The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in English language arts. The lowest is 30% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Stowe Elementary School
Stowe Elementary School is a regular public school in Des Moines, Iowa, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of the Des Moines Independent Community School District, the state’s largest district. The school sits in a residential section of the city, near the eastern edge of the metro area. Des Moines itself is Iowa’s capital and most populous city, with a mix of downtown commercial and civic anchors—including the state capitol, the Des Moines Art Center, and the Iowa State Fairgrounds—alongside 46 neighborhoods that give the city its residential texture. The area is a major center for the insurance industry, with employers like Principal Financial Group and Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield headquartered here, and large operations from Wells Fargo, Nationwide, and others.
Stowe Elementary is a moderate-sized school for its grade band. The student body is diverse: roughly a third of students are Hispanic and another third white, with a sizable Black population, smaller shares of Asian and multiracial students, and very small numbers of American Indian or Pacific Islander students. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which signals that the school serves a largely lower-income community.
On the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) in the most recent year, the school’s proficiency rates were below the midpoint among tested schools in Polk County. In English language arts, under half of students scored at the proficient level or above. In math, just over a third met that bar. Science proficiency was lower still, with fewer than a third of students reaching the proficient threshold. The overall proficiency index across tested subjects placed Stowe in the bottom quarter of schools in Polk County. Only one year of assessment data was available here, so it is not possible to see a trend. A parent considering this school may want to ask the school how it is working to improve academic outcomes and what supports are in place for students who are not yet at grade level.
The school’s enrollment pattern shows a somewhat larger kindergarten class, with numbers tapering in the intermediate grades. That shape could reflect a variety of factors, including neighborhood demographics, mobility, or school choice within the district. Civil rights data, such as discipline rates or special education identification, were not available in this profile, nor were details on staffing, chronic absenteeism, or course access. For a school that serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and the state testing data covers only the tested grades of three through five.
Housing in the area around Stowe Elementary is more affordable than the national average. Home values are below the Iowa state median, and rents are moderate relative to typical incomes. The Des Moines metro area has seen population growth and economic development, including data-processing and logistical facilities built by major tech companies. That growth may bring new families into the area, but the city’s 46 neighborhoods vary widely, and a family should look at the immediate neighborhood around the school.
Stowe Elementary is a school with a diverse, low-income student body and academic proficiency that falls below the county average. It serves a city that is economically stable and growing, anchored by the insurance and financial services sectors. For a parent who values a neighborhood school with a diverse population and is looking for a place where the school is actively working to raise student performance, Stowe may be worth a closer look. The assessment results suggest that the school has room to grow, and a family would want to understand what academic supports and enrichment are available.
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