Top Rankings
Des Moines Independent Comm School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Iowa for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2024-25 school year, there are 9 public preschools serving 3,006 students in Des Moines Independent Comm School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in Iowa.
Public Preschools in Des Moines Independent Comm School District have an average math proficiency score of 46% (versus the Iowa public pre school average of 70%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 69% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 68% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Iowa public preschool average of 26% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (IA)
# Schools
59 Schools
475 Schools
# Students
30,278 Students
151,884 Students
# Teachers
1,924 Teachers
11,017 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
District Rank
Des Moines Independent Comm School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 327 school districts in Iowa (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 76% has decreased from 82% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#327 out of 327 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
40%
64%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
49%
70%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
41%
63%
Graduation Rate
76%
90%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.75
0.43
# American Indian Students
141 Students
515 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
n/a
# Asian Students
2,443 Students
2,937 Students
% Asian Students
8%
2%
# Hispanic Students
9,202 Students
17,627 Students
% Hispanic Students
30%
12%
# Black Students
6,337 Students
9,309 Students
% Black Students
21%
6%
# White Students
9,975 Students
113,047 Students
% White Students
33%
74%
# Hawaiian Students
61 Students
925 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
1%
# Two or more races Students
2,105 Students
7,512 Students
% of Two or more races Students
7%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
1,301
22,872
# Students in K Grade:
2,327
26,442
# Students in 1st Grade:
2,317
23,218
# Students in 2nd Grade:
2,136
21,819
# Students in 3rd Grade:
2,268
19,871
# Students in 4th Grade:
2,143
18,086
# Students in 5th Grade:
2,114
13,722
# Students in 6th Grade:
2,070
5,436
# Students in 7th Grade:
2,001
80
# Students in 8th Grade:
2,147
84
# Students in 9th Grade:
2,293
26
# Students in 10th Grade:
2,388
52
# Students in 11th Grade:
2,271
77
# Students in 12th Grade:
2,502
99
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $19,498 is higher than the state median of $16,361. The school district revenue/student has grown by 20% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $16,958 is higher than the state median of $15,938. The school district spending/student has grown by 12% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$590 MM
$8,262 MM
Spending
$513 MM
$8,048 MM
Revenue / Student
$19,498
$16,361
Spending / Student
$16,958
$15,938
Best Des Moines Independent Comm School District Public Preschools (2024-25)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Cowles Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
6401 College Ave
Windsor Heights, IA 50324
(515) 242-7818
Windsor Heights, IA 50324
(515) 242-7818
Grades: PK-8
| 391 students
Rank: #22.
Walnut Street School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
901 Walnut St
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 242-8438
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 242-8438
Grades: PK-5
| 269 students
Rank: #33.
Moulton Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1541 8th Street
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 242-8427
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 242-8427
Grades: PK-5
| 420 students
Rank: #44.
Mckinley Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1610 Se 6th Street
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8423
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8423
Grades: PK-5
| 285 students
Rank: #55.
Capitol View Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
320 E. 16th
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-8402
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-8402
Grades: PK-5
| 505 students
Rank: n/an/a
Jessie Franklin Taylor
Magnet School
1801 16th Street
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 242-8424
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 242-8424
Grades: PK
| 205 students
Rank: n/an/a
Mckee Elementary School
Magnet School
2115 E 39th St
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 323-8628
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 323-8628
Grades: PK
| 281 students
Rank: n/an/a
Mitchell Early Childhood Center
Magnet School
111 Porter
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-8424
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-8424
Grades: PK
| 395 students
Rank: n/an/a
Woodlawn Early Childhood Center
Magnet School
4000 Lower Beaver Rd
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-8213
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-8213
Grades: PK
| 255 students
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