Morris Elementary School

1401 Geil Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50315
(School attendance zone shown in map)
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Serving 444 students in grades Kindergarten-5, Morris Elementary School ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Iowa for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 44% (which is lower than the Iowa state average of 64%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 45% (which is lower than the Iowa state average of 70%).
The student:teacher ratio of 12:1 is lower than the Iowa state level of 14:1.
Minority enrollment is 63% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is higher than the Iowa state average of 28% (majority Hispanic and Black).

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • School Type: Magnet School
  • Grades: Kindergarten-5
  • Enrollment: 444 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 12:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 63%
  • : Bottom 50% in IA
  • : 44% (Btm 50%)
  • : 45% (Btm 50%)
  • : 30-34% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Morris Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Iowa for:

School Overview

Morris Elementary School's student population of 444 students has declined by 21% over five school years.
The teacher population of 36 teachers has declined by 21% over five school years.
School Type
Grades Offered
Grades Kindergarten-5
Total Students
444 students
This chart displays total students of Morris Elementary School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Gender %
This chart displays gender of Morris Elementary School
Total Classroom Teachers
36 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of Morris Elementary School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Morris Elementary School by grade.

School Rankings

Morris Elementary School ranks within the bottom 50% of all 1,233 schools in Iowa (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Morris Elementary School is 0.70, which is more than the diversity score at state average of 0.46. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
This School
State Level (IA)
#1166 out of 1233 schools
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of Morris Elementary School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
44%
64%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Morris Elementary School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in Iowa by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
45%
70%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Morris Elementary School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Iowa by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
30-34%
63%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Morris Elementary School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of public schools in Iowa by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
12:1
14:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Morris Elementary School and the public school average student teacher ratio of Iowa by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
American Indian
n/a
n/a
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Morris Elementary School and percentage of American Indian public school students in Iowa by year, with the latest 2019-20 school year data.
Asian
3%
2%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Morris Elementary School and the percentage of Asian public school students in Iowa by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Hispanic
37%
13%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Morris Elementary School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in Iowa by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Black
17%
7%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Morris Elementary School and the percentage of Black public school students in Iowa by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
White
37%
72%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Morris Elementary School and the percentage of White public school students in Iowa by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Hawaiian
n/a
1%
Two or more races
6%
5%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Morris Elementary School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in Iowa by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
All Ethnic Groups
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Morris Elementary School.
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of public school students of all ethnic groups in Iowa.
0.70
This chart displays the diversity score of Morris Elementary School and the public school average diversity score of Iowa by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Yes
Eligible for Free Lunch
79%
36%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Morris Elementary School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in Iowa by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
9%
6%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Morris Elementary School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Iowa by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Morris Elementary School's ranking?
Morris Elementary School is ranked #1166 out of 1,233 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Iowa.
What schools are Morris Elementary School often compared to?
Morris Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like South Union Elementary School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
44% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 64% IA state average), while 45% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 70% IA state average).
How many students attend Morris Elementary School?
444 students attend Morris Elementary School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
37% of Morris Elementary School students are Hispanic, 37% of students are White, 17% of students are Black, 6% of students are Two or more races, and 3% of students are Asian.
What is the student:teacher ratio of Morris Elementary School?
Morris Elementary School has a student ration of 12:1, which is lower than the Iowa state average of 14:1.
What grades does Morris Elementary School offer ?
Morris Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Kindergarten-5
What school district is Morris Elementary School part of?
Morris Elementary School is part of Des Moines Independent Comm School District.

School Reviews

4   9/20/2018
Good teachers but there are things they could improve on
- Posted by Student/Alumni - lily

Review Morris Elementary School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:

  • Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
  • Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Rate this school:

Recent Articles

Drug Testing Teachers: Testing Positive or Negative?
Drug Testing Teachers: Testing Positive or Negative?
This article examines the ongoing debate about drug testing for teachers in public schools. It discusses the rationale behind such policies, privacy concerns, cost implications, and the relatively low prevalence of drug use among educators. The piece also explores future considerations for drug testing policies in educational settings.
Head in the Clouds: Why Public Schools are Embracing Cloud Computing
Head in the Clouds: Why Public Schools are Embracing Cloud Computing
Explore how public schools are integrating cloud computing into their educational frameworks. Understand the advantages such as enhanced collaboration, cost savings, and accessibility, as well as the challenges schools face in adopting this technology.
Understanding Rubrics
September 27, 2024
Understanding Rubrics
This article explores the fundamental principles of rubrics in education, focusing on their role as assessment tools. It breaks down the key components of rubrics, including criteria, performance levels, and descriptors. The piece also delves into the two main types of rubrics - holistic and analytic - providing authoritative definitions and explaining their unique applications in educational settings.

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • School Type: Magnet School
  • Grades: Kindergarten-5
  • Enrollment: 444 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 12:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 63%
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 44% (Btm 50%)
  • : 45% (Btm 50%)
  • : 30-34% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education

Quick Links