Des Moines Independent Comm School District

2100 Fleur Drive
Des Moines, IA 50321
(District boundaries shown in map)
1/
10
Bottom 50%

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 59 public schools serving 30,278 students in Des Moines Independent Comm School District. This district's average testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Iowa.
Public Schools in Des Moines Independent Comm School District have an average math proficiency score of 40% (versus the Iowa public school average of 64%), and reading proficiency score of 49% (versus the 70% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 67% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Iowa public school average of 28% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (IA)
# Schools
59 Schools
1,329 Schools
# Students
30,278 Students
504,940 Students
# Teachers
1,924 Teachers
35,005 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.
This School District
State Average (IA)
#327 out of 327 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
This chart displays the overall district rank of Des Moines Independent Comm   School District, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
40%
64%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Des Moines Independent Comm   School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Iowa by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
49%
70%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Des Moines Independent Comm   School District 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.
41%
63%
This chart displays the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Des Moines Independent Comm   School District and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Iowa by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
76%
90%
This chart displays public school graduation rate of Des Moines Independent Comm   School District and public school graduation rate of Iowa by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.

Students by Ethnicity:

0.75
0.46
# American Indian Students
141 Students
1,899 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
n/a
# Asian Students
2,443 Students
12,614 Students
% Asian Students
8%
2%
# Hispanic Students
9,202 Students
63,207 Students
% Hispanic Students
30%
13%
# Black Students
6,337 Students
34,156 Students
% Black Students
21%
7%
# White Students
9,975 Students
365,324 Students
% White Students
33%
72%
# Hawaiian Students
61 Students
2,883 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
1%
# Two or more races Students
2,105 Students
24,598 Students
% of Two or more races Students
7%
5%

Students by Grade:

# Students in PK Grade:
1,301
23,085
# Students in K Grade:
2,327
37,733
# Students in 1st Grade:
2,317
35,654
# Students in 2nd Grade:
2,136
35,488
# Students in 3rd Grade:
2,268
35,962
# Students in 4th Grade:
2,143
35,603
# Students in 5th Grade:
2,114
35,274
# Students in 6th Grade:
2,070
35,449
# Students in 7th Grade:
2,001
36,781
# Students in 8th Grade:
2,147
37,606
# Students in 9th Grade:
2,293
40,254
# Students in 10th Grade:
2,388
39,868
# Students in 11th Grade:
2,271
38,263
# Students in 12th Grade:
2,502
37,920
# 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.
This School District
This State (IA)
Total Revenue
$590 MM
$8,262 MM
This chart displays total revenue of Des Moines Independent Comm   School District and median value from total revenues of all school districts in Iowa by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending
$513 MM
$8,048 MM
This chart displays total spending of Des Moines Independent Comm   School District and median value from total spendings of all school districts in Iowa by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Revenue / Student
$19,498
$16,361
This chart displays average revenue per public school student in Des Moines Independent Comm   School District and average revenue per public school student of all school districts in Iowa by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Spending / Student
$16,958
$15,938
This chart displays average spending per public school student in Des Moines Independent Comm   School District and average spending per public school student of all school districts in Iowa by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Best Des Moines Independent Comm School District Public Schools (2024-25)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Cowles Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
6401 College Ave
Windsor Heights, IA 50324
(515) 242-7818
Grades: PK-8
| 391 students
Rank: #22.
Downtown School
Magnet School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1800 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 284-5848
Grades: K-5
| 243 students
Rank: #33.
Hanawalt Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
225 56th Street
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8411
Grades: K-5
| 333 students
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Jefferson Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2425 Watrous Ave
Des Moines, IA 50321
(515) 242-8416
Grades: K-5
| 338 students
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Windsor Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
5912 University Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50311
(515) 242-8440
Grades: K-5
| 296 students
Rank: #66.
Merrill Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
5301 Grand Ave
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8448
Grades: 6-8
| 634 students
Rank: #77.
Greenwood Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
316 37th Street
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8410
Grades: K-5
| 272 students
Rank: #88.
Hubbell Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
800 42nd St
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8414
Grades: K-5
| 407 students
Rank: #99.
Perkins Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
4301 College
Des Moines, IA 50311
(515) 242-8430
Grades: K-5
| 438 students
Rank: #1010.
Roosevelt High School
Magnet School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
4419 Center St
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-7272
Grades: 9-12
| 1,986 students
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Findley Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
3025 Oxford Street
Des Moines, IA 50313
(515) 242-8407
Grades: K-5
| 304 students
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Samuelson Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
3929 Bel-aire Rd
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-8441
Grades: K-5
| 412 students
Rank: #13 - 1413. - 14.
Phillips Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1701 Lay St
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8431
Grades: K-5
| 258 students
Rank: #13 - 1413. - 14.
Pleasant Hill Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
4801 E Oakwood Dr
Pleasant Hill, IA 50327
(515) 242-8432
Grades: K-5
| 213 students
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
Walnut Street School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
901 Walnut St
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 242-8438
Grades: PK-5
| 269 students
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
Willard Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2941 Dean Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8439
Grades: K-5
| 286 students
Rank: #1717.
Virtual Campus
Magnet School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1800 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 242-8502
Grades: 6-12
| 668 students
Rank: #1818.
Hoover High School
Magnet School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
4800 Aurora Ave
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-7300
Grades: 9-12
| 991 students
Rank: #19 - 2019. - 20.
Cattell Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
3101 E 12th St
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-8403
Grades: K-5
| 322 students
Rank: #19 - 2019. - 20.
Moore Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
3725 52nd St
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-8426
Grades: K-5
| 296 students
Rank: #21 - 2221. - 22.
Hillis Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2401 56th St
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-8412
Grades: K-5
| 305 students
Rank: #21 - 2221. - 22.
Howe Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2900 Indianola
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8413
Grades: K-5
| 297 students
Rank: #2323.
Callanan Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
3010 Center Street
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8101
Grades: 6-8
| 507 students
Rank: #2424.
Wright Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
5001 Sw 14th St
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8442
Grades: K-5
| 273 students
Rank: #2525.
Brody Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2501 Park Ave
Des Moines, IA 50321
(515) 242-8443
Grades: 6-8
| 603 students
Rank: #2626.
Jackson Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
3825 Indianola Ave
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8415
Grades: K-5
| 406 students
Rank: #2727.
Morris Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1401 Geil Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8421
Grades: K-5
| 444 students
Rank: #2828.
Garton Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2820 E 24th St
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8408
Grades: K-5
| 455 students
Rank: #2929.
Studebaker Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
300 E County Line Rd
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8436
Grades: K-5
| 523 students
Rank: #3030.
Lincoln High School
Magnet School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2600 Sw 9th St
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-7500
Grades: 9-12
| 2,403 students
Rank: #3131.
Mccombs Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
201 Sw County Line Rd
Des Moines, IA 50320
(515) 242-8447
Grades: 6-8
| 654 students
Rank: #32 - 3332. - 33.
Hoyt Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2700 E 42nd St
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8446
Grades: 6-8
| 486 students
Rank: #32 - 3332. - 33.
Park Ave Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
3141 Sw 9th St
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8429
Grades: K-5
| 378 students
Rank: #3434.
Moulton Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1541 8th Street
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 242-8427
Grades: PK-5
| 420 students
Rank: #3535.
Brubaker Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2900 E 42nd Street
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8405
Grades: K-5
| 622 students
Show 24 more public schools in Des Moines Independent Comm School District (out of 59 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Des Moines Independent Comm School District?
Des Moines Independent Comm School District manages 59 public schools serving 30,278 students.
What is the rank of Des Moines Independent Comm School District?
Des Moines Independent Comm School District is ranked #327 out of 327 school districts in Iowa (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Iowa school districts for: Most diverse schools (Top 1%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Des Moines Independent Comm School District?
33% of Des Moines Independent Comm School District students are White, 30% of students are Hispanic, 21% of students are Black, 8% of students are Asian, 7% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are American Indian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Des Moines Independent Comm School District?
Des Moines Independent Comm School District has a student/teacher ratio of 16:1, which is higher than the Iowa state average of 14:1.
What is Des Moines Independent Comm School District's spending/student ratio?
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.

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Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • District size: 59 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 30,278 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 16:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 67%
  • : 76% (Btm 50% in IA)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 40% (Btm 50%)
  • : 49% (Btm 50%)
  • : 41% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education

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