Southeast Polk Comm School District

407 8th Street Se
Altoona, IA 50009
(District boundaries shown in map)
7/
10
Top 50%

Top Rankings

Southeast Polk Comm School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Iowa for:

Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 5%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 9 public elementary schools serving 4,637 students in Southeast Polk Comm School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public elementary schools in Iowa.
Public Elementary Schools in Southeast Polk Comm School District have an average math proficiency score of 83% (versus the Iowa public elementary school average of 70%), and reading proficiency score of 74% (versus the 69% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 32% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is more than the Iowa public elementary school average of 30% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (IA)
# Schools
11 Schools
931 Schools
# Students
6,891 Students
323,671 Students
# Teachers
492 Teachers
23,684 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Southeast Polk Comm School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 325 school districts in Iowa (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 95% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
This School District
State Average (IA)
#114 out of 327 school districts
(Top 50%)
75%
68%
75%
70%
64%
63%
95%
90%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.50
0.49
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
3%
2%
% Hispanic
11%
14%
% Black
10%
8%
% White
69%
70%
% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
% Two or more races
7%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $15,724 in this school district is less than the state median of $16,592. The school district revenue/student has grown by 12% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $14,139 is less than the state median of $16,163. The school district spending/student has grown by 15% over four school years.
This School District
This State (IA)
Total Revenue
$108 MM
$8,262 MM
Spending
$97 MM
$8,048 MM
Revenue / Student
$15,724
$16,592
Spending / Student
$14,139
$16,163

Best Southeast Polk Comm School District Public Elementary Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Mitchellville Elementary School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
308 Elm Ave Nw
Mitchellville, IA 50169
(515) 967-4274
Gr: PK-5 | 255 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #22.
Runnells Elementary School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
6575 Se 116th Street
Runnells, IA 50237
(515) 966-2068
Gr: PK-5 | 260 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #33.
Centennial Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
910 7th Ave Se
Altoona, IA 50009
(515) 967-2109
Gr: PK-5 | 423 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Altoona Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
301 6th St Sw
Altoona, IA 50009
(515) 967-3771
Gr: PK-5 | 429 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Delaware Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
4401 E 46th St
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 262-3197
Gr: PK-5 | 440 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #66.
Clay Elementary School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
3200 First Avenue S.
Altoona, IA 50009
(515) 967-4198
Gr: PK-5 | 700 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #77.
Four Mile Elementary School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
670 Se 68th St
Pleasant Hill, IA 50327
(515) 265-1972
Gr: PK-5 | 495 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #88.
Southeast Polk Middle School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
501 Falcon Drive
Altoona, IA 50009
(515) 967-5533
Gr: 6-7 | 1,112 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #99.
Willowbrook Elementary School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
300 17th Ave Sw
Altoona, IA 50009
(515) 967-7512
Gr: PK-5 | 523 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 36%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 11 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 6,891 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 31%
  • : 95% (Top 5% in IA)
  • : Top 50%
  • : 75% (Top 50%)
  • : 75% (Top 50%)
  • : 64% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education

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