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A

Cowles Elementary School

PublicElementaryGrades PK–8

6401 College Ave, Des Moines, IA 50324 · (515) 242-7818 · Part of Des Moines Independent Community School District

Windsor Heights’ School Grade D− better than 4% of Iowa school districts

Directions
Students
392
Students per teacher
17:1
Free or reduced lunch
20%
Setting
Suburb
Grades
PK–8
The gist

What stands out about Cowles Elementary School

  • Its own letter, A: reading and math results near the top of Iowa’s public schools
  • Math proficiency 13 pts above the state
  • Reading / language arts 19 pts above the state
  • Next stop for Windsor Heights kids: 6 high schools

On the path

Where Windsor Heights kids come from and go next. The whole path →

PK–8Cowles Elementary SchoolYou are here
9–126 high schoolsDepends on your address

Test scores

2020–21
Math proficiency77%
State average 64.2%
Reading / language arts87%
State average 67.8%

Its own letter, A, places these results among Iowa’s 1,177 public schools with results. Source: EDFacts via Urban Institute Education Data Portal (SY2020-21).

Location

Directions ↗

6401 College Ave, Des Moines

Students

Enrollment by grade
Pre-K84
Kindergarten40
Grade 135
Grade 238
Grade 339
Grade 433
Grade 531
Grade 628
Grade 732
Grade 832
Enrollment over time
392’20
380’21
391’22
403’23
392’24

About steady since 2020–21.

Who goes here
White 79%Two or more races 9%Hispanic 8%Asian 3%Black 1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%

As reported to NCES, share of students with a reported race or ethnicity.

Parents talk

Questions and answers about Cowles Elementary School from Windsor Heights families.

Other schools in Des Moines Independent Community School District

The district →
Garton Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Des Moines
D−
535 students15:1
Capitol View Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Des Moines
D−
533 students13:1
Jackson Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Des Moines
D
490 students15:1
Moulton Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Des Moines
D−
465 students14:1
Carver Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Des Moines
D−
436 students14:1
Jefferson Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Des Moines
C+
312 students14:1

School facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), 2024–2025 school year. Test scores: EDFacts via Urban Institute Education Data Portal (SY2020-21). A school’s letter is our own summary of its reading and math results against Iowa’s other public schools; Windsor Heights’s School Grade is built from its districts’ results. Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors.