Best Schools in Polk County, IA
Polk County, IA has 179 public schools (23 high, 29 middle, 111 elementary) serving 95,555 students. On average they score 67% on state proficiency tests against a projected 52%, so schools in Polk County meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Polk County, IA
The top high schools in Polk County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Ankeny Centennial High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ankeny Comm School District • Public • Grades 10 - 12 • 1443 Students
2. Madrid High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Madrid Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 206 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. Johnston Senior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Johnston Comm School District • Public • Grades 10 - 12 • 1790 Students
5. Ankeny High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ankeny Comm School District • Public • Grades 10 - 12 • 1347 Students
6. Ballard High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ballard Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 545 Students
7. Dallas Center-grimes High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dallas Center-grimes Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 978 Students
8. Carlisle High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Carlisle Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 743 Students
9. Pcm High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pcm Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 357 Students
10. Woodward-granger High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Woodward-granger Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 260 Students
Best Middle Schools in Polk County, IA
The top middle schools in Polk County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. North Polk Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Polk Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 455 Students
2. Dc-g Oak View
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dallas Center-grimes Comm School District • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 578 Students
3. Dallas Center-grimes Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dallas Center-grimes Comm School District • Public • Grades 5 - 6 • 527 Students
4. Parkview Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ankeny Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 7 • 867 Students
5. Ballard Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ballard Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 432 Students
6. Prairie Ridge Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ankeny Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 7 • 1025 Students
7. Summit Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Johnston Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 7 • 1112 Students
8. Madrid Junior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Madrid Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 153 Students
9. Woodward-granger Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Woodward-granger Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 208 Students
10. Indian Hills Junior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
West Des Moines Comm School District • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 696 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Polk County, IA
The top elementary schools in Polk County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Bergman Academy
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Bergman Academy • Private • Grades Pre K - 8 • 321 Students
2. St Augustin Catholic School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
St Augustin Catholic School • Private • Grades Pre K - 8 • 279 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. Runnells Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Southeast Polk Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 269 Students
6. Dallas Center Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dallas Center-grimes Comm School District • Public • Grades KG - 4 • 199 Students
7. Cowles Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Des Moines Independent Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 8 • 391 Students
8. Collins-maxwell Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Collins-maxwell Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 204 Students
9. Webster Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Urbandale Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 510 Students
10. Heritage Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dallas Center-grimes Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 586 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.
Questions About Schools in Polk County, IA
How many schools are in Polk County, IA?
Polk County, IA has 179 public schools: 23 high schools, 29 middle schools and 111 elementary schools, serving 95,555 students in total.
How do schools in Polk County perform on state tests?
On average, 179 schools in Polk County score 67% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 52%, so on average schools in Polk County meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Polk County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Polk County, IA
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 79%
- Projected: 63%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 73%
- Projected: 63%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 81%
- Projected: 62%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 80%
- Projected: 67%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 76%
- Projected: 62%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 78%
- Projected: 64%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 75%
- Projected: 63%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 75%
- Projected: 56%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 68%
- Projected: 54%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 70%
- Projected: 57%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Polk County
13 places in Polk County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (13)
- Des Moines (64)
- Ankeny (17)
- West Des Moines (11)
- Johnston (8)
- Urbandale (7)
- Altoona (4)
- Bondurant (4)
- Pleasant Hill (4)
- Alleman (3)
- Grimes (3)
- Mitchellville (1)
- Polk City (1)
- Runnells (1)
School districts (10)
- Des Moines Independent Comm School District (59 schools)
- Ankeny Comm School District (17 schools)
- West Des Moines Comm School District (14 schools)
- Southeast Polk Comm School District (11 schools)
- Johnston Comm School District (8 schools)
- Urbandale Comm School District (7 schools)
- Bondurant-Farrar Comm School District (4 schools)
- Clayton Ridge Comm School District (4 schools)
- North Polk Comm School District (4 schools)
- Saydel Comm School District (3 schools)