Walnut Street School

Des Moines Independent Comm School District

269 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

Walnut Street School, located in the heart of downtown Des Moines, Iowa, is a unique public elementary institution known for its commitment to the Reggio Emilia approach to education. Unlike traditional neighborhood schools, Walnut Street serves as an application-based magnet school that draws students from across the Des Moines Independent Community School District. Its central philosophy emphasizes the "hundred languages of children," fostering an environment where student curiosity, creative expression, and collaborative inquiry serve as the primary drivers of the learning process.

The school’s physical and academic structure is designed to leverage its urban location, treating the downtown community as an extension of the classroom. By integrating project-based learning and an aesthetic-rich environment, the faculty encourages students to document their discoveries and engage deeply with complex questions. This holistic approach aims to develop critical thinkers who are not only academically proficient but also socially conscious, preparing them to thrive in a diverse and interconnected society.

269

Total Students

19.8

Full-Time Teachers

13.6

Student/Teacher Ratio

59.5%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Walnut Street School
Demographic	Student Count
White	94
Hispanic	44
Black	86
Asian	14
Two or More	28
American Indian	1
Pacific Islander	2

White
94 (34.9 %)
Black
86 (32.0 %)
Hispanic
44 (16.4 %)
Two or More
28 (10.4 %)
Asian
14 (5.2 %)
Pacific Islander
2 (0.7 %)
American Indian
1 (0.4 %)

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)242-8438
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	269
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	19.8
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	13.6
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	133
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 40

Kindergarten 47

Grade 1 43

Grade 2 32

Grade 3 32

Grade 4 30

Grade 5 45