Cowles Elementary School (Ranked Top 30% for 2025)

6401 College Ave
Windsor Heights, IA 50324

( shown in map)

Top 30%

Serving 403 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 18:1 is higher than the Iowa state level of 14:1.

Minority enrollment is 23% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is lower than the Iowa state average of 29% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Facts (2025)

Grades: Prekindergarten-8
Enrollment: 403 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
Minority Enrollment: 23%
: Top 30% in IA
: 70-74% (Top 50%)
: 85-89% (Top 5%)
: 85-89% (Top 5%)
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 403 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	83
Kind	42
1	38
2	39
3	36
4	34
5	35
6	34
7	33
8	29

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Total Students

403 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Cowles Elementary School
2023	391
2022	380
2021	392
2020	393
2019	393
2018	408
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	76
1999	91
1998	75
1997	71
1996	11
1995	16
1994	21
1993	169

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

23 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Cowles Elementary School
2023	22
2022	22
2021	22
2020	22
2019	22
2018	24
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

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Year Founded

2000

School Calendar

Campus Size

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 0.39, which is less 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)

#316 out of 1223 schools
(Top 30%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2012-2023)
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

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70-74%

68%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2012-2023)
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%

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85-89%

70%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2022)
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%

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85-89%

63%

View Data

Science Proficiency Comparison Over Years (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

18:1

14:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Cowles Elementary School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2023	18:1	14:1	15:1
2022	17:1	14:1	15:1
2021	18:1	14:1	14:1
2020	18:1	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	14:1	16:1
1998	8:1	14:1	15:1
1997	7:1	15:1	15:1
1996	1:1	15:1	15:1
1995	5:1	15:1	14:1
1994	1:1	15:1	12:1
1993	9:1	15:1	15:1

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American Indian

n/a

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2001-2020)
Year	Cowles Elementary School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2020	1%	1%
2019	1%	1%
2006	2%	1%	1%
2002	1%	1%	1%
2001	1%	1%	1%

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Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1992-2023)
Year	Cowles Elementary School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2023	3%	2%	8%
2022	4%	3%	9%
2021	5%	3%	9%
2020	4%	3%	9%
2019	4%	3%	9%
2018	4%	2%	8%
2017	4%	2%	8%
2016	4%	2%	8%
2015	3%	3%	7%
2014	2%	3%	7%
2013	4%	3%	8%
2012	3%	2%	8%
2011	3%	2%	6%
2010	3%	2%	5%
2009	7%	2%	6%
2008	8%	2%	5%
2007	4%	2%	5%
2006	3%	2%	5%
2005	4%	2%	5%
2004	3%	2%	5%
2003	2%	2%	5%
2002	2%	2%	5%
2000	1%	1%	4%
1999	1%	2%	5%
1996	7%	2%	5%
1994	17%	2%	5%
1993	1%	1%	5%
1992	35%	1%	5%

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Hispanic

13%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1992-2023)
Year	Cowles Elementary School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2023	6%	13%	30%
2022	7%	12%	29%
2021	7%	12%	28%
2020	5%	11%	27%
2019	5%	11%	27%
2018	7%	11%	26%
2017	7%	11%	26%
2016	7%	10%	25%
2015	5%	11%	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	3%	7%	16%
2007	2%	6%	15%
2006	3%	5%	15%
2005	3%	5%	13%
2004	2%	5%	12%
2003	1%	4%	11%
2002	1%	4%	10%
2001	2%	4%	9%
1999	2%	3%	7%
1998	3%	3%	6%
1995	4%	2%	4%
1994	12%	2%	3%
1992	12%	1%	2%

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Black

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Cowles Elementary School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2023	2%	7%	21%
2022	1%	7%	21%
2021	2%	7%	21%
2020	2%	6%	20%
2019	2%	6%	20%
2018	2%	6%	19%
2017	2%	6%	19%
2016	2%	6%	18%
2015	2%	5%	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%	4%	17%
2005	6%	5%	16%
2004	17%	4%	16%
2003	8%	4%	15%
2002	5%	4%	15%
2001	6%	4%	15%
2000	2%	3%	14%
1999	7%	4%	15%
1998	12%	3%	14%
1997	13%	3%	14%
1996	80%	3%	14%
1995	73%	3%	13%
1994	79%	3%	13%
1993	9%	3%	13%

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White

77%

71%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Cowles Elementary School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2023	78%	72%	34%
2022	77%	73%	35%
2021	75%	74%	36%
2020	76%	75%	38%
2019	76%	75%	38%
2018	75%	77%	41%
2017	75%	77%	41%
2016	75%	78%	43%
2015	79%	78%	44%
2014	78%	79%	45%
2013	77%	80%	46%
2012	79%	81%	47%
2011	81%	81%	49%
2010	79%	82%	51%
2009	83%	84%	58%
2008	84%	84%	60%
2007	90%	86%	62%
2006	87%	88%	62%
2005	87%	87%	65%
2004	78%	88%	66%
2003	89%	89%	68%
2002	91%	89%	69%
2001	91%	89%	70%
2000	98%	94%	74%
1999	89%	91%	72%
1998	84%	92%	74%
1997	87%	93%	75%
1996	98%	93%	77%
1995	98%	93%	76%
1994	98%	93%	79%
1993	88%	94%	79%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

View Data

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

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All Ethnic Groups

0.39

0.47

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1989-2023)
Year	Cowles Elementary School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2023	0.38	0.46	0.75
2022	0.39	0.45	0.75
2021	0.42	0.43	0.74
2020	0.41	0.42	0.74
2019	0.41	0.42	0.74
2018	0.42	0.39	0.72
2017	0.42	0.39	0.72
2016	0.42	0.38	0.72
2015	0.37	0.38	0.71
2014	0.39	0.37	0.71
2013	0.40	0.35	0.70
2012	0.37	0.34	0.70
2011	0.34	0.34	0.68
2010	0.37	0.32	0.67
2009	0.30	0.29	0.60
2008	0.29	0.28	0.58
2007	0.19	0.26	0.57
2006	0.24	0.23	0.55
2005	0.24	0.24	0.54
2004	0.37	0.22	0.52
2003	0.20	0.21	0.51
2002	0.16	0.20	0.49
2001	0.16	0.20	0.47
1999	0.20	0.16	0.44
1998	0.28	0.15	0.43
1997	0.23	0.13	0.42
1993	0.22	0.11	0.35
1989	0.17	0.10	0.32

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Participates in the

Yes

Eligible for

14%

36%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)
Year	Cowles Elementary School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2023	13%	36%	69%
2022	11%	35%	68%
2021	12%	35%	67%
2020	15%	36%	67%
2019	15%	36%	67%
2018	9%	34%	60%
2017	9%	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	21%	19%	32%
1999	19%	20%	35%
1998	7%	21%	35%
1997	30%	20%	35%
1996	100%	20%	33%
1995	100%	20%	32%
1994	100%	19%	30%
1993	21%	19%	28%

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Eligible for

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2002-2023)
Year	Cowles Elementary School	Iowa	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2023	4%	6%	8%
2022	4%	5%	9%
2021	5%	6%	10%
2020	6%	7%	10%
2019	6%	7%	10%
2018	5%	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%

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School Statewide Testing

School District Name

Des Moines Independent Comm 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 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?

403 students attend Cowles Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

77% of Cowles Elementary School students are White, 9% of students are Hispanic, 9% of students are Two or more races, 3% of students are Asian, and 2% of students are Black.

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

Cowles Elementary School has a student ration of 18:1, 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 (2025)

Top Rankings

School Overview

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends

Total Students Trends Over Years (1993-2023)

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1993-2023)

School Rankings

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2012-2023)

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2012-2023)

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2011-2022)

Science Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2021-2022)

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2001-2020)

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1992-2023)

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1992-2023)

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2011-2023)

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1989-2023)

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1993-2023)

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (2002-2023)

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