The top reported proficiency rate is 69% in English language arts. The lowest is 53% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Karen Acres Elementary School
Karen Acres Elementary School in Urbandale, Iowa, is no longer in operation. The data records it as closed, so the school is not currently accepting students. It was a regular public school within the Urbandale Community School District, and it served elementary grades—the available records do not specify the exact grade range, but the school’s name and its participation in state testing for upper elementary grades make its elementary identity clear.
Because the school is closed, any academic results are historical. In the 2022-23 school year, the last year for which testing data exists, a majority of its students met state proficiency standards on the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress. In English language arts, roughly seven in ten students scored proficient, while in math the figure was just under two-thirds. Science proficiency was lower, with about half of tested students meeting the bar. Participation rates were high, making the results a reliable snapshot of the school’s performance at that time. No enrollment counts, demographic breakdowns, or information about students receiving free or reduced-price meals, special education services, or English learner support were available in the data provided.
Urbandale Community School District has been undergoing significant changes that would have affected Karen Acres while it was open. The district has implemented competency-based education across all grade levels, meaning students advance based on demonstrated mastery of skills rather than time spent in class. In November 2023, voters approved a general obligation bond to fund construction of a new Olmsted Elementary School, district-wide security upgrades, and additional classroom space at the high school. Around the same time, the school board approved new elementary attendance boundaries effective for the 2024-2025 school year to balance enrollment across the district’s elementary schools. These shifts in facility planning and boundary lines likely contributed to the decision to close Karen Acres, though the specific reason for closure is not stated in the available records.
Urbandale itself is a suburban city that has grown steadily over recent decades, expanding westward into Dallas County. The city’s economy is anchored by finance and insurance, health care, and retail, and it is home to a mix of residential neighborhoods and commercial corridors along major highways. Housing values in the area are above the national average, and rents follow a similar pattern, reflecting the city’s desirability as a Des Moines suburb. Public transit is limited, and the city is car-dependent, though it maintains an extensive system of parks and recreational trails. The school district is a major employer in town, alongside companies such as Marsh & McLennan and MidAmerican Energy.
For a parent or resident looking at the Urbandale area, the closure of Karen Acres means that the school is no longer an option. Families moving into the district should look to the other elementary schools—Olmsted, Rolling Green, Jensen, and Webster—and note that the new boundaries adopted in 2023-24 determine which school a child will attend. The district’s commitment to competency-based education and its recent bond investment signal an active, evolving school system that is investing in facilities and pedagogy. The test results from Karen Acres, while now part of the past, reflected a school where a solid majority of students were meeting standards in core subjects. That academic floor, combined with the district’s broader direction, gives a sense of the educational environment Urbandale has aimed to provide.
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