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Des Moines Independent Community School District


At a glance
306thof 313 Iowa districts▼ 5
Better than 2% of Iowa districts
2100 Fleur Drive
Des Moines, IA 50321
·(515) 242-7911·All Iowa district rankings →
Statewide performance 2017–2025
2025: better than 2.2% of districts
59
Schools
29,676
Students
Top rankedDowntown School145th of 576 Iowa elementary schools
Biggest riser
Jefferson Elementary School up 82 spots statewide this year
Smallest classes
Ruby Van Meter 5 students per teacher
SchoolDigger ratings
1★
0★
5 schools without a SchoolDigger rating (too few tested students)
Summary:

The Des Moines Independent Community School District operates 59 schools, including 42 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, 6 high schools, and 1 alternative school, serving students from pre-K through 12th grade.

While the district as a whole faces significant challenges, with test scores and graduation rates below state averages, a few standout schools shine. Cowles Elementary School and Downtown School rank among the top elementary schools in Iowa, with exceptional test scores and 4-star ratings. Other high-performing elementary schools include Perkins Elementary, Hanawalt Elementary, and Greenwood Elementary. However, the district's high schools all rank in the bottom quarter of Iowa high schools, suggesting significant challenges at the secondary level.

Across the district, there appears to be a correlation between schools with higher free/reduced lunch rates and lower academic performance. The district-wide free/reduced lunch rate is 66.28%, and many of the lower-performing schools have rates over 70%. Additionally, the district spends an average of $15,636 per student, which is on the higher end, but the academic outcomes do not reflect this level of investment, raising questions about resource allocation and utilization.

Ranking:
Map legend
E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private




SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Iowa Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





Diagnostics