Hillis Elementary School

Des Moines Independent Comm School District

305 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

Hillis Elementary School, located in the Beaverdale neighborhood of Des Moines, Iowa, serves students in grades PK–5 as part of the Des Moines Public Schools district. The school is known for its strong sense of community and its commitment to fostering an inclusive environment that supports both the academic and social-emotional development of its diverse student body. By emphasizing personalized learning and collaborative teaching practices, Hillis aims to prepare its students for middle school success while encouraging a lifelong love of reading and critical thinking.

Beyond the classroom, Hillis Elementary is recognized for its active parent-teacher involvement and its integration into the surrounding neighborhood. The school frequently engages in community-building activities and provides various extracurricular opportunities that allow students to explore their interests, from arts and music to physical education. With a focus on providing a safe, supportive, and engaging learning atmosphere, Hillis strives to ensure that every student has the resources and guidance necessary to reach their full potential.

305

Total Students

24.1

Full-Time Teachers

12.7

Student/Teacher Ratio

69.8%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Hillis Elementary School
Demographic	Student Count
White	104
Hispanic	75
Black	55
Asian	40
Two or More	26
American Indian	1
Pacific Islander	4

White
104 (34.1 %)
Hispanic
75 (24.6 %)
Black
55 (18.0 %)
Asian
40 (13.1 %)
Two or More
26 (8.5 %)
Pacific Islander
4 (1.3 %)
American Indian
1 (0.3 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	Supplemental Virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
Phone:	(515)242-8412
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	305
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	24.1
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	12.7
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	183
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	30

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 54

Grade 1 52

Grade 2 59

Grade 3 43

Grade 4 48

Grade 5 49