Oak Park

Des Moines Independent Comm School District

288 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

Oak Park is a public elementary school located in the Highland Park neighborhood of Des Moines, Iowa, serving students in grades PK–5 as part of the Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) district. The school is known for its commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment, emphasizing both academic growth and social-emotional development. As a cornerstone of the 6th Avenue corridor, it plays a vital role in the local community by providing students with a structured learning experience aimed at preparing them for success in middle school and beyond.

The school’s mission generally aligns with the broader goals of the Des Moines Public Schools, focusing on equity, student-centered instruction, and the cultivation of a diverse community. Staff at Oak Park work to implement a comprehensive curriculum that balances core subjects like literacy and mathematics with opportunities for creative and critical thinking. By maintaining active partnerships with families and neighborhood organizations, Oak Park strives to ensure that its students have the resources and encouragement necessary to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.

288

Total Students

27.2

Full-Time Teachers

10.6

Student/Teacher Ratio

78.5%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Oak Park
Demographic	Student Count
White	79
Hispanic	92
Black	71
Asian	19
Two or More	21
American Indian	3
Pacific Islander	3

Hispanic
92 (31.9%)
White
79 (27.4%)
Black
71 (24.7%)
Two or More
21 (7.3%)
Asian
19 (6.6%)
American Indian
3 (1.0%)
Pacific Islander
3 (1.0%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	Supplemental Virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
Phone:	(515)242-8428
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	288
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	27.2
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	10.6
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	207
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	19

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 55

Grade 1 51

Grade 2 46

Grade 3 43

Grade 4 38

Grade 5 55