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Howe Elementary School

2900 INDIANOLA, DES MOINES, IA 50315

Top 25% School in Iowa

Ranked 112 of 183 in Iowa

See top schools in Des Moines

About Howe Elementary School

Howe Elementary School is a public school in Des Moines, Iowa, that serves grades K–5. It is part of the Des Moines Independent Community School District. The school has about 280 to 300 students and a student-to-teacher ratio of about 12:1. This lets teachers give each student individual attention and help. Howe Elementary has a traditional curriculum that focuses on reading, writing, and math, as well as programs for students who need extra help with their schoolwork. About 60% of the students are minorities, coming from Hispanic, Black, Asian, and multiracial backgrounds. According to publicly available assessment data, about half of students are proficient in math and about 48% are proficient in English Language Arts. This shows where they still need to improve academically. The district spends about $16,000 on each student, which goes toward classroom supplies, intervention programs, and technology integration. Howe Elementary School is in a stable urban neighborhood with a friendly community. Active family involvement is good for the school. Overall, Howe Elementary School is known for its diversity, supportive programs, and focus on basic academics while also trying to improve student performance.

Howe Elementary School Contact Information

Address

2900 INDIANOLA, DES MOINES, IA 50315

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Phone

(515) 242-8413

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Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 52%
Reading 47%
State average proficiency is 52% in Math and 47% in Reading.
25
Full-time Teachers
12 : 1
Student-Teacher Ratio
306
Total Students
$70195
Avg. Teacher Salary
TOP 112 IN STEM IN STATE

Robotics & STEM
at Howe Elementary School

2.5X
More likely to pursue STEM Careers
80%
Jobs that will require STEM in 2030
2.5X
More likely to persue STEM Careers
80%
Jobs that will require STEM in 2030
  • 🤖 Coding & Debugging
  • 🧪 Hobby Electronics and Engineering
  • 👩‍💻 Apply Math in Science and Engineering
  • 🛠️ 3D Printing
🚀
Hands-on with real robots
🏆
Led by competition winners
🎓
STEM career pathways

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

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Mansfield Public Schools Educator Spotlight: Pathways of a Fourth-Grade Teacher

MANSFIELD — Inside the brick building on East Street, four educators who began teaching within 2 years of each other, all spending the beginning of their careers teaching fourth grade at Jordan/Jackson Elementary School...

Read More

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 7:45 AM to 2:40 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 7:30 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Student Demographics

White 26.3%
Asian 9.1%
Hispanic 35.4%
Black 22.9%
Two+ Races 6.1%
Native Am. 1%
White
26.3%
Asian
9.1%
Hispanic
35.4%
Black
22.9%
Two+ Races
6.1%
Native Am.
1%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 306
43.1%
132 Female
56.9%
174 Male

Student Population

306 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 12 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

300 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

The $265 million bond plan from Des Moines Public Schools says that Howe Elementary School will close by 2031. The bond will pay for new "signature schools" with STEM, arts, and career-focused programs. This shows that the community is very supportive and that the district is committed to modernizing its buildings and giving students more opportunities to learn in Des Moines.

FAQ

Q1. Does Howe Elementary School have activities or programs after school?

Ans. Yes, Howe Elementary does offer some after-school programs, such as homework help, enrichment activities, and seasonal clubs when they are available.

Q2. What does the school do to help students who are learning English as a second language (ELL)?

Ans. Howe Elementary School has ELL services that include special instruction and help with language development to help students who speak more than one language do well.

Q3. Do schools want parents to get involved in activities?

Ans. Yes, the school has events for families, workshops for parents, and chances for parents to volunteer to help build partnerships between school and home.

Q4. What kinds of transportation can students use?

Ans. Depending on the distance and the route they are allowed to take, students who are eligible may be able to use the district's buses.

Q5. Does Howe Elementary offer counseling or help with social and emotional issues for students?

Ans. Yes, students can get help with their mental and emotional health and their schoolwork from counselors, behavioral support staff, and social-emotional learning programs.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

  • Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
  • Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
  • Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

  • Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
  • Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
  • Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

  • Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
  • Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
  • Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3
ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10
F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2
SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

Local kids are transforming ideas into real-world.

See the projects happening right in your neighborhood

What Parents Say

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DISCLAIMER

The information provided about schools is for general reference only and may not be 100% accurate or up to date. We recommend contacting the respective school directly to confirm the latest details and ensure accuracy.