Public schools in Des Moines, IA
67 open public schools with an address in Des Moines, operated by 7 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
67
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
32,298
66 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
14.2:1
Iowa median 13.7:1
Charter schools
3
1 virtual
An overview of Des Moines public schools
The federal directory lists 67 public schools in Des Moines, IA: 42 elementary, 11 middle, 8 high, 6 combined or other. The 66 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 32,298 students, an average of 489 per school. The largest campus is Lincoln High School (2,364 students), and the largest elementary school is Brubaker Elementary School (622).
Des Moines Independent Comm School District operates the most schools here (59), and 4 regular districts have at least one Des Moines campus, plus 3 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 14.2:1, similar to the statewide school median of 13.7:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 3 charter schools, 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 8 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 6 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 7 of 8 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 74% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Des Moines
Des Moines Independent Comm School District
Public school district
59 schools in Des Moines
Saydel Comm School District
Public school district
3 schools in Des Moines
Great Oaks Des Moines
Independent charter agency
1 school in Des Moines
Horizon Science Academy Des Moines
Independent charter agency
1 school in Des Moines
Opportunity Ed_Des Moines
Independent charter agency
1 school in Des Moines
Southeast Polk Comm School District
Public school district
1 school in Des Moines · 11 total
West Des Moines Comm School District
Public school district
1 school in Des Moines · 13 total
Elementary schools in Des Moines
42| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brubaker Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–05 | 622 | 12.1:1 | |
| Capitol View Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | PK–05 | 533 | 13.4:1 | |
| Carver Elementary Des Moines Independent Comm School District | PK–05 | 436 | 14.2:1 | |
| Cattell Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–05 | 314 | 11.6:1 | |
| Clive Learning Academy West Des Moines Comm School District | PK–06 | 551 | 12.7:1 | |
| Cornell Elementary School Saydel Comm School District | PK–04 | 555 | 14.3:1 | |
| Cowles Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | PK–08 | 392 | 16.7:1 | |
| Delaware Elementary Southeast Polk Comm School District | PK–05 | 440 | 12.1:1 | |
| Downtown School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–05 | 197 | 13.4:1 | |
| Edmunds Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–06 | 259 | 9:1 | |
| Findley Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–06 | 324 | 12.7:1 | |
| Garton Elementary Des Moines Independent Comm School District | PK–05 | 535 | 14.9:1 | |
| Greenwood Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | PK–06 | 293 | 14.6:1 | |
| Hanawalt Elementary Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–05 | 312 | 13:1 | |
| Hillis Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–06 | 279 | 11.4:1 | |
| Horizon Science Academy DSM Horizon Science Academy Des Moines · Charter | PK–05 | 150 | 18.7:1 | |
| Howe Elementary Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–05 | 297 | 11.4:1 | |
| Hubbell Elementary Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–05 | 362 | 14.8:1 | |
| Jackson Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | PK–05 | 490 | 14.9:1 | |
| Jefferson Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | PK–05 | 312 | 14.2:1 | |
| King Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–05 | 315 | 13.1:1 | |
| Lovejoy Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–05 | 394 | 12.1:1 | |
| Madison Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | PK–05 | 285 | 12.1:1 | |
| McKinley Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | PK–05 | 275 | 12:1 | |
| Monroe Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–05 | 341 | 11.4:1 | |
| Moore Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–05 | 285 | 12.1:1 | |
| Morris Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–05 | 519 | 13.3:1 | |
| Moulton Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | PK–05 | 465 | 14.3:1 | |
| Oak Park Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–05 | 288 | 10.6:1 | |
| Park Ave Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–05 | 380 | 13.2:1 | |
| Perkins Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–05 | 438 | 15:1 | |
| Phillips Elementary Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–05 | 263 | 11:1 | |
| Pleasant Hill Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | PK–05 | 241 | 11.9:1 | |
| River Woods Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–05 | 493 | 11.5:1 | |
| Samuelson Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–05 | 386 | 12.6:1 | |
| South Union Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–06 | 422 | 12.5:1 | |
| Stowe Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–05 | 297 | 12.1:1 | |
| Studebaker Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–05 | 561 | 13.1:1 | |
| Walnut Street School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | PK–05 | 257 | 14.9:1 | |
| Willard Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–05 | 247 | 10.4:1 | |
| Windsor Elementary Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–05 | 254 | 11.8:1 | |
| Wright Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | KG–05 | 265 | 12.2:1 |
Middle schools in Des Moines
11| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brody Middle School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | 06–08 | 641 | 16.4:1 | |
| Callanan Middle School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | 06–08 | 553 | 15.8:1 | |
| Goodrell Middle School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | 06–08 | 511 | 15.3:1 | |
| Harding Middle School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | 06–08 | 603 | 15.8:1 | |
| Hiatt Middle School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | 06–08 | 488 | 14.1:1 | |
| Hoyt Middle School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | 06–08 | 455 | 15.8:1 | |
| McCombs Middle School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | 06–08 | 670 | 16.8:1 | |
| Meredith Middle School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | 06–08 | 662 | 16.4:1 | |
| Merrill Middle School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | 06–08 | 657 | 16.8:1 | |
| Weeks Middle School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | 06–08 | 688 | 14.2:1 | |
| Woodside Middle School Saydel Comm School District | 05–08 | 396 | 14.4:1 |
High schools in Des Moines
8| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East High School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | 09–12 | 1,952 | 21.8:1 | |
| Great Oaks DSM Great Oaks Des Moines · Charter | 09–12 | 72 | 24.2:1 | |
| Hoover High School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | 09–12 | 898 | 20.6:1 | |
| Lincoln High School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | 09–12 | 2,364 | 25.2:1 | |
| North High School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | 09–12 | 1,428 | 21.5:1 | |
| Roosevelt High School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | 09–12 | 2,051 | 31.2:1 | |
| Saydel High School Saydel Comm School District | 09–12 | 458 | 16.6:1 | |
| Virtual Campus Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Virtual | 09–12 | 380 | 24:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Des Moines
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jessie Franklin Taylor Des Moines Independent Comm School District | PK–PK | 195 | 17.1:1 | |
| McKee Elementary School Des Moines Independent Comm School District | PK–PK | 235 | 19.6:1 | |
| Mitchell Early Childhood Center Des Moines Independent Comm School District | PK–PK | 292 | 18.3:1 | |
| OEN - Des Moines Prep Opportunity Ed_Des Moines · Charter | 08–09 | — | — | |
| Ruby Van Meter Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Special Education School | KG–12 | 109 | 5:1 | |
| Woodlawn Early Childhood Center Des Moines Independent Comm School District | PK–PK | 216 | 18.9:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White32.9%
- Hispanic31.3%
- Black20.9%
- Asian7.1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.3%
- Multiracial7.1%
Enrollment-weighted across 66 Des Moines schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (32,298 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Des Moines
How many public schools are in Des Moines, IA?
The current NCES directory lists 67 open public schools with a location address in Des Moines: 42 elementary, 11 middle, 8 high, 6 combined or other. Together they reported 32,298 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Des Moines?
Schools with an address in Des Moines belong to 7 education agencies, led by Des Moines Independent Comm School District (59 schools), Saydel Comm School District (3 schools), Great Oaks Des Moines (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Des Moines?
Lincoln High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Des Moines, with 2,364 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Des Moines?
Yes. 3 of the 67 public schools in Des Moines are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Great Oaks DSM, Horizon Science Academy DSM, OEN - Des Moines Prep. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Des Moines schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Des Moines public schools is 14.2:1, similar to the Iowa school median of 13.7:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Des Moines guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Iowa cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Iowa cities