Polk County schools ranked by test score
Latest ISASP year (2024-25). 78 schools in Polk County, Iowa with reported English Language Arts scores. Iowa state average: 73.7%.
| Rank | School | Level | English Language Arts | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Runnells Elementary Runnells · Southeast Polk Comm School District | Elementary | 91.2% | +17.5pp |
| 2 | Mitchellville Elementary Mitchellville · Southeast Polk Comm School District | Elementary | 90.8% | +17.1pp |
| 3 | Prairie Trail Elementary Ankeny · Ankeny Comm School District | Elementary | 90.2% | +16.5pp |
| 4 | Cowles Elementary School Des Moines · Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Elementary | 87.9% | +14.2pp |
| 5 | Webster Elementary School Urbandale · Urbandale Comm School District | Elementary | 87.6% | +13.9pp |
| 6 | Henry A Wallace Elementary School Johnston · Johnston Comm School District | Elementary | 86.3% | +12.6pp |
| 7 | Westwood Elementary School Ankeny · Ankeny Comm School District | Elementary | 85.6% | +11.9pp |
| 8 | Northeast Elementary Ankeny · Ankeny Comm School District | Elementary | 85.5% | +11.8pp |
| 9 | Ashland Ridge Elementary Ankeny · Ankeny Comm School District | Elementary | 84.8% | +11.1pp |
| 10 | Valerius Elementary School Urbandale · Urbandale Comm School District | Elementary | 83.8% | +10.1pp |
| 11 | North Polk Central Elementary School Alleman · North Polk Comm School District | Elementary | 83.2% | +9.5pp |
| 12 | Big Creek Elementary Polk City · North Polk Comm School District | Elementary | 83.1% | +9.4pp |
| 13 | Delaware Elementary Des Moines · Southeast Polk Comm School District | Elementary | 80.9% | +7.2pp |
| 14 | Karen Acres Elementary School Urbandale · Urbandale Comm School District | Elementary | 80.9% | +7.2pp |
| 15 | Anderson Elementary School Bondurant · Bondurant-Farrar Comm School District | Elementary | 80.7% | +7.0pp |
| 16 | Jordan Creek Elementary School West Des Moines · West Des Moines Comm School District | Elementary | 80.4% | +6.7pp |
| 17 | Westridge Elementary West Des Moines · West Des Moines Comm School District | Elementary | 80.1% | +6.4pp |
| 18 | Crossroads Park Elementary School West Des Moines · West Des Moines Comm School District | Elementary | 80.0% | +6.3pp |
| 19 | Lawson Elementary School Johnston · Johnston Comm School District | Elementary | 79.9% | +6.2pp |
| 20 | Beaver Creek Elementary School Johnston · Johnston Comm School District | Elementary | 78.8% | +5.1pp |
| 21 | Heritage Elementary Ankeny · Ankeny Comm School District | Elementary | 78.8% | +5.1pp |
| 22 | Four Mile Elementary Pleasant Hill · Southeast Polk Comm School District | Elementary | 78.3% | +4.6pp |
| 23 | Downtown School Des Moines · Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Elementary | 77.9% | +4.2pp |
| 24 | Crocker Elementary School Ankeny · Ankeny Comm School District | Elementary | 77.8% | +4.1pp |
| 25 | Centennial Elementary Altoona · Southeast Polk Comm School District | Elementary | 77.6% | +3.9pp |
| 26 | Rock Creek Elementary Ankeny · Ankeny Comm School District | Elementary | 77.5% | +3.8pp |
| 27 | Altoona Elementary Altoona · Southeast Polk Comm School District | Elementary | 76.8% | +3.1pp |
| 28 | Fairmeadows Elementary School West Des Moines · West Des Moines Comm School District | Elementary | 76.7% | +3.0pp |
| 29 | Cornell Elementary School Des Moines · Saydel Comm School District | Elementary | 76.5% | +2.8pp |
| 30 | Southeast Elementary School Ankeny · Ankeny Comm School District | Elementary | 76.1% | +2.4pp |
| 31 | Timber Ridge Elementary Johnston · Johnston Comm School District | Elementary | 75.5% | +1.8pp |
| 32 | East Elementary School Ankeny · Ankeny Comm School District | Elementary | 75.3% | +1.6pp |
| 33 | Horizon Elementary Johnston · Johnston Comm School District | Elementary | 75.2% | +1.5pp |
| 34 | Jefferson Elementary School Des Moines · Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Elementary | 74.8% | +1.1pp |
| 35 | Clive Learning Academy Des Moines · West Des Moines Comm School District | Elementary | 72.6% | -1.1pp |
| 36 | Clay Elementary Altoona · Southeast Polk Comm School District | Elementary | 71.4% | -2.3pp |
| 37 | Olmsted Elementary School Urbandale · Urbandale Comm School District | Elementary | 70.8% | -2.9pp |
| 38 | Hubbell Elementary Des Moines · Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Elementary | 70.4% | -3.3pp |
| 39 | Hillside Elementary School West Des Moines · West Des Moines Comm School District | Elementary | 68.8% | -4.9pp |
| 40 | Willowbrook Elementary Altoona · Southeast Polk Comm School District | Elementary | 68.7% | -5.0pp |
| 41 | Northwest Elementary School Ankeny · Ankeny Comm School District | Elementary | 68.3% | -5.4pp |
| 42 | Greenwood Elementary School Des Moines · Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Elementary | 67.8% | -5.9pp |
| 43 | Western Hills Elementary School West Des Moines · West Des Moines Comm School District | Elementary | 64.9% | -8.8pp |
| 44 | Windsor Elementary Des Moines · Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Elementary | 63.3% | -10.4pp |
| 45 | Walnut Street School Des Moines · Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Elementary | 62.1% | -11.6pp |
| 46 | Pleasant Hill Elementary School Des Moines · Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Elementary | 61.9% | -11.8pp |
| 47 | Perkins Elementary School Des Moines · Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Elementary | 60.0% | -13.7pp |
| 48 | Hanawalt Elementary Des Moines · Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Elementary | 59.9% | -13.8pp |
| 49 | Moore Elementary School Des Moines · Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Elementary | 57.7% | -16.0pp |
| 50 | Willard Elementary School Des Moines · Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Elementary | 54.7% | -19.0pp |
About this ranking
Schools are ranked by the percentage of students who scored at or above the ISASP % Proficient threshold on the latest available ISASP English Language Arts test (school year 2024-25). Only public schools in Polk County, Iowa with a reasonable cohort size are shown. A higher percentage is better.
The comparison column shows the gap to the Iowa statewide enrollment-weighted average. To compare against neighboring counties, use the full Iowa ranking.