formal flag, was slightly below what is typical for many schools, which is a point a parent may want to discuss with the school to understand what drove that figure. Because this is the only year of available testing data, there is no trend line to show whether performance is improving or declining.
Lovejoy Elementary is located in Des Moines, the state’s capital and most populous city. The city functions as a mix of commercial and residential life and is a recognized center for the insurance industry, with a sizable financial services and publishing base. Major employers with a large local presence include Principal Financial Group, Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Wells Fargo, and others. The downtown core, where the Iowa State Capitol and the Des Moines Art Center are located, sits at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers. The city has seen population growth in the broader metropolitan area, along with economic development from major technology companies building data-processing and logistical facilities in the region.
The housing context around the school shows a home value that is below both the state and national benchmarks, making this part of Des Moines relatively more affordable than many other areas. Monthly rent is also below the national average, though mortgage payments, at prevailing interest rates, run higher than the typical rent. This is a common dynamic in many markets and is something a family shopping for housing would need to weigh.
For a family considering this school, the primary academic picture is that Lovejoy Elementary serves an economically diverse student body in a large urban district, but its state assessment results are below the midpoint of schools in Polk County. A parent looking into this school would want to investigate what academic supports and interventions the school offers, and whether the student population dynamics and performance trends align with their priorities for their child. The school's website was available in the data, and a family would benefit from looking there for specifics on programming and family engagement opportunities that are not captured in the statistical profile.
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