Public schools in Des Moines, WA
10 open public schools with an address in Des Moines, operated by 4 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
10
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
5,205
10 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
16.7:1
Washington median 16.7:1
Charter schools
1
0 virtual
An overview of Des Moines public schools
The federal directory lists 10 public schools in Des Moines, WA: 5 elementary, 1 middle, 4 high. The 10 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 5,205 students, an average of 521 per school. The largest campus is Mount Rainier High School (1,846 students), and the largest elementary school is Midway Elementary (548).
Highline School District operates the most schools here (7), and 3 regular districts have at least one Des Moines campus, plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. 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 16.7:1, similar to the statewide school median of 16.7:1. 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 1 charter school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 0 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 63% 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
Highline School District
Public school district
7 schools in Des Moines · 37 total
Federal Way School District
Public school district
1 school in Des Moines · 44 total
Tukwila School District
Public school district
1 school in Des Moines · 8 total
Why Not You Academy
Independent charter agency
1 school in Des Moines
Elementary schools in Des Moines
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines Elementary Highline School District | PK–05 | 500 | 15.7:1 | |
| Midway Elementary Highline School District | PK–05 | 548 | 17.8:1 | |
| North Hill Elementary Highline School District | PK–05 | 518 | 16.7:1 | |
| Parkside Elementary Highline School District | PK–05 | 535 | 18.8:1 | |
| Woodmont K-8 School Federal Way School District | KG–08 | 402 | 16.3:1 |
Middle schools in Des Moines
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Middle School Highline School District | 06–08 | 604 | 18.5:1 |
High schools in Des Moines
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cascade Public Schools Why Not You Academy · Charter | 09–12 | 126 | 15.8:1 | |
| Gateway to College Tukwila School District · Alternative School | 09–12 | 0 | — | |
| Maritime High School Highline School District | 09–12 | 126 | 15.4:1 | |
| Mount Rainier High School Highline School District | 09–12 | 1,846 | 24:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White20.9%
- Hispanic32.9%
- Black17%
- Asian14.3%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander3.6%
- Multiracial10.5%
Enrollment-weighted across 9 Des Moines schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (5,205 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Des Moines
How many public schools are in Des Moines, WA?
The current NCES directory lists 10 open public schools with a location address in Des Moines: 5 elementary, 1 middle, 4 high. Together they reported 5,205 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 4 education agencies, led by Highline School District (7 schools), Federal Way School District (1 school), Tukwila School District (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?
Mount Rainier High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Des Moines, with 1,846 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. 1 of the 10 public schools in Des Moines are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Cascade Public Schools. 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 16.7:1, similar to the Washington school median of 16.7:1. 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 Washington 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 Washington cities