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 2025 school year, there are 12 public preschools serving 4,144 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 44% (versus the Iowa public pre school average of 70%), and reading proficiency score of 49% (versus the 69% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 70% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Iowa public preschool average of 27% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (IA)
# Schools
59 Schools
474 Schools
# Students
29,871 Students
151,894 Students
# Teachers
1,899 Teachers
11,053 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 325 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
0.45
# American Indian Students
132 Students
532 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
2,333 Students
2,925 Students
% Asian Students
8%
2%
# Hispanic Students
9,313 Students
18,818 Students
% Hispanic Students
31%
13%
# Black Students
6,410 Students
9,688 Students
% Black Students
22%
6%
# White Students
9,505 Students
111,231 Students
% White Students
32%
73%
# Hawaiian Students
68 Students
1,189 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
1%
# Two or more races Students
2,075 Students
7,501 Students
% of Two or more races Students
7%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
1,358
23,036
# Students in K Grade:
2,136
25,738
# Students in 1st Grade:
2,303
22,613
# Students in 2nd Grade:
2,265
21,812
# Students in 3rd Grade:
2,087
20,001
# Students in 4th Grade:
2,226
18,600
# Students in 5th Grade:
2,152
14,277
# Students in 6th Grade:
1,963
5,389
# Students in 7th Grade:
2,033
67
# Students in 8th Grade:
1,957
108
# Students in 9th Grade:
2,185
31
# Students in 10th Grade:
2,330
54
# Students in 11th Grade:
2,339
71
# Students in 12th Grade:
2,537
97
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $19,764 is higher than the state median of $16,468. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $17,189 is higher than the state median of $16,042. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$590 MM
$8,262 MM
Spending
$513 MM
$8,048 MM
Revenue / Student
$19,764
$16,468
Spending / Student
$17,189
$16,042
Best Des Moines Independent Comm School District Public Preschools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Cowles Elementary 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
| 403 students
Rank: #22.
Greenwood Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
316 37th Street
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8410
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8410
Grades: PK-5
| 307 students
Rank: #33.
Walnut Street 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
| 244 students
Rank: #44.
Jackson Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
3825 Indianola Ave
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8415
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8415
Grades: PK-5
| 495 students
Rank: #55.
Moulton Elementary 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
| 450 students
Rank: #66.
Mckinley Elementary 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
| 269 students
Rank: #77.
Capitol View Elementary 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
| 545 students
Rank: #88.
Carver Elementary School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
705 E University Ave
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-8418
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-8418
Grades: PK-5
| 419 students
Rank: n/an/a
1801 16th Street
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 242-8424
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 242-8424
Grades: PK
| 194 students
Rank: n/an/a
2115 E 39th St
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 323-8628
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 323-8628
Grades: PK
| 263 students
Rank: n/an/a
111 Porter
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-8424
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-8424
Grades: PK
| 340 students
Rank: n/an/a
4000 Lower Beaver Rd
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-8213
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-8213
Grades: PK
| 215 students
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