Howe Elementary

Des Moines Independent Comm School District

297 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

Howe Elementary School, located at 2900 Indianola Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa, is a public school serving the south side of the city as part of the Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) district. The school is known for being a neighborhood-focused institution that serves a diverse student population, providing foundational education from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. As a central fixture in the Indianola Hills/McKinley neighborhood, the school emphasizes a supportive learning environment tailored to the developmental needs of elementary-aged children.

Like many schools within the DMPS system, Howe Elementary is committed to fostering academic growth through a comprehensive curriculum that includes core subjects such as literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies. The school frequently engages with its surrounding community to provide students with additional resources, extracurricular opportunities, and a sense of belonging. With its dedicated staff and focus on student well-being, Howe strives to prepare its young learners for success as they transition to middle school and beyond.

297

Total Students

24.8

Full-Time Teachers

12.0

Student/Teacher Ratio

90.9%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Howe Elementary
Demographic	Student Count
White	78
Hispanic	105
Black	68
Asian	27
Two or More	18
American Indian	1

Hispanic
105 (35.4 %)
White
78 (26.3 %)
Black
68 (22.9 %)
Asian
27 (9.1 %)
Two or More
18 (6.1 %)
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)242-8413
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	297
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	24.8
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	12.0
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	238
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	32

* 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 41

Grade 1 61

Grade 2 48

Grade 3 48

Grade 4 52

Grade 5 47