Morris Elementary School

Des Moines Independent Comm School District

444 Students

Elementary School K - 5th

School Overview

Morris Elementary School, located at 1401 Geil Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa, is a public school serving students within the Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) district. The school is situated in the southern part of the city and serves as a foundational learning environment for children in the surrounding neighborhoods. As part of Iowa’s largest school district, Morris Elementary focuses on providing a comprehensive core curriculum while emphasizing student growth, social-emotional development, and community engagement.

The school is known for fostering an inclusive environment that caters to a diverse student body, characteristic of the broader Des Moines area. Morris Elementary typically emphasizes literacy, mathematics, and collaborative learning, supported by the district’s initiatives to improve student achievement and provide equitable educational resources. By maintaining strong connections with families and the local community, the school aims to create a supportive atmosphere where students are prepared for the transition to middle school and beyond.

444

Total Students

35.5

Full-Time Teachers

12.5

Student/Teacher Ratio

102.5%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Morris Elementary School
Demographic	Student Count
White	162
Hispanic	164
Black	77
Asian	14
Two or More	27

Hispanic
164 (36.9 %)
White
162 (36.5 %)
Black
77 (17.3 %)
Two or More
27 (6.1 %)
Asian
14 (3.2 %)

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)242-8421
Grade Range:	K - 5th
Total Students:	444
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	35.5
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	12.5
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	407
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	48

* 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 84

Grade 1 85

Grade 2 65

Grade 3 80

Grade 4 65

Grade 5 65