Des Moines Independent Comm School District

2100 Fleur Drive
Des Moines, IA 50321
(District boundaries shown in map)
1/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Des Moines Independent Comm School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Iowa for:

Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 16 public preschools serving 5,452 students in Des Moines Independent Comm School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in Iowa.
Public Preschools in Des Moines Independent Comm School District have an average math proficiency score of 51% (versus the Iowa public pre school average of 73%), and reading proficiency score of 49% (versus the 69% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 69% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Iowa public preschool average of 28% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (IA)
# Schools
59 Schools
485 Schools
# Students
29,676 Students
151,498 Students
# Teachers
1,894 Teachers
11,218 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Des Moines Independent Comm School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 325 school districts in Iowa (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 73% has decreased from 81% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (IA)
#325 out of 327 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
43%
68%
49%
70%
41%
63%
73%
90%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.75
0.46
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
8%
2%
% Hispanic
32%
13%
% Black
22%
7%
% White
31%
72%
% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
% Two or more races
7%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $19,894 is higher than the state median of $16,592. The school district revenue/student has grown by 22% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $17,302 is higher than the state median of $16,163. The school district spending/student has grown by 15% over four school years.
This School District
This State (IA)
Total Revenue
$590 MM
$8,262 MM
Spending
$513 MM
$8,048 MM
Revenue / Student
$19,894
$16,592
Spending / Student
$17,302
$16,163

Best Des Moines Independent Comm School District Public Preschools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Cowles Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
6401 College Ave
Windsor Heights, IA 50324
(515) 242-7818
Gr: PK-8 | 392 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #22.
Jefferson Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2425 Watrous Ave
Des Moines, IA 50321
(515) 242-8416
Gr: PK-5 | 312 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #33.
Greenwood Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
316 37th Street
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8410
Gr: PK-5 | 293 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #44.
Walnut Street School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
901 Walnut St
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 242-8438
Gr: PK-5 | 257 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #55.
Pleasant Hill Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
4801 E Oakwood Dr
Pleasant Hill, IA 50327
(515) 242-8432
Gr: PK-5 | 241 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #66.
Jackson Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
3825 Indianola Ave
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8415
Gr: PK-5 | 490 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #77.
Mckinley Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1610 Se 6th Street
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8423
Gr: PK-5 | 275 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #88.
Moulton Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1541 8th Street
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 242-8427
Gr: PK-5 | 465 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #99.
Garton Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2820 E 24th St
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8408
Gr: PK-5 | 535 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #1010.
Madison Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
806 E Hoffman St
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-8420
Gr: PK-5 | 285 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #1111.
Capitol View Elementary School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
320 E. 16th
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-8402
Gr: PK-5 | 533 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #1212.
Carver Elementary School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
705 E University Ave
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-8418
Gr: PK-5 | 436 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: n/an/a
Jessie Franklin Taylor
1801 16th Street
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 242-8424
Gr: PK | 195 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: n/an/a
2115 E 39th St
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 323-8628
Gr: PK | 235 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: n/an/a
111 Porter
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-8424
Gr: PK | 292 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: n/an/a
4000 Lower Beaver Rd
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-8213
Gr: PK | 216 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 76%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 59 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 29,676 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 70%
  • : 73% (Top 50% in IA)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 43% (Btm 50%)
  • : 49% (Btm 50%)
  • : 41% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education

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