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:
16^th of 557 Iowa Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $14,164

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

Number of students: 269

Racial breakdown:

White:

85.5%

Hispanic:

7.4%

Two or more races:

3.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 27.5%

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Performance Trends

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...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 89.05. (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 Runnells Elementary has the largest elementary school student body size in the Southeast Polk Community School District. (See more...)

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Teachers

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Finance

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 112^th of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Runnells Elementary

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

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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Enrollment information for Runnells Elementary

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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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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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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

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total 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 32^nd of 603 Elementary schools	Ranks 21^st 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)	87.8	91.9	4.1%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Southeast Polk Community School District)	76.6	73.5	3.1%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	65.3	66.3	1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Runnells Elementary)	91.8	94.6	2.8%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Southeast Polk Community School District)	82	81.9	0.1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	71.7	75.3	3.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Runnells Elementary)	83.3	87.8	4.5%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Southeast Polk Community School District)	80.4	78.6	1.8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	70.5	73.1	2.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Runnells Elementary)	88.1	92.7	4.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Southeast Polk Community School District)	85.1	84.8	0.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	72.5	72.9	0.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Runnells Elementary)	78.7	81	2.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Southeast Polk Community School District)	81.3	75.8	5.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	67.3	68.3	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Runnells Elementary)	93.6	90.5	3.1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Southeast Polk Community School District)	84.8	85.1	0.3%
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	266	269	1.1%
African American	4	4
American Indian	0	0
Asian	3	4	33.3%
Hispanic	15	20	33.3%
Pacific Islander	0	1
White	235	230	2.1%
Two or More Races	9	10	11.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	21.8%	27.5%	5.7%

Schools Near Runnells Elementary

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 English Language Arts 6th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 3rd Grade	ISASP Mathematics 4th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 5th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 6th Grade	ISASP Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Runnells Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6575 SE 116th Street	Runnells	50237	Polk County	Southeast Polk Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 966-2068	269	17	15.5	27.5%	230 (85.5%)	4 (1.5%)	20 (7.4%)	4 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	10 (3.7%)	89	16^th of 557 public elementary schools	97.1%		88.1	21^st of 565 public elementary schools	96.3%	5	83.9	89.5	86.0		90.3	100.0	88.4		78.6	$14,164	$100	$14,065
Hartford Upper Elementary	Public	4-5	500 N. Vine	Hartford	50118	Warren County	Carlisle Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 989-0316	318	19	16.4	34.6%	256 (80.5%)	7 (2.2%)	37 (11.6%)	12 (3.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.6%)	66	191^st of 557 public elementary schools	65.7%		57.4	263^rd of 565 public elementary schools	53.5%	72		78.2	71.5			80.3	84.2		61.4	$9,940	$408	$9,531
Carlisle Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-3	430 School St	Carlisle	50047	Warren County	Carlisle Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 989-0339	765	50	15.4	30.6%	602 (78.7%)	15 (2.0%)	82 (10.7%)	35 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	30 (3.9%)								(n/a)	69.1				79.6					$11,109	$400	$10,709
Four Mile Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	670 SE 68th St	Pleasant Hill	50327	Polk County	Southeast Polk Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 265-1972	483	31	15.5	35.6%	357 (73.9%)	20 (4.1%)	64 (13.3%)	13 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.6%)	26 (5.4%)	69.2	169^th of 557 public elementary schools	69.7%		78.1	102^nd of 565 public elementary schools	81.9%	67	74.7	82.6	69.1		91.1	92.8	76.5		52.9	$13,837	$290	$13,547
Prairie City Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	309 East Plainsmen Road	Prairie City	50228	Jasper County	PCM Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 994-8222	320	22	14.5	25.3%	294 (91.9%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.4%)	2 (0.6%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.4%)	65.8	192^nd of 557 public elementary schools	65.5%		79	90^th of 565 public elementary schools	84.1%	102	69.6	74.7	72.2		73.2	81.3	78.5		76.9	$14,507	$597	$13,910
Clay Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	3200 First Avenue S.	Altoona	50009	Polk County	Southeast Polk Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 967-4198	657	38	17.5	30.1%	463 (70.5%)	68 (10.4%)	69 (10.5%)	12 (1.8%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (6.5%)	61	242^nd of 557 public elementary schools	56.6%		61.2	231^st of 565 public elementary schools	59.1%	11	64.3	68.4	82.0		76.5	76.8	76.0		69.0	$12,723	$186	$12,537
Pleasant Hill Elementary School	Public	K-5	4801 E Oakwood Dr	Des Moines	50327	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 242-8432	213	19	11.1	68.5%	135 (63.4%)	15 (7.0%)	46 (21.6%)	3 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	13 (6.1%)	39.5	389^th of 557 public elementary schools	30.2%		25.7	459^th of 565 public elementary schools	18.8%	70	51.5	72.0	74.3		63.6	60.0	62.9		62.9	$15,655	$628	$15,027
Centennial Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	910 7th Ave SE	Altoona	50009	Polk County	Southeast Polk Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 967-2109	420	33	12.7	36.0%	331 (78.8%)	14 (3.3%)	34 (8.1%)	9 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (7.6%)	77.2	86^th of 557 public elementary schools	84.6%		78.6	96^th of 565 public elementary schools	83.0%	10	77.4	81.3	73.8		85.5	85.9	90.2		70.5	$15,221	$767	$14,454
Pleasantville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	414 Jones St	Pleasantville	50225	Marion County	Pleasantville Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 848-0566	421	31	13.7	35.9%	395 (93.8%)	3 (0.7%)	16 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.7%)	58.4	267^th of 557 public elementary schools	52.1%		53.3	304^th of 565 public elementary schools	46.2%	37	81.7	86.4	70.4	68.3	86.7	90.9	72.2	60.7	55.6	$13,230	$553	$12,677
Mitchellville Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	308 Elm Ave NW	Mitchellville	50169	Polk County	Southeast Polk Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 967-4274	242	16	15.1	34.7%	212 (87.6%)	1 (0.4%)	8 (3.3%)	3 (1.2%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (7.0%)	86.9	27^th of 557 public elementary schools	95.2%		91.9	5^th of 565 public elementary schools	99.1%	22	81.3	97.2	84.8		90.6	100.0	84.8		69.7	$16,832	$385	$16,447

Frequently Asked Questions about Runnells Elementary

What schools do graduates of Runnells Elementary attend?

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

What is the racial makeup of Runnells Elementary?

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

Is Runnells Elementary a good school?

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

How many students attend Runnells Elementary?

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

What district is Runnells Elementary in?

Southeast Polk Community School District

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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.