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:
521^st of 557 Iowa Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $15,278

Students who attend River Woods Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Weeks Middle School
High:	East High School

Student/teacher ratio: 12.6

Number of students: 496

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

45.2%

African American:

19.6%

Asian:

19.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 89.7%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details River Woods Elementary School ranks worse than 93.5% of elementary schools in Iowa. It also ranks 24^th among 38 ranked elementary schools in the Des Moines Independent Community School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 7.69. (See more...)

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

Compare Details River Woods Elementary School has the largest elementary school student body size in the Des Moines Independent Community School District. (See more...)

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Teachers

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Finance

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 301^st of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for River Woods Elementary School

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

See the entire list of Iowa Elementary School Rankings!

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

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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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2001	287	85	41	72	5	n/a	n/a	490
2002	301	84	48	92	0	n/a	n/a	525
2003	301	84	48	92	0	n/a	n/a	525
2004	274	104	47	106	1	n/a	n/a	532
2005	283	110	55	108	2	n/a	n/a	558
2006	263	99	62	122	3	n/a	n/a	549
2007	249	90	66	129	4	n/a	n/a	538
2008	216	75	67	124	2	n/a	n/a	484
2009	209	100	75	129	1	n/a	n/a	514
2010	179	89	69	167	4	0	36	544
2011	152	84	56	181	3	0	43	519
2012	135	99	54	212	1	0	39	540
2013	129	81	55	229	1	0	43	538
2014	134	96	52	243	1	0	45	571
2015	101	103	51	247	1	0	42	545
2016	103	113	57	228	5	0	35	541
2017	113	119	71	242	5	0	44	594
2018	100	116	88	226	2	0	38	570
2019	96	104	88	222	3	0	31	544
2020	86	104	105	206	3	0	23	527
2021	67	98	104	206	3	0	20	498
2022	70	89	101	232	4	0	22	518
2023	51	97	95	224	4	0	25	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

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

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

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total 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 591^st of 603 Elementary schools	Ranks 489^th 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)	40.5	50	9.5%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Des Moines Independent Community School District)	44	43.3	0.7%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	65.3	66.3	1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (River Woods Elementary School)	40.5	59.7	19.2%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Des Moines Independent Community School District)	52	52.1	0.1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	71.7	75.3	3.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (River Woods Elementary School)	38.9	49.2	10.3%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Des Moines Independent Community School District)	49.7	52.4	2.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	70.5	73.1	2.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (River Woods Elementary School)	31.1	43.1	12%
4th Grade Mathematics (Des Moines Independent Community School District)	50.9	47.6	3.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	72.5	72.9	0.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (River Woods Elementary School)	41	59.7	18.7%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Des Moines Independent Community School District)	46.5	49.5	3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	67.3	68.3	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (River Woods Elementary School)	47	62.7	15.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Des Moines Independent Community School District)	48.4	51.6	3.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	69.4	71.3	1.9%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	544	496	8.8%
African American	104	97	6.7%
American Indian	3	4	33.3%
Asian	88	95	8%
Hispanic	222	224	0.9%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	96	51	46.9%
Two or More Races	31	25	19.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	88.6%	89.7%	1.1%

Schools Near River Woods Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				ISASP English Language Arts (2024)			ISASP Mathematics (2024)			ISASP Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISASP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 4th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 5th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 3rd Grade	ISASP Mathematics 4th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 5th Grade	ISASP Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
River Woods Elementary School	Public	K-5	2929 SE 22nd St	Des Moines	50320	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 242-8433	496	39	12.6	89.7%	51 (10.3%)	97 (19.6%)	224 (45.2%)	95 (19.2%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.0%)	7.7	521^st of 557 public elementary schools	6.5%		18.7	489^th of 565 public elementary schools	13.5%	32	41.7	44.3	45.6	47.2	31.6	61.8	33.8	$15,278	$1,674	$13,604
Jackson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3825 Indianola Ave	Des Moines	50315	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 242-8415	406	29	14.2	80.5%	90 (22.2%)	77 (19.0%)	153 (37.7%)	59 (14.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.7%)	10.2	512^th of 557 public elementary schools	8.1%		13.8	512^th of 565 public elementary schools	9.4%		38.2	55.0	47.3	48.5	63.3	52.7	28.4	$15,448	$1,376	$14,072
Howe Elementary	Public	K-5	2900 Indianola	Des Moines	50315	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 242-8413	297	25	11.9	88.6%	78 (26.3%)	68 (22.9%)	105 (35.4%)	27 (9.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (6.1%)	11.2	506^th of 557 public elementary schools	9.2%		15.7	501^st of 565 public elementary schools	11.3%	5	28.0	48.6	54.0	46.0	43.2	64.0	40.0	$16,527	$1,727	$14,800
McKinley Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1610 SE 6th Street	Des Moines	50315	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 242-8423	285	24	11.9	89.5%	77 (27.0%)	33 (11.6%)	128 (44.9%)	17 (6.0%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (9.8%)	8.1	519^th of 557 public elementary schools	6.8%		6.5	535^th of 565 public elementary schools	5.3%	16	31.7	41.7	54.5	39.0	52.8	57.6	33.3	$18,844	$1,470	$17,374
Lovejoy Elementary School	Public	K-5	801 E Kenyon Ave	Des Moines	50315	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 242-8419	365	32	11.4	89.3%	94 (25.8%)	87 (23.8%)	117 (32.1%)	39 (10.7%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (6.8%)	4.1	542^nd of 557 public elementary schools	2.7%		4.6	544^th of 565 public elementary schools	3.7%	2	24.1	50.0	41.9	49.1	33.3	45.2	35.5	$17,256	$2,903	$14,353
South Union Elementary School	Public	K-5	4201 South Union	Des Moines	50315	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 242-8409	442	37	11.8	88.7%	117 (26.5%)	103 (23.3%)	132 (29.9%)	52 (11.8%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (7.7%)	7	528^th of 557 public elementary schools	5.2%		5.6	541^st of 565 public elementary schools	4.2%	13	38.5	51.6	44.8	55.8	37.1	53.7	31.3	$14,822	$1,433	$13,389
Willard Elementary School	Public	K-5	2941 Dean Avenue	Des Moines	50317	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 242-8439	286	24	11.8	90.2%	99 (34.6%)	41 (14.3%)	107 (37.4%)	12 (4.2%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (8.4%)	10.9	507^th of 557 public elementary schools	9.0%		14.3	509^th of 565 public elementary schools	9.9%	2	47.1	50.0	47.6	58.8	52.2	57.1	31.0	$16,503	$1,680	$14,822
Park Ave Elementary School	Public	K-5	3141 SW 9th St	Des Moines	50315	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 242-8429	378	29	13.2	80.4%	164 (43.4%)	56 (14.8%)	109 (28.8%)	13 (3.4%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (9.0%)	4.4	540^th of 557 public elementary schools	3.1%		6.5	534^th of 565 public elementary schools	5.5%	6	39.2	28.6	37.1	54.9	37.5	44.4	38.1	$16,460	$1,357	$15,103
Capitol View Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	320 E. 16th	Des Moines	50316	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 242-8402	505	44	11.5	94.5%	119 (23.6%)	75 (14.9%)	275 (54.5%)	16 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.0%)	5.3	532^nd of 557 public elementary schools	4.5%		5.2	542^nd of 565 public elementary schools	4.1%	10	33.3	50.7	46.0	50.0	50.7	38.1	31.7	$18,793	$3,389	$15,405
Wright Elementary School	Public	K-5	5001 SW 14th St	Des Moines	50315	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 242-8442	273	20	13.4	83.2%	120 (44.0%)	33 (12.1%)	81 (29.7%)	7 (2.6%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (11.4%)	21.3	466^th of 557 public elementary schools	16.3%		4.1	547^th of 565 public elementary schools	3.2%	81	60.6	38.5	55.3	69.7	53.8	50.0	52.6	$15,928	$1,243	$14,685

Frequently Asked Questions about River Woods Elementary School

Is River Woods Elementary School a good school?

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

What district is River Woods Elementary School in?

Des Moines Independent Community School District

How many students attend River Woods Elementary School?

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

What is the racial makeup of River Woods Elementary School?

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

What schools do graduates of River Woods Elementary School attend?

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

Middle : Weeks Middle School
High : East High School

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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.