McKinley Elementary School

Des Moines Independent Comm School District

285 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

McKinley Elementary School is a public school located in the Watrous South neighborhood of Des Moines, Iowa, serving students in grades PK–5 as part of the Des Moines Public Schools district. The school is known for its commitment to providing a foundational education that emphasizes core academic skills while fostering a supportive social environment. With a diverse student body, McKinley focuses on creating an inclusive atmosphere where teachers work to meet the varying developmental needs of young learners, preparing them for middle school and beyond.

In addition to its classroom curriculum, McKinley Elementary emphasizes community engagement and the well-being of its students. The school often utilizes its location in the 50315 zip code to build partnerships with local families and community organizations, aiming to provide a holistic educational experience. By balancing academic rigor with extracurricular opportunities and character development, McKinley seeks to cultivate a safe and encouraging space that promotes both personal growth and academic achievement for all its students.

285

Total Students

23.9

Full-Time Teachers

11.9

Student/Teacher Ratio

83.9%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for McKinley Elementary School
Demographic	Student Count
White	77
Hispanic	128
Black	33
Asian	17
Two or More	28
American Indian	2

Hispanic
128 (44.9 %)
White
77 (27.0 %)
Black
33 (11.6 %)
Two or More
28 (9.8 %)
Asian
17 (6.0 %)
American Indian
2 (0.7 %)

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)242-8423
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	285
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	23.9
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	11.9
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	212
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	27

* 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

Pre-Kindergarten 16

Kindergarten 49

Grade 1 48

Grade 2 47

Grade 3 39

Grade 4 43

Grade 5 43