Best Schools in Polk County, IA
Polk County, IA has a total of 173 schools including 31 high schools, 28 middle schools and 112 elementary schools. A total of 93,111 students attend Polk County, IA schools. On average, schools in Polk County score 58% on their proficiency tests, and we project an average score of 49% on those same proficiency tests. Comparing the differences, on average, schools in Polk County greatly exceed expectations.
Best High Schools in Polk County, IA
Polk County, IA has 31 high schools with 31,671 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 Polk County score 63% on their proficiency tests, and we project and average score of 55% on those same proficiency tests. Comparing the differences, on average, high schools in Polk County greatly exceed expectations.
1. North Polk High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Polk Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 647 Students
2. Ankeny High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ankeny Comm School District • Public • Grades 1 - 12 • 1347 Students
3. Ankeny Centennial High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ankeny Comm School District • Public • Grades 1 - 12 • 1443 Students
4. Woodward-granger High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Woodward-granger Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 260 Students
5. Dallas Center-grimes High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dallas Center-grimes Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 978 Students
6. Johnston Senior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Johnston Comm School District • Public • Grades 1 - 12 • 1790 Students
7. Bondurant-farrar High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Bondurant-farrar Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 761 Students
8. Valley High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
West Des Moines Comm School District • Public • Grades 1 - 12 • 2152 Students
9. Ballard High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ballard Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 545 Students
10. Pcm High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pcm Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 357 Students
Best Middle Schools in Polk County, IA
Polk County, IA has 28 middle schools with 16,584 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 Polk County score 59% on their proficiency tests, and we project and average score of 53% on those same proficiency tests. Comparing the differences, on average, middle schools in Polk County greatly exceed expectations.
1. North Polk Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Polk Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 455 Students
2. Ballard Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ballard Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 432 Students
3. Prairie Ridge Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ankeny Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 7 • 1025 Students
4. Woodward-granger Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Woodward-granger Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 208 Students
5. Dallas Center-grimes Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dallas Center-grimes Comm School District • Public • Grades 5 - 6 • 527 Students
6. Parkview Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ankeny Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 7 • 867 Students
7. Spring Creek - 6th Grade
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Southeast Polk Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 • 535 Students
8. Summit Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Johnston Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 7 • 1112 Students
9. Bondurant - Farrar Intermediate School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Bondurant-farrar Comm School District • Public • Grades 5 - 6 • 380 Students
10. Stilwell Junior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
West Des Moines Comm School District • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 684 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Polk County, IA
Polk County, IA has 112 elementary schools with 44,743 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 Polk County score 55% on their proficiency tests, and we project and average score of 46% on those same proficiency tests. Comparing the differences, on average, elementary schools in Polk County 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. North Ridge Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dallas Center-grimes Comm School District • Public • Grades KG - 4 • 427 Students
6. Northeast Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ankeny Comm School District • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 655 Students
7. Henry A Wallace Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Johnston Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 876 Students
8. Rock Creek Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ankeny Comm School District • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 732 Students
9. Ashland Ridge Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ankeny Comm School District • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 759 Students
10. Webster Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Urbandale Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 510 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Polk County, IA
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Polk County, IA has a total population of 492,401 with 25% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 92%, and 40% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Polk County, 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 Polk County, IA.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
17.78 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
3.00 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
14.78 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Polk County, IA.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Polk County, 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 Polk County, IA Internet Health Assessment.
Best Schools in Cities Near Polk County, IA
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual Test Scores: 72%
- Projected Test Scores: 63%
- Teacher Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 62%
- Projected Test Scores: 57%
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- Actual Test Scores: 66%
- Projected Test Scores: 60%
- Teacher Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 73%
- Projected Test Scores: 62%
- Teacher Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 67%
- Projected Test Scores: 60%
- Teacher Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 71%
- Projected Test Scores: 60%
- Teacher Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 65%
- Projected Test Scores: 61%
- Teacher Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 65%
- Projected Test Scores: 58%
- Teacher Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 59%
- Projected Test Scores: 51%
- Teacher Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 61%
- Projected Test Scores: 57%
- Teacher Grade: Exceeds Expectations