Overview
Howe Elementary is a public elementary serving grades 0–5 in Des Moines, Iowa. The school enrolls 297 students. It is part of the Des Moines Independent Comm School District district.
Source: NCES CCD (2025)
Strengths & Things to Consider
Indicators pulled CCD and benchmarked against Iowa state averages. This is not a ranking — different families value different things.
Strengths
Smaller-than-average class sizes
11.4:1 student-to-teacher ratio (US average ≈ 16:1)
Intimate school community
297 students — small for a US elementary school
Things to Consider
Higher share of students from low-income families
91% free/reduced-lunch eligibility — schools in this range benefit from strong parent engagement programs
Key Facts
SectorPublic
School Type—
LevelElementary
Grade Span0–5
DistrictDes Moines Independent Comm School District
County19153
CityDes Moines
ZIP50315
CharterNo
MagnetNo
Title INo
NCES School ID190897000544
Student Demographics
Total Enrollment297
White22.9%
Hispanic / Latino44.1%
Black / African American20.5%
Asian7.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.0%
Two or More Races4.7%
Race / Ethnicity Distribution
Source: NCES CCD (2025)
Equity & Title I
In the United States, Free/Reduced Lunch (FRL) eligibility is the primary federal proxy for student poverty. Schools with 40% or more FRL-eligible students typically qualify for Title I school-wide programs.
FRL %91%
State Avg42%
Title INo
Source: NCES CCD (2025)