The top reported proficiency rate is 72% in English language arts. The lowest is 66% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Clive Learning Academy
Clive Learning Academy serves early childhood through sixth grade in the West Des Moines Community School District. It is a regular public school with an enrollment in the mid-range for an elementary school. The student body is racially and ethnically diverse, with no single group forming an overwhelming majority; the largest share of students are white, followed by a substantial Hispanic presence and a significant Black population, along with Asian students and students identifying as two or more races. A sizable portion of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker that the school draws from families across a range of income levels.
On state assessments, Clive Learning Academy posted proficiency rates that were comfortably above the state average across English language arts, math, and science. English language arts had the strongest showing, with a high marks in reading and writing, followed closely by math. Science proficiency, while still at a level many schools would consider solid, was the lower of the three. Participation rates on the tests were high, which gives confidence that the results reflect the student body. The school sits in a district that has invested significantly in capital construction, so families can expect that facility quality is receiving ongoing attention. The data shows only a single year of assessment results, so there is no trend line yet; a parent may want to ask the school how performance has moved in prior years to get a fuller picture.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate. Likewise, data on chronic absenteeism and on the share of students receiving special education services or English language support was not available in the records we reviewed. A parent navigating those support systems should ask the school directly about how those programs operate.
Des Moines, where the school is located, is the state capital and a major insurance and financial services hub. The metropolitan area has seen population growth and recent investment from technology companies building data centers and logistics facilities, which contributes to a steady housing market. Home values in the area are positioned above the state benchmark, and rents are such that a typical household would spend a manageable share of income on housing. The school’s own neighborhood, in the Clive area of western Des Moines, is largely residential and connected to the city’s extensive park and trail system. Civic and cultural anchors such as the Iowa State Capitol, the Des Moines Art Center, and the Iowa State Fairgrounds are located in the downtown core.
The district uses a distinctive secondary structure: ninth graders attend a dedicated freshman center, Valley Southwoods, before moving to Valley High School for grades ten through twelve. For a family with children currently at Clive Learning Academy, this means the later years of middle school and the transition to high school will involve moving to other buildings, and the freshman campus model is something to factor in when considering the longer arc of a child’s education in this district.
Relative to other districts in Polk County, Clive Learning Academy’s overall proficiency sits below the midpoint. That context is worth noting, but it is also true that the school’s own proficiency numbers are solid in absolute terms and well above a floor. A parent looking at this school will find a diverse, mid-sized elementary that delivers strong academic results on the core tested subjects, located in a metro area with a stable economy and a district that is actively investing in its facilities. The primary unknowns are around the student support services data that was not available and the trajectory of test scores over multiple years.
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