River Woods Elementary School

Summary:

River Woods Elementary School is a public elementary school in Des Moines, Iowa, serving students from kindergarten to 5th grade as part of the Des Moines Independent Community School District.

River Woods Elementary faces significant challenges, with consistently low academic performance and a ranking in the bottom 10-15% of Iowa elementary schools. The school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics are well below the state and district averages, and it has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger. However, the school has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, which could be an advantage in providing more individualized attention to students. When compared to nearby schools within the same district, River Woods Elementary has a higher percentage of Hispanic and Asian students, as well as one of the highest rates of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a higher level of economic disadvantage.

Despite the school's challenges, there are some nearby schools within the same district that perform better academically, such as Walnut Street School and Wright Elementary. The factors contributing to River Woods Elementary's performance, such as resource allocation, teacher quality, and targeted interventions, may require further investigation and support to address the unique needs of this school community.


Detail:

Public K-5

 2929 SE 22nd St
       Des Moines, IA  50320


(515) 242-8433

District: Des Moines Independent Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
521st of 557 Iowa Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $15,278 Help


Students who attend River Woods Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Weeks Middle School
High:    East High School

Student/teacher ratio:  12.6 Help
Number of students:  496

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
45.2%
African American:
19.6%
Asian:
19.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  89.7% Help


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 Compare River Woods Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details River Woods Elementary School ranks worse than 93.5% of elementary schools in Iowa. It also ranks 24th among 38 ranked elementary schools in the Des Moines Independent Community School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 7.69. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details River Woods Elementary School has the largest elementary school student body size in the Des Moines Independent Community School District.  (See more...)
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at River Woods Elementary School is $15,278. 29 elementary schools in the Des Moines Independent Community School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger Rankings:

River Woods Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Des Moines Independent Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Des Moines Independent Community School District 301st of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for River Woods Elementary School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2012 13.78 583rd 626 6.9%
2013 8.11 593rd 624 5.0%
2014 10.86 557th 603 7.6%
2015 4.67 589th 616 4.4%
2016 8.26 564th 599 5.8%
2017 8.18 534th 574 7.0%
2018 10.97 517th 567 8.8%
2019 3.49 591st 603 2.0%
2021 9.51 534th 567 5.8%
2022 7.18 542nd 574 5.6%
2023 18.68 489th 565 13.5%
2024 7.69 521st 557 6.5%
See the entire list of Iowa Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Iowa Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

River Woods Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    





Data source: Iowa Department of Education

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Reviews:
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Enrollment information for River Woods Elementary School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2001 287 85 41 72 5 n/a n/a 0 490
2002 301 84 48 92 0 n/a n/a 0 525
2003 301 84 48 92 0 n/a n/a 0 525
2004 274 104 47 106 1 n/a n/a 0 532
2005 283 110 55 108 2 n/a n/a 0 558
2006 263 99 62 122 3 n/a n/a 0 549
2007 249 90 66 129 4 n/a n/a 0 538
2008 216 75 67 124 2 n/a n/a 0 484
2009 209 100 75 129 1 n/a n/a 0 514
2010 179 89 69 167 4 0 36 0 544
2011 152 84 56 181 3 0 43 0 519
2012 135 99 54 212 1 0 39 0 540
2013 129 81 55 229 1 0 43 0 538
2014 134 96 52 243 1 0 45 0 571
2015 101 103 51 247 1 0 42 0 545
2016 103 113 57 228 5 0 35 0 541
2017 113 119 71 242 5 0 44 0 594
2018 100 116 88 226 2 0 38 0 570
2019 96 104 88 222 3 0 31 0 544
2020 86 104 105 206 3 0 23 0 527
2021 67 98 104 206 3 0 20 0 498
2022 70 89 101 232 4 0 22 0 518
2023 51 97 95 224 4 0 25 0 496

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at River Woods Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2001 490 30.9 15.9 45.1
2002 525 37.6 14.0 52.6
2003 525 37.6 14.0 52.6
2004 532 39.1 13.6 51.3
2005 558 35.9 15.5 51.6
2006 549 38.2 14.4 58.8
2007 538 37.6 14.3 41.8
2008 484 35.5 13.6 61.6
2009 514 34.0 15.1 55.1
2010 544 36.9 14.7 68.2
2011 519 37.5 13.8 73.2
2012 540 36.5 14.7 81.3
2013 538 37.3 14.4 77.5
2014 571 40.5 14.0 79.3
2015 545 38.0 14.3 83.3
2016 541 39.0 13.8 82.4
2017 594 41.0 14.4 82.8
2018 570 40.1 14.2 87
2019 544 40.3 13.4 88.6
2020 527 41.5 12.6 89.4
2021 498 40.5 12.2 89.2
2022 518 37.6 13.7 87.5
2023 496 39.2 12.6 89.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio River Woods Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2001 490 30.9 15.9 45.1
2002 525 37.6 14.0 52.6
2003 525 37.6 14.0 52.6
2004 532 39.1 13.6 51.3
2005 558 35.9 15.5 51.6
2006 549 38.2 14.4 58.8
2007 538 37.6 14.3 41.8
2008 484 35.5 13.6 61.6
2009 514 34.0 15.1 55.1
2010 544 36.9 14.7 68.2
2011 519 37.5 13.8 73.2
2012 540 36.5 14.7 81.3
2013 538 37.3 14.4 77.5
2014 571 40.5 14.0 79.3
2015 545 38.0 14.3 83.3
2016 541 39.0 13.8 82.4
2017 594 41.0 14.4 82.8
2018 570 40.1 14.2 87
2019 544 40.3 13.4 88.6
2020 527 41.5 12.6 89.4
2021 498 40.5 12.2 89.2
2022 518 37.6 13.7 87.5
2023 496 39.2 12.6 89.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for River Woods Elementary School

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,674 (11.0%) $13,604 (89.0%) $15,278

Data source: Iowa Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on River Woods Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 591st of 603 Elementary schoolsRanks 489th of 565 Elementary schools
 11.5%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (River Woods Elementary School)40.550
 9.5%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Des Moines Independent Community School District)4443.3
 0.7%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)65.366.3
 1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (River Woods Elementary School)40.559.7
 19.2%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Des Moines Independent Community School District)5252.1
 0.1%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Iowa)71.775.3
 3.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (River Woods Elementary School)38.949.2
 10.3%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Des Moines Independent Community School District)49.752.4
 2.7%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)70.573.1
 2.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (River Woods Elementary School)31.143.1
 12%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Des Moines Independent Community School District)50.947.6
 3.3%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)72.572.9
 0.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (River Woods Elementary School)4159.7
 18.7%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Des Moines Independent Community School District)46.549.5
 3%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)67.368.3
 1%
5th Grade Mathematics (River Woods Elementary School)4762.7
 15.7%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Des Moines Independent Community School District)48.451.6
 3.2%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)69.471.3
 1.9%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students544496
 8.8%
African American10497
 6.7%
American Indian34
 33.3%
Asian8895
 8%
Hispanic222224
 0.9%
Pacific Islander00
White9651
 46.9%
Two or More Races3125
 19.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients88.6%89.7%
 1.1%


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Frequently Asked Questions about River Woods Elementary School

Students who attend River Woods Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Weeks Middle School
High : East High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 496 students attended River Woods Elementary School.

River Woods Elementary School ranks in the bottom 6.5% of Iowa elementary schools.

Students at River Woods Elementary School are 45% Hispanic, 20% African American, 19% Asian, 10% White, 5% Two or more races.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Iowa Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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