Runnells Elementary

Summary:

Runnells Elementary is a public elementary school located in Runnells, Iowa, serving grades PK-5 with a total enrollment of 269 students. The school is part of the Southeast Polk Community School District, which is ranked 112 out of 309 school districts in Iowa and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Runnells Elementary consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in Iowa, with a statewide ranking between 13th and 97th out of over 600 schools in recent years. The school has maintained a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger for most years, indicating exceptional academic performance. Runnells Elementary students significantly outperform the district and state averages in ISASP (Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress) test scores across all grade levels and subjects. In 2023-2024, Runnells Elementary had 83.9% of 3rd graders, 89.5% of 4th graders, and 86% of 5th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the district's 68.1% and the state's 64.2%. In mathematics, Runnells Elementary had 90.3% of 3rd graders, 100% of 4th graders, and 88.4% of 5th graders proficient or better, compared to the district's 82.3% and 76.3% for the state. The school's 5th-grade science proficiency rate of 78.6% is also significantly higher than the district's 67.3% and the state's 59.6%.

Runnells Elementary has a relatively low percentage of free and reduced lunch recipients, ranging from 25.52% to 27.51% over the past three years, which is lower than the nearby schools, which have free and reduced lunch rates ranging from 30.14% to 68.54%. The school has a student-teacher ratio of 15.5, which is higher than some of the nearby schools but still within a reasonable range. While Runnells Elementary outperforms the surrounding schools, there may be opportunities for collaboration and sharing of best practices to help improve academic outcomes in the broader region.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 6575 SE 116th Street
       Runnells, IA  50237


(515) 966-2068

District: Southeast Polk Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
16th of 557 Iowa Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $14,164 Help


Students who attend Runnells Elementary usually attend:

Middle:    Southeast Polk Junior High
    Spring Creek - 6th Grade
High:    Southeast Polk High School

Student/teacher ratio:  15.5 Help
Number of students:  269

Racial breakdown:

White:
85.5%
Hispanic:
7.4%
Two or more races:
3.7%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  27.5% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Runnells Elementary ranks better than 97.1% of elementary schools in Iowa. It also ranks first among 8 ranked elementary schools in the Southeast Polk Community School District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 89.05. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (85.5%), Hispanic (7.4%), two or more races (3.7%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 27.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Southeast Polk Community School District. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Runnells Elementary is 15.5. 5 elementary schools in the Southeast Polk Community School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Runnells Elementary employs 17.3 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Runnells Elementary is $14,164. 4 elementary schools in the Southeast Polk Community School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Runnells Elementary was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Southeast Polk Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Southeast Polk Community School District 112th of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Runnells Elementary

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2012 81.78 39th 626 93.8%
2013 83.62 27th 624 95.7%
2014 87.41 13th 603 97.8%
2015 84.20 27th 616 95.6%
2016 77.14 97th 599 83.8%
2017 82.78 44th 574 92.3%
2018 79.99 66th 567 88.4%
2019 87.24 32nd 603 94.7%
2021 84.16 56th 567 90.1%
2022 80.52 77th 574 86.6%
2023 88.09 21st 565 96.3%
2024 89.05 16th 557 97.1%
See the entire list of Iowa Elementary School Rankings!

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

Runnells Elementary Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    





Data source: Iowa Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Runnells Elementary

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 136 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 136
1989 155 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 155
1990 153 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 153
1991 156 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 156
1992 149 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 149
1993 154 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 154
1994 163 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 163
1995 151 1 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 153
1996 151 1 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 153
1997 159 1 1 1 0 n/a n/a 0 162
1998 168 1 1 2 0 n/a n/a 0 172
1999 161 1 1 2 0 n/a n/a 0 165
2000 177 0 1 2 0 n/a n/a -17 163
2001 157 1 1 3 0 n/a n/a 0 162
2002 170 0 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 171
2003 170 0 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 171
2004 176 0 1 0 0 n/a n/a 0 177
2005 180 0 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 181
2006 190 0 1 5 0 n/a n/a 0 196
2007 188 0 1 6 0 n/a n/a 0 195
2008 206 0 1 8 0 n/a n/a 0 215
2009 206 0 0 10 1 n/a n/a 0 217
2010 226 0 1 13 0 0 3 0 243
2011 198 8 4 11 0 0 1 0 222
2012 208 8 4 12 0 0 4 0 236
2013 209 4 3 12 0 0 5 0 233
2014 204 7 3 14 0 0 5 0 233
2015 239 4 4 12 0 0 4 0 263
2016 255 6 4 13 0 0 6 0 284
2017 249 10 5 13 0 0 9 0 286
2018 240 8 3 12 0 0 7 0 270
2019 235 4 3 15 0 0 9 0 266
2020 254 7 5 10 0 0 11 0 287
2021 247 5 5 20 0 0 15 0 292
2022 241 6 5 21 1 2 14 0 290
2023 230 4 4 20 0 1 10 0 269

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 Runnells Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 136 9.4 14.4 8.1
1989 155 9.3 16.6 11
1990 153 9.8 15.6 4.6
1991 156 9.3 16.7 7.7
1992 149 9.0 16.5 5.4
1993 154 8.3 18.6 5.8
1994 163 10.1 16.1 7.4
1995 153 9.9 15.5 4.6
1996 153 9.9 15.5 4.6
1997 162 10.0 16.2 8
1998 172 10.1 17.0 7.6
1999 165 10.2 16.2 10.9
2000 163 11.1 14.7 9.4
2001 162 11.3 14.3 11.7
2002 171 10.6 16.1 11.1
2003 171 10.6 16.1 11.1
2004 177 10.6 16.7 16.4
2005 181 11.6 15.6 12.7
2006 196 12.3 15.9 12.2
2007 195 14.3 13.6 14.4
2008 215 17.7 12.1 14
2009 217 17.6 12.3 15.2
2010 243 17.2 14.0 23.5
2011 222 16.0 13.8 26.1
2012 236 15.6 15.0 25.4
2013 233 15.7 14.8 26.2
2014 233 16.2 14.3 27.9
2015 263 16.0 16.4 25.1
2016 284 16.0 17.7 23.6
2017 286 16.3 17.5 24.1
2018 270 16.5 16.3 19.6
2019 266 15.5 17.1 21.8
2020 287 16.5 17.3 19.5
2021 292 17.5 16.6 25.7
2022 290 17.3 16.7 25.5
2023 269 17.3 15.5 27.5

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 Runnells Elementary

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 136 9.4 14.4 8.1
1989 155 9.3 16.6 11
1990 153 9.8 15.6 4.6
1991 156 9.3 16.7 7.7
1992 149 9.0 16.5 5.4
1993 154 8.3 18.6 5.8
1994 163 10.1 16.1 7.4
1995 153 9.9 15.5 4.6
1996 153 9.9 15.5 4.6
1997 162 10.0 16.2 8
1998 172 10.1 17.0 7.6
1999 165 10.2 16.2 10.9
2000 163 11.1 14.7 9.4
2001 162 11.3 14.3 11.7
2002 171 10.6 16.1 11.1
2003 171 10.6 16.1 11.1
2004 177 10.6 16.7 16.4
2005 181 11.6 15.6 12.7
2006 196 12.3 15.9 12.2
2007 195 14.3 13.6 14.4
2008 215 17.7 12.1 14
2009 217 17.6 12.3 15.2
2010 243 17.2 14.0 23.5
2011 222 16.0 13.8 26.1
2012 236 15.6 15.0 25.4
2013 233 15.7 14.8 26.2
2014 233 16.2 14.3 27.9
2015 263 16.0 16.4 25.1
2016 284 16.0 17.7 23.6
2017 286 16.3 17.5 24.1
2018 270 16.5 16.3 19.6
2019 266 15.5 17.1 21.8
2020 287 16.5 17.3 19.5
2021 292 17.5 16.6 25.7
2022 290 17.3 16.7 25.5
2023 269 17.3 15.5 27.5

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 Runnells Elementary

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $100 (0.7%) $14,065 (99.3%) $14,164

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Runnells Elementary

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 32nd of 603 Elementary schoolsRanks 21st of 565 Elementary schools
 1.6%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Runnells Elementary)87.891.9
 4.1%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Southeast Polk Community School District)76.673.5
 3.1%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)65.366.3
 1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Runnells Elementary)91.894.6
 2.8%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Southeast Polk Community School District)8281.9
 0.1%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Iowa)71.775.3
 3.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Runnells Elementary)83.387.8
 4.5%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Southeast Polk Community School District)80.478.6
 1.8%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)70.573.1
 2.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Runnells Elementary)88.192.7
 4.6%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Southeast Polk Community School District)85.184.8
 0.3%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)72.572.9
 0.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Runnells Elementary)78.781
 2.3%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Southeast Polk Community School District)81.375.8
 5.5%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)67.368.3
 1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Runnells Elementary)93.690.5
 3.1%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Southeast Polk Community School District)84.885.1
 0.3%
   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 Students266269
 1.1%
African American44
American Indian00
Asian34
 33.3%
Hispanic1520
 33.3%
Pacific Islander01
White235230
 2.1%
Two or More Races910
 11.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients21.8%27.5%
 5.7%


Schools Near Runnells Elementary









Frequently Asked Questions about Runnells Elementary

Students who attend Runnells Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Southeast Polk Junior High
Middle : Spring Creek - 6th Grade
High : Southeast Polk High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 269 students attended Runnells Elementary.

Students at Runnells Elementary are 86% White, 7% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 1% African American, 1% Asian.

Yes! Runnells Elementary is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 16th of 557 Iowa elementary schools.


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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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