Willard Elementary School
Des Moines, IA 50317
Phone: (515) 242-8439
District: Des Moines Independent Community School District
GreatSchools Rating
public • Grades KG,1,2,3,4,5 • 266 students
Willard Elementary School, a public school located in Des Moines, IA, serves grades K-5 in the Des Moines Independent Community School District.It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 5 out of 10, based on a variety of school quality measures.
Willard Elementary School is a public school located in Des Moines, IA. 266 students attend Willard Elementary School.
School Ratings
| Category | Rating | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Test Scores | 2/10 | The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 Iowa Assessment data from Iowa Department of Education. |
| Student Growth | 8/10 | The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from Iowa Department of Education. |
Worrisome patterns of chronic student absenteeism have been identified.
Posted: October 22, 2025
Willard Elementary likes to bully children with special needs. They are aware of disabilities the child has but does the complete opposite when trying to "help" the child. They grab children and yell at them. Even those with PTSD which that behavior can make matters worse and the child's behavior worse. I would not recommend this school especially for special needs students
Posted: October 22, 2025
Posted: October 22, 2025
Posted: October 22, 2025
Posted: October 22, 2025
Posted: October 22, 2025
Posted: October 22, 2025
Posted: October 22, 2025
Posted: September 22, 2013
I think Willard Elementary school in Des MOines Ia works very diligently with limited financial resources. The students are all from low income homes and many are immigrants. They have a special resource person to be sure they succeed and a dedicated faculty and staff. I think Willard could improve with more technology. The students need IPads to keep up with modern methods of learning.
Posted: September 22, 2010
There is no monthly school letter to let you know there is no school and the staff do not communicate with working parents. I had a staff member at Willard tell me there only there so parents can have cheap daycare (I am not impressed!). There is no staff available until 10 minutes before school begins. Willard does not have the right bus schedules, nor do they communicate with the bus garage in DM. I can tell why it is a free school, my son was in special education becuase he was behind in the class in a small town, we move here and he goes to Willard and now he is one of the smartest kids in the class, um HELLO. Ya, that would make me happy if I seen any improvement. My children will not be going back next year! (4 Stars (welfare)) good parents have JOBS!
Posted: September 13, 2010
Willard has an excellent staff. They are dedicated, and know their students. Parent involvement would help individual students to be more successful. However, students with involved parents Flourish here.
Posted: December 11, 2007
Reviews provided by GreatSchools™
| # | Name | Type | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Copper Creek | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Pleasant Hill | IA | 2.6 mi |
| # | Name | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|
| Base | Distance |
|---|---|
| Camp Dodge | 10.4 mi. |
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