Summary:
The 50311 zip code area of Des Moines, Iowa is home to two struggling elementary schools: Perkins Elementary School and Windsor Elementary. Both schools are performing well below the state average, with Perkins Elementary ranking 342nd out of 557 Iowa elementary schools and Windsor Elementary ranking 448th. The schools serve predominantly low-income communities, with over 60% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch.
Perkins Elementary has slightly higher test scores than Windsor Elementary, but both schools struggle to meet state proficiency standards. In the 2023-2024 school year, Perkins Elementary's proficiency rates ranged from 53.8% to 79.1% in ELA and 63.1% to 71.6% in Math, compared to the state averages of 64.2% to 72.9% in ELA and 70.7% to 76.3% in Math. Windsor Elementary's proficiency rates were even lower, ranging from 50% to 59.7% in ELA and 60.5% to 75.8% in Math.
The challenges faced by these schools are not isolated but rather reflective of broader systemic issues within the Des Moines Independent Community School District, which is ranked 301st out of 309 districts in Iowa. Factors such as funding disparities, staffing challenges, and the socioeconomic status of the student population likely contribute to the schools' poor performance. Addressing these systemic issues will be crucial for improving educational outcomes in this area.
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