The top reported proficiency rate is 82% in Math. The lowest is 78% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Southeast Warren Primary
Southeast Warren Primary serves children from pre-kindergarten through third grade, making it the entry point of the Southeast Warren Community School District. The school is located in Milo, a small rural town in Warren County that sits within the Des Moines–West Des Moines metropolitan area but retains a distinct small-town character. Milo was founded as a railroad stop, and its built environment remains typical of a modest Iowa town: a Main Street with city hall and a library, surrounded by residential streets. The town is highly car-dependent, and most residents commute to work, often to the broader Des Moines area.
The school itself is small. Its student body is almost entirely white, with only a very small number of Hispanic students. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a standard measure of economic need. Because Southeast Warren Primary only goes through third grade, the only state testing results available are from third graders. Those results show strong performance. In math, a large majority of students scored at or above the proficiency threshold, and in English language arts the share was similarly high. When compared with other districts in Warren County, the school’s overall proficiency placed it among the highest. This is a notable strength for a school serving early grades, as it suggests a solid academic foundation before students move on to the intermediate and junior-senior high campuses in neighboring towns.
No data was available on special education enrollment, English learner services, or discipline incidents, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those areas. The school does not appear to have a Title I designation in the data, though with a substantial share of students receiving meal assistance it may qualify.
The housing context around Milo reflects moderate affordability. Home values in the area are above the state median but still below the national median. Monthly mortgage costs and rents are not far apart, with renting slightly less expensive on average. The town has experienced a modest population decline in recent years, but it remains a stable residential community within commuting distance of the Des Moines metro.
Southeast Warren Primary is one campus in a district that operates three separate buildings: this primary school in Milo, an intermediate school in Lacona, and a combined junior-senior high in Liberty Center. That means a family in Milo will eventually send their child to schools in other small towns, each a short drive away. The district itself has no recent major changes publicly reported, so families can expect the current structure to remain stable in the near term.
For a family seeking a small, rural elementary school with strong early-grade academic outcomes, Southeast Warren Primary offers a straightforward fit. The school’s test results suggest children are generally meeting or exceeding expectations in reading and math before they leave for fourth grade. The peer group is very homogeneous, and economic diversity is present but moderate. Parents who want broad program offerings, significant racial diversity, or a walkable school environment will not find those features here, which is consistent with the school’s size and setting. Families who prefer a single campus for all grades should also note that the district’s upper grades are in different towns. Those who value a solid academic start in a quiet, rural community will likely find this school meets that expectation.
See more original research from School Decision →