Downtown School (Ranked Top 50% for 2025-26)

1800 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309

( shown in map)

Top 50%

downtownschool.dmschools.org

Serving 235 students in grades Kindergarten-5, Downtown School ranks in the top 50% 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 80-84% (which is higher than the Iowa state average of 70%).

The student-teacher ratio of 26:1 is higher than the Iowa state level of 14:1.

Minority enrollment is 34% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is higher than the Iowa state average of 29% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Facts (2025-26)

Grades: Kindergarten-5
Enrollment: 235 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 26:1
Minority Enrollment: 34%
: Top 50% in IA
: 70-74% (Top 50%)
: 80-84% (Top 20%)
: 70-79% (Top 20%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

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

School Overview

Downtown School's student population of 235 students has declined by 11% over five school years.

The teacher population of 9 teachers has declined by 52% over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades Kindergarten-5
(No virtual instruction)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Downtown School
Kind	30
1	40
2	44
3	36
4	45
5	40

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Total Students

235 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Downtown School
2023	243
2022	240
2021	241
2020	265
2019	265
2018	268
2017	268
2016	268
2015	267
2014	263
2013	274
2012	278
2011	285
2010	293
2009	258
2008	268
2007	272
2006	264
2005	268
2004	271
2003	266
2002	264
2001	160
2000	153
1999	153
1998	136
1997	14
1996	96

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

9 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Downtown School
2023	20
2022	18
2021	19
2020	19
2019	19
2018	18
2017	18
2016	19
2015	18
2014	20
2013	20
2012	19
2011	18
2010	21
2009	19
2008	18
2007	17
2006	18
2005	17
2004	18
2003	18
2002	21
2001	12
2000	14
1999	11
1998	7
1997	7
1996	7

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Year Founded

2024

School Calendar

View School Calendar

School Motto

Come Here. Become Here.

School Rankings

Downtown School ranks within the top 50% of all 1,223 schools in Iowa (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Downtown School is 0.53, which is more than the diversity score at state average of 0.47. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (IA)

#379 out of 1223 schools
(Top 50%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	Downtown School
2023	#379
2022	#289
2021	#291
2019	#400
2018	#270
2017	#97
2016	#264
2015	#109
2014	#152
2013	#346
2012	#399

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70-74%

68%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2012-2023)
Year	Downtown School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Community School District
2023	72%	68%	43%
2022	72%	64%	40%
2021	77%	64%	43%
2019	72%	69%	49%
2018	82%	76%	55%
2017	87%	77%	58%
2016	82%	78%	60%
2015	87%	79%	61%
2014	87%	79%	61%
2013	82%	77%	60%
2012	77%	76%	59%

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80-84%

70%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2022)
Year	Downtown School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Community School District
2022	82%	70%	49%
2021	72%	68%	46%
2019	77%	68%	47%
2018	87%	74%	55%
2017	92%	75%	59%
2016	92%	75%	61%
2015	92%	76%	61%
2014	87%	76%	60%
2013	82%	72%	57%
2012	87%	71%	56%
2011	87%	76%	62%

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70-79%

63%

View Data

Science Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2021-2022)
Year	Downtown School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Community School District
2022	74%	63%	41%
2021	64%	60%	37%

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Student-Teacher Ratio

26:1

14:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Downtown School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Community School District
2023	12:1	14:1	15:1
2022	13:1	14:1	15:1
2021	13:1	14:1	14:1
2020	14:1	14:1	14:1
2019	14:1	14:1	14:1
2018	15:1	14:1	14:1
2017	15:1	14:1	14:1
2016	14:1	14:1	14:1
2015	15:1	14:1	14:1
2014	13:1	14:1	14:1
2013	14:1	14:1	15:1
2012	14:1	14:1	15:1
2011	16:1	14:1	15:1
2010	14:1	13:1	14:1
2009	14:1	13:1	14:1
2008	15:1	13:1	14:1
2007	16:1	14:1	14:1
2006	15:1	13:1	15:1
2005	16:1	13:1	15:1
2004	15:1	13:1	13:1
2003	15:1	13:1	14:1
2002	13:1	13:1	14:1
2001	13:1	14:1	15:1
2000	11:1	14:1	14:1
1999	14:1	14:1	16:1
1998	21:1	14:1	15:1
1997	2:1	15:1	15:1
1996	15:1	15:1	15:1

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American Indian

n/a

Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Downtown School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Community School District
2023	2%	2%	8%
2022	2%	3%	9%
2021	2%	3%	9%
2020	3%	3%	9%
2019	3%	3%	9%
2018	2%	2%	8%
2017	2%	2%	8%
2016	3%	2%	8%
2015	4%	3%	7%
2014	5%	3%	7%
2013	4%	3%	8%
2012	5%	2%	8%
2011	5%	2%	6%
2010	5%	2%	5%
2009	7%	2%	6%
2008	7%	2%	5%
2007	9%	2%	5%
2006	9%	2%	5%
2005	9%	2%	5%
2004	5%	2%	5%
2003	3%	2%	5%
2002	5%	2%	5%
2001	7%	2%	5%
2000	2%	1%	4%
1999	5%	2%	5%
1998	2%	2%	5%
1997	7%	2%	5%
1996	3%	2%	5%

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Hispanic

12%

13%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1995-2023)
Year	Downtown School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Community School District
2023	10%	13%	30%
2022	10%	12%	29%
2021	12%	12%	28%
2020	11%	11%	27%
2019	11%	11%	27%
2018	11%	11%	26%
2017	11%	11%	26%
2016	10%	10%	25%
2015	7%	11%	25%
2014	10%	10%	24%
2013	10%	9%	23%
2012	9%	9%	22%
2011	10%	9%	22%
2010	9%	8%	21%
2009	7%	7%	17%
2008	5%	7%	16%
2007	1%	6%	15%
2006	2%	5%	15%
2005	3%	5%	13%
2004	3%	5%	12%
2003	3%	4%	11%
2002	2%	4%	10%
2001	4%	4%	9%
2000	1%	2%	7%
1999	4%	3%	7%
1998	4%	3%	6%
1996	3%	2%	4%
1995	1%	2%	4%

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Black

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Downtown School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Community School District
2023	9%	7%	21%
2022	8%	7%	21%
2021	7%	7%	21%
2020	3%	6%	20%
2019	3%	6%	20%
2018	3%	6%	19%
2017	3%	6%	19%
2016	2%	6%	18%
2015	4%	5%	18%
2014	3%	5%	18%
2013	3%	5%	17%
2012	5%	5%	17%
2011	6%	5%	17%
2010	9%	5%	17%
2009	12%	6%	19%
2008	14%	6%	18%
2007	14%	5%	17%
2006	17%	4%	17%
2005	15%	5%	16%
2004	11%	4%	16%
2003	11%	4%	15%
2002	13%	4%	15%
2001	12%	4%	15%
2000	11%	3%	14%
1999	16%	4%	15%
1998	15%	3%	14%
1997	14%	3%	14%
1996	18%	3%	14%

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White

66%

71%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Downtown School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Community School District
2023	67%	72%	34%
2022	70%	73%	35%
2021	70%	74%	36%
2020	75%	75%	38%
2019	75%	75%	38%
2018	76%	77%	41%
2017	76%	77%	41%
2016	78%	78%	43%
2015	78%	78%	44%
2014	76%	79%	45%
2013	76%	80%	46%
2012	76%	81%	47%
2011	76%	81%	49%
2010	72%	82%	51%
2009	74%	84%	58%
2008	74%	84%	60%
2007	76%	86%	62%
2006	72%	88%	62%
2005	73%	87%	65%
2004	81%	88%	66%
2003	83%	89%	68%
2002	80%	89%	69%
2001	77%	89%	70%
2000	86%	94%	74%
1999	75%	91%	72%
1998	79%	92%	74%
1997	79%	93%	75%
1996	76%	93%	77%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

12%

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2011-2023)
Year	Downtown School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Community School District
2023	12%	5%	7%
2022	10%	5%	6%
2021	9%	4%	6%
2020	8%	4%	6%
2019	8%	4%	6%
2018	8%	4%	6%
2017	8%	4%	6%
2016	7%	4%	6%
2015	7%	3%	6%
2014	6%	3%	6%
2013	7%	3%	6%
2012	5%	3%	6%
2011	3%	2%	6%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.53

0.47

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Downtown School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Community School District
2023	0.52	0.46	0.75
2022	0.49	0.45	0.75
2021	0.49	0.43	0.74
2020	0.42	0.42	0.74
2019	0.42	0.42	0.74
2018	0.41	0.39	0.72
2017	0.41	0.39	0.72
2016	0.38	0.38	0.72
2015	0.38	0.38	0.71
2014	0.41	0.37	0.71
2013	0.41	0.35	0.70
2012	0.41	0.34	0.70
2011	0.42	0.34	0.68
2010	0.47	0.32	0.67
2009	0.43	0.29	0.60
2008	0.43	0.28	0.58
2007	0.40	0.26	0.57
2006	0.45	0.23	0.55
2005	0.44	0.24	0.54
2004	0.33	0.22	0.52
2003	0.30	0.21	0.51
2002	0.34	0.20	0.49
2001	0.38	0.20	0.47
2000	0.29	0.15	0.43
1999	0.41	0.16	0.44
1998	0.35	0.15	0.43
1997	0.35	0.13	0.42
1996	0.39	0.13	0.39

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Participates in the

Yes

Eligible for

17%

36%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1996-2023)
Year	Downtown School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Community School District
2023	18%	36%	69%
2022	14%	35%	68%
2021	17%	35%	67%
2020	15%	36%	67%
2019	15%	36%	67%
2018	11%	34%	60%
2017	11%	34%	60%
2016	15%	34%	64%
2015	8%	34%	62%
2014	8%	34%	65%
2013	12%	34%	67%
2012	13%	33%	63%
2011	11%	31%	58%
2010	13%	29%	54%
2009	9%	26%	46%
2008	13%	26%	51%
2007	7%	24%	41%
2006	8%	25%	46%
2005	7%	23%	42%
2004	6%	22%	39%
2003	3%	21%	37%
2002	5%	19%	34%
2001	4%	19%	33%
2000	4%	19%	32%
1999	5%	20%	35%
1998	7%	21%	35%
1997	57%	20%	35%
1996	11%	20%	33%

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Eligible for

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Downtown School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Community School District
2023	7%	6%	8%
2022	10%	5%	9%
2021	6%	6%	10%
2020	11%	7%	10%
2019	11%	7%	10%
2018	8%	7%	11%
2017	8%	7%	11%
2016	8%	7%	10%
2015	6%	7%	9%
2014	3%	7%	5%
2013	4%	7%	5%
2012	3%	7%	8%
2011	5%	8%	9%
2010	6%	8%	10%
2009	5%	8%	10%
2008	6%	8%	9%
2007	10%	8%	8%
2006	8%	8%	10%
2005	6%	8%	12%
2004	5%	8%	11%
2003	5%	8%	11%
2002	3%	8%	11%
2001	4%	8%	12%
2000	8%	7%	11%
1999	8%	7%	10%

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School Statewide Testing

View Education Department Test Scores

School District Name

Des Moines Independent Community School District

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

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Downtown School's ranking?

Downtown School is ranked #379 out of 1,223 schools, which ranks it among the top 50% of public schools in Iowa.

What schools are Downtown School often compared to?

Downtown Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Greenwood Elementary School, Howe 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 80-84% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 70% IA state average).

How many students attend Downtown School?

235 students attend Downtown School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

66% of Downtown School students are White, 12% of students are Hispanic, 12% of students are Two or more races, 9% of students are Black, and 1% of students are Asian.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Downtown School?

Downtown School has a student ration of 26:1, which is higher than the Iowa state average of 14:1.

What grades does Downtown School offer ?

Downtown School offers enrollment in grades Kindergarten-5 (No virtual instruction).

What school district is Downtown School part of?

Downtown School is part of Des Moines Independent Community School District.

In what neighborhood is Downtown School located?

Downtown School is located in the Downtown Des Moines neighborhood of Des Moines, IA. There are 3 other public schools located in Downtown Des Moines.