South Union Elementary School

Des Moines Independent Comm School District

422 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

South Union Elementary School, located at 4201 South Union in Des Moines, Iowa, serves as a foundational educational institution within the Des Moines Public Schools district. The school is committed to fostering a supportive learning environment that emphasizes academic growth, social-emotional development, and inclusivity for its diverse student body. By prioritizing core curriculum standards alongside character-building initiatives, the school aims to prepare its young learners for success in their future academic endeavors.

Beyond its classroom instruction, South Union Elementary plays an active role in the surrounding neighborhood, acting as a hub for community engagement. The school frequently emphasizes the importance of family involvement and partnerships with local organizations to enrich the educational experience. With a dedicated staff focused on meeting the unique needs of every child, the school strives to create a safe, welcoming atmosphere where students are encouraged to achieve their personal best and develop a lifelong love for learning.

422

Total Students

33.8

Full-Time Teachers

12.5

Student/Teacher Ratio

84.8%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for South Union Elementary School
Demographic	Student Count
White	96
Hispanic	149
Black	91
Asian	41
Two or More	42
American Indian	3

Hispanic
149 (35.3%)
White
96 (22.7%)
Black
91 (21.6%)
Two or More
42 (10.0%)
Asian
41 (9.7%)
American Indian
3 (0.7%)

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)242-8409
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	422
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	33.8
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	12.5
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	324
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	34

* 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 58

Grade 1 77

Grade 2 84

Grade 3 71

Grade 4 57

Grade 5 75