Best Schools in Des Moines, IA
Des Moines, IA has a total of 288 schools including 62 high schools, 53 middle schools and 171 elementary schools. A total of 138,615 students attend Des Moines, IA schools. On average, schools in Des Moines score 62% on their proficiency tests, and we project an average score of 53% on those same proficiency tests. Comparing the differences, on average, schools in Des Moines greatly exceed expectations.
Best High Schools in Des Moines, IA
Des Moines, IA has 62 high schools with 46,056 students. Below are the top high schools based on their actual test performance displayed alongside our projected performance for their socioeconomic status and the Teacher Grade we assign based on expected performance. On average, high schools in Des Moines score 65% on their proficiency tests, and we project and average score of 58% on those same proficiency tests. Comparing the differences, on average, high schools in Des Moines greatly exceed expectations.
1. Van Meter High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Van Meter Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 292 Students
2. Pella High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pella Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 764 Students
3. North Polk High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Polk Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 647 Students
4. Ankeny High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ankeny Comm School District • Public • Grades 1 - 12 • 1347 Students
5. Ankeny Centennial High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ankeny Comm School District • Public • Grades 1 - 12 • 1443 Students
6. Adm Senior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Adel Desoto Minburn Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 651 Students
7. Grinnell Community Senior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Grinnell-newburg Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 471 Students
8. Woodward-granger High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Woodward-granger Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 260 Students
9. Dallas Center-grimes High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dallas Center-grimes Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 978 Students
10. Johnston Senior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Johnston Comm School District • Public • Grades 1 - 12 • 1790 Students
Best Middle Schools in Des Moines, IA
Des Moines, IA has 53 middle schools with 25,974 students. Below are the top middle schools based on their actual test performance displayed alongside our projected performance for their socioeconomic status and the Teacher Grade we assign based on expected performance. On average, middle schools in Des Moines score 65% on their proficiency tests, and we project and average score of 58% on those same proficiency tests. Comparing the differences, on average, middle schools in Des Moines greatly exceed expectations.
1. Pella Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pella Comm School District • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 382 Students
2. Van Meter Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Van Meter Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 227 Students
3. North Polk Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Polk Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 455 Students
4. Ballard Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ballard Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 432 Students
5. Prairie Ridge Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ankeny Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 7 • 1025 Students
6. Waukee Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Waukee Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 7 • 1069 Students
7. Dc-g Oak View
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dallas Center-grimes Comm School District • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 578 Students
8. Woodward-granger Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Woodward-granger Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 208 Students
9. Dallas Center-grimes Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dallas Center-grimes Comm School District • Public • Grades 5 - 6 • 527 Students
10. Adm Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Adel Desoto Minburn Comm School District • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 343 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Des Moines, IA
Des Moines, IA has 171 elementary schools with 66,472 students. Below are the top elementary schools based on their actual test performance displayed alongside our projected performance for their socioeconomic status and the Teacher Grade we assign based on expected performance. On average, elementary schools in Des Moines score 58% on their proficiency tests, and we project and average score of 50% on those same proficiency tests. Comparing the differences, on average, elementary schools in Des Moines greatly exceed expectations.
1. Cowles Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Des Moines Independent Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 8 • 391 Students
2. North Polk West Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Polk Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 2 • 426 Students
3. Mitchellville Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Southeast Polk Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 242 Students
4. Prairie Trail Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ankeny Comm School District • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 571 Students
5. Shuler Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Waukee Comm School District • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 658 Students
6. North Ridge Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dallas Center-grimes Comm School District • Public • Grades KG - 4 • 427 Students
7. Walnut Hills Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Waukee Comm School District • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 625 Students
8. Northeast Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ankeny Comm School District • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 655 Students
9. Van Meter Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Van Meter Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 571 Students
10. Henry A Wallace Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Johnston Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 876 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Des Moines, IA
City-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Des Moines, IA has a total population of 709,466 with 25% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 93%, and 40% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Des Moines, IA
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Des Moines, IA.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
15.63 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
3.04 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
12.60 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Des Moines, IA.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Des Moines, IA.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Des Moines, IA Internet Health Assessment.
Best Schools in Cities Near Des Moines, IA
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual Test Scores: 57%
- Projected Test Scores: 50%
- Teacher Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 59%
- Projected Test Scores: 55%
- Teacher Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 63%
- Projected Test Scores: 60%
- Teacher Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 66%
- Projected Test Scores: 58%
- Teacher Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 63%
- Projected Test Scores: 54%
- Teacher Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 69%
- Projected Test Scores: 64%
- Teacher Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 73%
- Projected Test Scores: 65%
- Teacher Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 60%
- Projected Test Scores: 55%
- Teacher Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 57%
- Projected Test Scores: 55%
- Teacher Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 63%
- Projected Test Scores: 62%
- Teacher Grade: Meets Expectations