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Cowles Elementary School

6401 College Ave
Windsor Heights, IA 50324

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Top 30%

Tel: (515) 242-7818

cowles.dmschools.org

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Serving 392 students in grades Prekindergarten-8, Cowles Elementary School ranks in the top 30% of all schools in Iowa for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 50%, and reading proficiency is top 50%).

The percentage of students achieving is 70-74% (which is higher than the Iowa state average of 68%). The percentage of students achieving is 85-89% (which is higher than the Iowa state average of 70%).

The student-teacher ratio of 17:1 is higher than the Iowa state level of 14:1.

Minority enrollment is 21% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Iowa state average of 30% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Facts (26-27)

Grades: Prekindergarten-8
Enrollment: 392 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
Minority Enrollment: 21%
: Top 30% in IA
: 70-74% (Top 50%)
: 85-89% (Top 5%)
: 85-89% (Top 5%)
: Cowles Elementary School serves the northwest part of the Windsor Heights, IA school district, covering an area of approximately 0.1 square miles. Families typically live within a 5-10 minute drive from the school, with the furthest edge of the attendance zone located about 0.4 miles away.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Cowles Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Iowa for:

School Overview

Cowles Elementary School's student population of 392 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

The teacher population of 23 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades Prekindergarten-8
(No virtual instruction)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Cowles Elementary School
Pre-K	84
Kind	40
1	35
2	38
3	39
4	33
5	31
6	28
7	32
8	32

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Total Students

392 students

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 37-year historical data available below ↓

Total Students Trends (1989-2025)
Year	Cowles Elementary School
2025	392
2024	403
2023	391
2022	380
2021	392
2020	424
2019	393
2018	397
2017	408
2016	402
2015	399
2014	390
2013	393
2012	363
2011	345
2010	332
2009	323
2008	290
2007	277
2006	269
2005	245
2004	195
2003	192
2002	131
2001	106
2000	87
1999	91
1998	75
1997	74
1996	195
1995	47
1994	169
1993	169
1992	432
1991	144
1990	49
1989	81

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Total Classroom Teachers

23 teachers

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 37-year historical data available below ↓

Total Classroom Teachers Trends (1989-2025)
Year	Cowles Elementary School
2025	23
2024	23
2023	22
2022	22
2021	22
2020	21
2019	22
2018	23
2017	24
2016	23
2015	23
2014	23
2013	21
2012	18
2011	17
2010	17
2009	16
2008	17
2007	15
2006	12
2005	12
2004	18
2003	19
2002	19
2001	18
2000	16
1999	12
1998	10
1997	10
1996	10
1995	4
1994	16
1993	19
1992	29
1991	23
1990	6
1989	7

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Year Founded

2000

School Calendar

View School Calendar

Campus Size

5 acres

School Rankings

Cowles Elementary School ranks within the top 30% of all 1,223 schools in Iowa (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Cowles Elementary School is 0.36, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.48. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (IA)

#316 out of 1223 schools
(Top 30%)

View Data

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

Overall School Rank Trends (2010-2023)
Year	Cowles Elementary School
2023	#316
2022	#127
2021	#83
2019	#84
2018	#91
2017	#90
2016	#101
2015	#109
2014	#123
2013	#230
2012	#187
2011	#78
2010	#337

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70-74%

68%

View Data

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

Math Proficiency Comparison (2010-2023)
Year	Cowles Elementary School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2023	72%	68%	43%
2022	77%	64%	40%
2021	77%	64%	43%
2019	83%	69%	49%
2018	87%	76%	55%
2017	89%	77%	58%
2016	89%	78%	60%
2015	87%	79%	61%
2014	87%	79%	61%
2013	82%	77%	60%
2012	82%	76%	59%
2011	87%	78%	63%
2010	82%	77%	63%

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85-89%

70%

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Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison (2010-2022)
Year	Cowles Elementary School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2022	87%	70%	49%
2021	87%	68%	46%
2019	88%	68%	47%
2018	91%	74%	55%
2017	96%	75%	59%
2016	92%	75%	61%
2015	92%	76%	61%
2014	92%	76%	60%
2013	87%	72%	57%
2012	92%	71%	56%
2011	92%	76%	62%
2010	82%	75%	59%

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85-89%

63%

View Data

Science Proficiency Comparison (2021-2022)
Year	Cowles Elementary School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2022	87%	63%	41%
2021	90%	60%	37%

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Student-Teacher Ratio

17:1

14:1

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 37-year historical data available below ↓

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison (1989-2025)
Year	Cowles Elementary School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2025	17:1	14:1
2024	18:1	14:1
2023	18:1	14:1	15:1
2022	17:1	14:1	15:1
2021	18:1	14:1	14:1
2020	20:1	14:1	14:1
2019	18:1	14:1	14:1
2018	17:1	14:1	14:1
2017	17:1	14:1	14:1
2016	17:1	14:1	14:1
2015	17:1	14:1	14:1
2014	17:1	14:1	14:1
2013	19:1	14:1	15:1
2012	20:1	14:1	15:1
2011	20:1	14:1	15:1
2010	20:1	13:1	14:1
2009	20:1	13:1	14:1
2008	17:1	13:1	14:1
2007	18:1	14:1	14:1
2006	22:1	13:1	15:1
2005	20:1	13:1	15:1
2004	11:1	13:1	13:1
2003	10:1	13:1	14:1
2002	7:1	13:1	14:1
2001	6:1	14:1	15:1
2000	5:1	14:1	14:1
1999	8:1	15:1	16:1
1998	8:1	14:1	15:1
1997	7:1	15:1	15:1
1996	20:1	15:1	15:1
1995	12:1	15:1	14:1
1994	11:1	15:1	12:1
1993	9:1	15:1	15:1
1992	15:1	15:1	15:1
1991	6:1	15:1	14:1
1990	8:1	15:1	18:1
1989	12:1	17:1	22:1

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Asian

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 37-year historical data available below ↓

Asian Student Percentage Comparison (1989-2025)
Year	Cowles Elementary School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2025	3%	3%
2024	3%	3%
2023	3%	2%	8%
2022	4%	3%	9%
2021	5%	3%	9%
2020	4%	3%	9%
2019	4%	3%	9%
2018	4%	3%	8%
2017	4%	2%	8%
2016	4%	2%	8%
2015	3%	2%	7%
2014	2%	2%	7%
2013	4%	2%	8%
2012	3%	2%	8%
2011	2%	2%	6%
2010	3%	2%	5%
2009	7%	2%	6%
2008	7%	2%	5%
2007	4%	2%	5%
2006	3%	2%	5%
2005	4%	2%	5%
2004	3%	2%	5%
2003	1%	2%	5%
2002	1%	2%	5%
2000	2%	2%	4%
1999	1%	2%	5%
1994	2%	2%	5%
1993	1%	1%	5%
1992	3%	1%	5%
1991	2%	2%	5%
1989	1%	1%	4%

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Hispanic

14%

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 35-year historical data available below ↓

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison (1991-2025)
Year	Cowles Elementary School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2025	8%	14%
2024	9%	13%
2023	6%	13%	30%
2022	7%	12%	29%
2021	7%	12%	28%
2020	6%	12%	27%
2019	5%	11%	27%
2018	6%	11%	26%
2017	7%	11%	26%
2016	6%	10%	25%
2015	5%	10%	25%
2014	5%	10%	24%
2013	5%	9%	23%
2012	5%	9%	22%
2011	5%	9%	22%
2010	5%	8%	21%
2009	4%	7%	17%
2008	4%	6%	16%
2007	2%	6%	15%
2006	3%	6%	15%
2005	3%	5%	13%
2004	2%	5%	12%
2003	1%	4%	11%
2002	1%	4%	10%
2001	2%	4%	9%
2000	1%	3%	7%
1999	2%	3%	7%
1998	3%	3%	6%
1995	2%	2%	4%
1994	2%	2%	3%
1992	1%	2%	2%
1991	1%	1%	2%

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Black

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 37-year historical data available below ↓

Black Student Percentage Comparison (1989-2025)
Year	Cowles Elementary School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2025	1%	7%
2024	2%	7%
2023	2%	7%	21%
2022	1%	7%	21%
2021	2%	7%	21%
2020	2%	7%	20%
2019	2%	6%	20%
2018	2%	6%	19%
2017	2%	6%	19%
2016	2%	6%	18%
2015	2%	6%	18%
2014	3%	5%	18%
2013	3%	5%	17%
2012	3%	5%	17%
2011	3%	5%	17%
2010	4%	5%	17%
2009	6%	6%	19%
2008	5%	6%	18%
2007	4%	5%	17%
2006	5%	5%	17%
2005	6%	5%	16%
2004	17%	4%	16%
2003	8%	4%	15%
2002	5%	4%	15%
2001	6%	4%	15%
2000	3%	4%	14%
1999	7%	4%	15%
1998	12%	3%	14%
1997	15%	3%	14%
1996	5%	3%	14%
1995	26%	3%	13%
1994	10%	3%	13%
1993	9%	3%	13%
1992	5%	3%	12%
1991	6%	3%	11%
1990	10%	3%	12%
1989	8%	3%	12%

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White

79%

70%

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 37-year historical data available below ↓

White Student Percentage Comparison (1989-2025)
Year	Cowles Elementary School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2025	79%	70%
2024	77%	71%
2023	78%	72%	34%
2022	77%	73%	35%
2021	75%	74%	36%
2020	75%	74%	38%
2019	76%	75%	38%
2018	77%	76%	41%
2017	75%	77%	41%
2016	74%	78%	43%
2015	79%	78%	44%
2014	78%	79%	45%
2013	77%	80%	46%
2012	79%	81%	47%
2011	82%	81%	49%
2010	79%	82%	51%
2009	83%	84%	58%
2008	84%	85%	60%
2007	90%	86%	62%
2006	88%	86%	62%
2005	87%	87%	65%
2004	78%	88%	66%
2003	90%	89%	68%
2002	92%	90%	69%
2001	91%	90%	70%
2000	93%	91%	74%
1999	89%	91%	72%
1998	84%	92%	74%
1997	85%	92%	75%
1996	95%	93%	77%
1995	72%	93%	76%
1994	86%	93%	79%
1993	88%	94%	79%
1992	91%	94%	81%
1991	91%	94%	82%
1990	90%	95%	82%
1989	91%	95%	82%

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Two or more races

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 16-year historical data available below ↓

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison (2010-2025)
Year	Cowles Elementary School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2025	9%	5%
2024	9%	5%
2023	10%	5%	7%
2022	10%	5%	6%
2021	10%	4%	6%
2020	11%	4%	6%
2019	11%	4%	6%
2018	10%	4%	6%
2017	11%	4%	6%
2016	12%	4%	6%
2015	10%	3%	6%
2014	11%	3%	6%
2013	9%	3%	6%
2012	8%	3%	6%
2011	8%	2%	6%
2010	9%	2%	5%

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All Ethnic Groups

21%

30%

0.36

0.48

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 37-year historical data available below ↓

Diversity Score Comparison (1989-2025)
Year	Cowles Elementary School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2025	0.36	0.49
2024	0.39	0.48
2023	0.38	0.46	0.75
2022	0.39	0.45	0.75
2021	0.42	0.43	0.74
2020	0.42	0.43	0.74
2019	0.41	0.42	0.74
2018	0.40	0.41	0.72
2017	0.42	0.39	0.72
2016	0.44	0.38	0.72
2015	0.37	0.38	0.71
2014	0.38	0.37	0.71
2013	0.40	0.35	0.70
2012	0.37	0.34	0.70
2011	0.32	0.34	0.68
2010	0.37	0.32	0.67
2009	0.30	0.29	0.60
2008	0.29	0.27	0.58
2007	0.19	0.26	0.57
2006	0.22	0.26	0.55
2005	0.24	0.24	0.54
2004	0.37	0.22	0.52
2003	0.19	0.21	0.51
2002	0.15	0.19	0.49
2001	0.17	0.19	0.47
2000	0.13	0.17	0.43
1999	0.20	0.17	0.44
1998	0.28	0.15	0.43
1997	0.26	0.15	0.42
1996	0.10	0.13	0.39
1995	0.42	0.13	0.39
1994	0.25	0.13	0.36
1993	0.22	0.12	0.35
1992	0.17	0.12	0.33
1991	0.17	0.12	0.32
1990	0.18	0.10	0.32
1989	0.17	0.10	0.32

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(22-23)

13%

24.7%

View Data

Chronic Absenteeism Rate (2021-2023)
Year	Cowles Elementary School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2023	13%	24.7%	45.7%
2022	16.8%	27.8%	50.1%
2021	5.1%	23.1%	64.1%

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Participates in the

Yes

Eligible for

15%

35%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 37-year historical data available below ↓

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison (1989-2025)
Year	Cowles Elementary School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2025	15%	35%
2024	14%	36%
2023	13%	36%	69%
2022	11%	35%	68%
2021	12%	35%	67%
2020	17%	35%	67%
2019	15%	36%	67%
2018	12%	33%	60%
2017	10%	34%	60%
2016	18%	34%	64%
2015	11%	34%	62%
2014	9%	34%	65%
2013	14%	34%	67%
2012	13%	33%	63%
2011	14%	31%	58%
2010	11%	29%	54%
2009	9%	26%	46%
2008	10%	26%	51%
2007	5%	24%	41%
2006	7%	25%	46%
2005	6%	23%	42%
2004	6%	22%	39%
2003	4%	21%	37%
2002	9%	19%	34%
2001	29%	19%	33%
2000	18%	19%	32%
1999	19%	20%	35%
1998	7%	21%	35%
1997	28%	20%	35%
1996	9%	20%	33%
1995	60%	20%	32%
1994	17%	19%	30%
1993	21%	19%	28%
1992	7%	18%	27%
1991	42%	17%	25%
1990	33%	14%	22%
1989	68%	17%	26%

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Eligible for

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 27-year historical data available below ↓

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison (1999-2025)
Year	Cowles Elementary School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2025	5%	7%
2024	2%	5%
2023	4%	6%	8%
2022	4%	5%	9%
2021	5%	6%	10%
2020	5%	7%	10%
2019	6%	7%	10%
2018	6%	7%	11%
2017	5%	7%	11%
2016	6%	7%	10%
2015	4%	7%	9%
2014	4%	7%	5%
2013	4%	7%	5%
2012	5%	7%	8%
2011	3%	8%	9%
2010	4%	8%	10%
2009	3%	8%	10%
2008	1%	8%	9%
2007	2%	8%	8%
2005	2%	8%	12%
2004	5%	8%	11%
2003	3%	8%	11%
2002	8%	8%	11%
2001	7%	8%	12%
2000	3%	7%	11%
1999	3%	7%	10%

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School Statewide Testing

View Education Department Test Scores

School District Name

Des Moines Independent Comm School District

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cowles Elementary School's ranking?

Cowles Elementary School is ranked #316 out of 1,223 schools, which ranks it among the top 30% of public schools in Iowa.

What schools are Cowles Elementary School often compared to?

Cowles Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Fairmeadows Elementary School, Hanawalt Elementary School by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

70-74% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 68% IA state average), while 85-89% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 70% IA state average).

How many students attend Cowles Elementary School?

392 students attend Cowles Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

79% of Cowles Elementary School students are White, 9% of students are Two or more races, 8% of students are Hispanic, 3% of students are Asian, and 1% of students are Black.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Cowles Elementary School?

Cowles Elementary School has a student ration of 17:1, which is higher than the Iowa state average of 14:1.

What grades does Cowles Elementary School offer ?

Cowles Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Prekindergarten-8 (No virtual instruction).

What school district is Cowles Elementary School part of?

Cowles Elementary School is part of Des Moines Independent Comm School District.

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Quick Facts (26-27)

Grades: Prekindergarten-8
Enrollment: 392 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
Minority Enrollment: 21%
: Top 30%
: 70-74% (Top 50%)
: 85-89% (Top 5%)
: 85-89% (Top 5%)
: Cowles Elementary School serves the northwest part of the Windsor Heights, IA school district, covering an area of approximately 0.1 square miles. Families typically live within a 5-10 minute drive from the school, with the furthest edge of the attendance zone located about 0.4 miles away.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education

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