The top reported proficiency rate is 51% in Science. The lowest is 49% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on River Woods Elementary School
River Woods Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Des Moines, Iowa’s capital and most populous city, as part of the Des Moines Independent Community School District. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. The school sits on the southeast side of the city, a residential location within a larger district that covers a wide range of neighborhoods across roughly 90 square miles.
The student body is diverse and economically mixed in a way that points to concentrated need. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The racial and ethnic composition reflects the broader diversity of southeast Des Moines: the largest group is Hispanic, followed by Black and Asian students, with a smaller share of White students and students who identify as two or more races. The school enrolls a few hundred students in total, with enrollment distributed fairly evenly across grades kindergarten through five.
On state assessments administered through the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress, roughly half of students scored at the proficient level or above in math, English language arts, and science. This overall proficiency profile places the school in the bottom quartile when compared to other districts in Polk County. It is worth noting that the comparison is among districts, not individual schools, and that Polk County includes several districts with high proficiency rates. A parent looking at these results will see a school where a substantial portion of students are meeting grade-level expectations, but also where a similar portion are not. The school’s participation rate in state testing was high, which means the results reflect nearly all enrolled students.
The housing market in the school’s ZIP code shows home values that are slightly above the statewide benchmark for Iowa and below the national median. Rents are moderate relative to incomes, and the estimated monthly mortgage payment for a typical home is roughly in line with the local rent picture, suggesting that owning and renting are both viable options for families in this part of Des Moines.
River Woods serves only elementary grades, so there are no graduation rate data, high school course offerings, or college readiness metrics to consider here. The school does not appear to report chronic absenteeism or staffing figures in the available data. Parents who are weighing options for the later grades would need to look ahead to the district’s middle and high school pathways.
The wider Des Moines area provides a familiar urban-suburban mix with a downtown core of state government, insurance and financial services headquarters, and a growing tech sector. The city’s park and trail system is extensive, and major civic landmarks including the Iowa State Capitol, the Des Moines Art Center, and the Iowa State Fairgrounds are within reach. The metropolitan area has been growing, with data-center development and annexation adding both residents and economic activity.
For a family considering River Woods, the school offers a regular elementary program in a diverse, high-need setting within a large urban district. Academic proficiency is a soft spot relative to many other schools in the county, and a parent may want to ask the school about academic support programs, class size, and how the school addresses the range of readiness levels in its classrooms. The school’s location in southeast Des Moines and its enrollment profile suggest a community context worth exploring firsthand.
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