Cowles Elementary School

Des Moines Independent Comm School District

392 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 8th

School Overview

Cowles Elementary School, located on College Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa, is a public school that serves students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. As part of the Des Moines Public Schools district, the institution is known for its focus on fostering a supportive community environment while emphasizing core academic standards, social-emotional learning, and student engagement.

The school is recognized for its commitment to inclusive education and providing a well-rounded curriculum that encourages critical thinking and creativity. By maintaining a focus on individual student growth and collaboration between staff, families, and the local community, Cowles aims to prepare its young learners for success as they transition into middle school and beyond.

392

Total Students

23.5

Full-Time Teachers

16.7

Student/Teacher Ratio

20.2%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Cowles Elementary School
Demographic	Student Count
White	308
Hispanic	30
Black	4
Asian	12
Two or More	36
American Indian	1

White
308 (78.8%)
Two or More
36 (9.2%)
Hispanic
30 (7.7%)
Asian
12 (3.1%)
Black
4 (1.0%)
American Indian
1 (0.3%)

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)242-7818
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 8th
Total Students:	392
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	23.5
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	16.7
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	60
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

Pre-Kindergarten 84

Kindergarten 40

Grade 1 35

Grade 2 38

Grade 3 39

Grade 4 33

Grade 5 31

Grade 6 28

Grade 7 32

Grade 8 32