Van Meter Elementary School

Summary:

Van Meter Elementary School is a highly-ranked public elementary school serving 571 students in grades PK-5 in the Van Meter Community School District in Van Meter, Iowa. The school consistently outperforms the state average on academic assessments and has been ranked among the top 5% of Iowa elementary schools for several years.

Van Meter Elementary School stands out for its strong academic performance, with over 80% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and over 90% proficient or better in Mathematics, significantly exceeding the state averages. The school also has a relatively low student-teacher ratio and a low percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, which is lower than nearby schools in the Waukee Community School District.

While Van Meter Elementary outperforms the state, some nearby schools in the Waukee district, such as Shuler Elementary and Brookview Elementary, also have strong academic performance and high rankings, suggesting that both the Van Meter and Waukee districts are providing excellent educational opportunities for their students.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

520 1st Ave
Van Meter, IA 50261

(515) 996-2221

District: Van Meter Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
28^th of 557 Iowa Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $11,667

Students who attend Van Meter Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Van Meter Middle School
High:	Van Meter High School

Student/teacher ratio: 16.4

Number of students: 571

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.5%

Hispanic:

3.0%

Two or more races:

2.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 9.3%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Van Meter Elementary School ranks better than 95% of elementary schools in Iowa. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 86.86. (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 Racial makeup is: White (93.5%), Hispanic (3%), two or more races (2.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 9.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Van Meter Elementary School is 16.4. (See more...)

Compare Van Meter Elementary School employs 34.7 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Van Meter Elementary School is $11,667.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Van Meter Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Van Meter Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Van Meter Community School District 4^th of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Van Meter Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	54.08	344^th	626	45.0%
2013	76.33	78^th	624	87.5%
2014	67.43	201^st	603	66.7%
2015	76.95	98^th	616	84.1%
2016	71.34	157^th	599	73.8%
2017	81.20	55^th	574	90.4%
2018	78.97	77^th	567	86.4%
2019	90.02	19^th	603	96.8%
2021	90.97	15^th	567	97.4%
2022	90.58	16^th	574	97.2%
2023	90.18	11^th	565	98.1%
2024	86.86	28^th	557	95.0%

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 Van Meter Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	231	1	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	233
1989	226	1	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	228
1990	226	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	226
1991	203	1	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	204
1992	217	0	1	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	220
1993	219	0	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	221
1994	215	0	1	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	220
1995	225	1	4	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	236
1996	225	1	4	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	236
1997	243	2	3	4	0	n/a	n/a	0	252
1998	252	2	4	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	264
1999	270	8	3	3	1	n/a	n/a	0	285
2000	283	6	2	3	0	n/a	n/a	-13	281
2001	266	4	2	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	275
2002	271	2	2	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	278
2003	271	2	2	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	278
2004	282	2	3	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	288
2005	301	1	3	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	306
2006	324	0	3	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	328
2007	325	4	4	2	2	n/a	n/a	0	337
2008	331	4	3	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	340
2009	317	4	2	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	326
2010	296	1	0	4	1	1	0	0	303
2011	301	1	0	4	1	1	0	0	308
2012	257	1	0	3	1	0	0	0	262
2013	269	1	0	5	3	0	0	0	278
2014	268	2	0	5	3	0	0	0	278
2015	281	2	1	3	2	0	0	0	289
2016	312	5	1	10	2	1	0	0	331
2017	316	4	2	11	1	1	1	0	336
2018	361	4	3	11	1	1	5	0	386
2019	384	5	3	12	1	1	8	0	414
2020	421	4	3	10	2	1	8	0	449
2021	482	5	2	11	1	0	12	0	513
2022	508	3	3	14	1	0	13	0	542
2023	529	3	2	18	1	0	18	0	571
2024	534	3	2	17	1	0	14	0	571

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 Van Meter Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	233	13.0	17.9	n/a
1989	228	1.3	175.3	11.4
1990	226	12.4	18.2	0
1991	204	12.0	17.0	12.3
1992	220	14.0	15.7	9.5
1993	221	16.4	13.5	10.4
1994	220	17.8	12.4	14.1
1995	236	15.0	15.7	11.4
1996	236	15.0	15.7	11.4
1997	252	15.7	16.1	11.1
1998	264	15.7	16.8	11.4
1999	285	19.9	14.3	10.2
2000	281	20.1	14.0	8.2
2001	275	21.8	12.6	11.3
2002	278	21.5	12.9	10.8
2003	278	21.5	12.9	10.8
2004	288	20.3	14.2	8.7
2005	306	22.3	13.7	10.8
2006	328	24.1	13.6	14.3
2007	337	24.7	13.6	13.6
2008	340	25.6	13.3	16.2
2009	326	24.8	13.1	16
2010	303	23.7	12.7	12.9
2011	308	19.8	15.5	14
2012	262	18.6	14.0	14.9
2013	278	18.1	15.3	15.8
2014	278	17.8	15.6	18.7
2015	289	21.0	13.7	13.8
2016	331	24.0	13.7	13.9
2017	336	25.4	13.1	10.7
2018	386	26.8	14.4	10.1
2019	414	25.9	15.9	10.1
2020	449	27.8	16.1	10.7
2021	513	32.5	15.7	7
2022	542	35.3	15.3	7.2
2023	571	35.4	16.1	6.5
2024	571	34.7	16.4	9.3

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 Van Meter Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	233	13.0	17.9	n/a
1989	228	1.3	175.3	11.4
1990	226	12.4	18.2	0
1991	204	12.0	17.0	12.3
1992	220	14.0	15.7	9.5
1993	221	16.4	13.5	10.4
1994	220	17.8	12.4	14.1
1995	236	15.0	15.7	11.4
1996	236	15.0	15.7	11.4
1997	252	15.7	16.1	11.1
1998	264	15.7	16.8	11.4
1999	285	19.9	14.3	10.2
2000	281	20.1	14.0	8.2
2001	275	21.8	12.6	11.3
2002	278	21.5	12.9	10.8
2003	278	21.5	12.9	10.8
2004	288	20.3	14.2	8.7
2005	306	22.3	13.7	10.8
2006	328	24.1	13.6	14.3
2007	337	24.7	13.6	13.6
2008	340	25.6	13.3	16.2
2009	326	24.8	13.1	16
2010	303	23.7	12.7	12.9
2011	308	19.8	15.5	14
2012	262	18.6	14.0	14.9
2013	278	18.1	15.3	15.8
2014	278	17.8	15.6	18.7
2015	289	21.0	13.7	13.8
2016	331	24.0	13.7	13.9
2017	336	25.4	13.1	10.7
2018	386	26.8	14.4	10.1
2019	414	25.9	15.9	10.1
2020	449	27.8	16.1	10.7
2021	513	32.5	15.7	7
2022	542	35.3	15.3	7.2
2023	571	35.4	16.1	6.5
2024	571	34.7	16.4	9.3

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 Van Meter Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$403 (3.5%)	$11,263 (96.5%)	$11,667

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Van Meter 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 19^th of 603 Elementary schools	Ranks 11^th of 565 Elementary schools	1.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Van Meter Elementary School)	86.8	87.7	0.9%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Van Meter Community School District)	86.8	87.7	0.9%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	65.3	66.3	1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Van Meter Elementary School)	88.2	96.3	8.1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Van Meter Community School District)	88.2	96.3	8.1%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	71.7	75.3	3.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Van Meter Elementary School)	88.5	97.6	9.1%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Van Meter Community School District)	88.5	97.6	9.1%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	70.5	73.1	2.6%
4th Grade Mathematics (Van Meter Elementary School)	90.2	91.5	1.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Van Meter Community School District)	90.2	91.5	1.3%
4th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	72.5	72.9	0.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Van Meter Elementary School)	93.2	93.3	0.1%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Van Meter Community School District)	93.2	93.3	0.1%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	67.3	68.3	1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Van Meter Elementary School)	88.1	86.5	1.6%
5th Grade Mathematics (Van Meter Community School District)	88.1	86.5	1.6%
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	414	571	37.9%
African American	5	3	40%
American Indian	1	1
Asian	3	2	33.3%
Hispanic	12	18	50%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	384	529	37.8%
Two or More Races	8	18	125%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	10.1%	6.5%	3.7%

Schools Near Van Meter 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
Van Meter Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	520 1st Ave	Van Meter	50261	Dallas County	Van Meter Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 996-2221	571	35	16.4	9.3%	534 (93.5%)	3 (0.5%)	17 (3.0%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (2.5%)	86.9	28^th of 557 public elementary schools	95.0%		90.2	11^th of 565 public elementary schools	98.1%	17	81.2	89.4	90.8	92.9	90.6	83.9	74.7	$11,667	$403	$11,263
Sugar Creek Elementary School	Public	K-5	965 Ashworth RD	Waukee	50263	Buchanan County	Waukee Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(515) 987-5160	675	41	16.3	13.3%	454 (67.3%)	42 (6.2%)	48 (7.1%)	91 (13.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (5.9%)	73.8	120^th of 557 public elementary schools	78.5%					(n/a)	79.6	76.0	79.6	84.5	87.5	80.6	64.8
Woodland Hills Elementary School	Public	K-5	1120 South 95th Street	West Des Moines	50266	Polk County	Waukee Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 987-5196	569	38	15.1	23.2%	348 (61.2%)	51 (9.0%)	28 (4.9%)	93 (16.3%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (8.3%)	81.5	60^th of 557 public elementary schools	89.2%		78	103^rd of 565 public elementary schools	81.8%	43	80.5	84.9	80.5	93.9	82.8	81.6	75.9	$12,334	$488	$11,846
Waukee Elementary School	Public	K-5	850 6th St	Waukee	50263	Dallas County	Waukee Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 987-5193	713	47	15.1	22.2%	488 (68.4%)	51 (7.2%)	65 (9.1%)	38 (5.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	70 (9.8%)	76.5	98^th of 557 public elementary schools	82.4%		82.3	64^th of 565 public elementary schools	88.7%	34	80.5	84.4	78.6	84.1	86.1	79.5	67.0	$10,849	$259	$10,590
Vince Meyer Early Learning Center	Public	PK	430 Ashowrth Dr	Waukee	50263	Dallas County	Waukee Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 987-5160	342	16	21.6	8.8%	196 (57.3%)	51 (14.9%)	41 (12.0%)	50 (14.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.9%)								(n/a)
Meadow View Elementary	Public	2-4	1300 S. 15th Street	Adel	50003	Dallas County	Adel DeSoto Minburn Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 993-4283	523	39	13.4	20.5%	476 (91.0%)	5 (1.0%)	24 (4.6%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.1%)	76.4	99^th of 557 public elementary schools	82.2%		83	56^th of 565 public elementary schools	90.1%	43	73.7	87.1		82.3	85.4
Maple Grove Elementary School	Public	K-5	1455 98th St	West Des Moines	50266	Polk County	Waukee Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 987-3363	439	38	11.5	37.4%	233 (53.1%)	76 (17.3%)	43 (9.8%)	33 (7.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	53 (12.1%)	63.3	219^th of 557 public elementary schools	60.7%		68	181^st of 565 public elementary schools	68.0%	38	76.7	73.8	73.2	83.6	70.8	76.8	62.5	$11,397	$370	$11,027
Adel Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-1	1608 Grove St.	Adel	50003	Dallas County	Adel DeSoto Minburn Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 993-4285	413	32	13.0	19.4%	375 (90.8%)	5 (1.2%)	15 (3.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	16 (3.9%)								(n/a)								$11,491	$454	$11,038
Brookview Elementary School	Public	K-5	8000 E.P. True Parkway	West Des Moines	50266	Polk County	Waukee Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 987-5166	642	45	14.2	23.1%	393 (61.2%)	60 (9.3%)	50 (7.8%)	90 (14.0%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (7.3%)	79.9	74^th of 557 public elementary schools	86.7%		84.3	44^th of 565 public elementary schools	92.2%	30	83.2	86.3	77.1	86.1	86.3	83.3	70.8	$11,444	$186	$11,258
Grant Ragan Elementary School	Public	K-5	645 NE Dartmoor Drive	Waukee	50263	Dallas County	Waukee Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 987-0435	662	46	14.3	26.0%	454 (68.6%)	44 (6.6%)	63 (9.5%)	49 (7.4%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	49 (7.4%)	77.8	84^th of 557 public elementary schools	84.9%		74	125^th of 565 public elementary schools	77.9%	41	75.3	75.5	84.3	86.0	81.1	86.1	79.6	$10,993	$199	$10,794

Frequently Asked Questions about Van Meter Elementary School

Is Van Meter Elementary School a good school?

Yes. Van Meter Elementary School ranks in the top 5.0% of Iowa elementary schools.

How many students attend Van Meter Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 571 students attended Van Meter Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Van Meter Elementary School?

Students at Van Meter Elementary School are 94% White, 3% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

What district is Van Meter Elementary School in?

Van Meter Community School District

What schools do graduates of Van Meter Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Van Meter Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Van Meter Middle School
High : Van Meter 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.