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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Dallas County Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 31 public schools serving 16,773 students in Dallas County, IA (there are 5 private schools, serving 389 private students). 97% of all K-12 students in Dallas County, IA are educated in public schools (compared to the IA state average of 91%). Dallas County has one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools in Iowa.
The top-ranked public schools in Dallas County, IA are Van Meter Elementary School, Van Meter Middle School and Van Meter High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Dallas County, IA public schools have an average math proficiency score of 78% (versus the Iowa public school average of 68%), and reading proficiency score of 80% (versus the 70% statewide average). Schools in Dallas County have an average ranking of 10/10, which is in the top 10% of Iowa public schools.
Minority enrollment is 27% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Iowa public school average of 30% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public Schools in Dallas County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Van Meter Elementary School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 93%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
520 1st Ave
Van Meter, IA 50261
(515) 996-2221
Gr: PK-5 | 578 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #22.
Van Meter Middle School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 92%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
520 1st Ave
Van Meter, IA 50261
(515) 996-2221
Gr: 6-8 | 252 students Student-teacher ratio: 32:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #33.
Van Meter High School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 91%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
520 1st Ave
Van Meter, IA 50261
(515) 996-2221
Gr: 9-12 | 316 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #44.
Waukee Elementary School
(Math: 87% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
850 6th St
Waukee, IA 50263
(515) 987-5193
Gr: K-5 | 706 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #55.
Adm Senior High School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
801 Nile Kinnick Dr S
Adel, IA 50003
(515) 993-4584
Gr: 9-12 | 666 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #66.
Meadow View Elementary School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1300 S. 15th Street
Adel, IA 50003
(515) 993-4283
Gr: 2-4 | 520 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #77.
Adm Middle School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
801 Nile Kinnick Dr. S.
Adel, IA 50003
(515) 993-3490
Gr: 7-8 | 352 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #88.
Waukee Middle School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
905 S. Warrior Lane
Waukee, IA 50263
(515) 987-5177
Gr: 6-8 | 867 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #99.
Grant Ragan Elementary School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
645 Ne Dartmoor Drive
Waukee, IA 50263
(515) 987-0435
Gr: K-5 | 666 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #1010.
Woodward-granger Elementary School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2002 Oak Street
Granger, IA 50109
(515) 999-2357
Gr: 2-5 | 349 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #1111.
Woodward-granger High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
306 W 3rd St
Woodward, IA 50276
(515) 438-2115
Gr: 9-12 | 270 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 4%
Rank: #1212.
Desoto Intermediate School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
317 Spruce St
De Soto, IA 50069
(515) 834-2424
Gr: 5-6 | 337 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #1313.
Prairieview School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
655 Se University Ave
Waukee, IA 50263
(515) 987-2770
Gr: 9 | 539 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #1414.
Woodward-granger Middle School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
306 W 3rd St
Woodward, IA 50276
(515) 438-4263
Gr: 6-8 | 248 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #1515.
Northwest High School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
655 Nw 10th St
Waukee, IA 50263
(515) 987-5161
Gr: 10-12 | 1,574 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #1616.
Timberline School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2605 Se La Grant Parkway
Waukee, IA 50263
(515) 987-9444
Gr: 8-9 | 992 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #1717.
Eason Elementary School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
605 Se Boone Dr
Waukee, IA 50263
(515) 987-5200
Gr: K-5 | 590 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #1818.
South Middle School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2350 Se La Grant Parkway
Waukee, IA 50263
(515) 987-3222
Gr: 6-7 | 1,092 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #19 - 2019. - 20.
Dexter Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
803 Washington Street
Dexter, IA 50070
(515) 789-4480
Gr: 3-5 | 186 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #19 - 2019. - 20.
West Central Valley Middle School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1375 High St.
Redfield, IA 50233
(515) 833-2331
Gr: 6-8 | 191 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #2121.
Waukee High School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
555 Se University Avenue
Waukee, IA 50263
(515) 987-5163
Gr: 10-12 | 1,375 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #2222.
Perry Elementary School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1600 8th Street
Perry, IA 50220
(515) 465-5656
Gr: PK-5 | 816 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #2323.
Perry High School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1200 18th Street
Perry, IA 50220
(515) 465-3503
Gr: 9-12 | 549 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #2424.
Perry Middle School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1200 18th Street
Perry, IA 50220
(515) 465-3531
Gr: 6-8 | 370 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #2525.
Woodward Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1251 334th St
Woodward, IA 50276
(515) 438-3150
Gr: 5-12 | 110 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: n/an/a
Adel Elementary School
1608 Grove St.
Adel, IA 50003
(515) 993-4285
Gr: PK-1 | 403 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: n/an/a
North Middle School
1235 Nw Douglas Pkwy
Waukee, IA 50263
(515) 987-5161
Rank: n/an/a
Sugar Creek Elementary School
965 Ashworth Rd
Waukee, IA 50263
(515) 987-5160
Gr: K-5 | 630 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: n/an/a
Trailridge School
1455 Nw Douglas Parkway
Waukee, IA 50263
(515) 987-5161
Gr: 6-8 | 754 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: n/an/a
Vince Meyer Early Learning Center
430 Ashowrth Dr
Waukee, IA 50263
(515) 987-5160
Gr: PK | 348 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: n/an/a
Woodward-granger Early Learning Center
2200 State Street
Granger, IA 50109
(515) 999-8058
Gr: PK-1 | 253 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 10%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in Dallas County, IA?
The top-ranked public schools in Dallas County, IA include Van Meter Elementary School, Van Meter Middle School and Van Meter High School. Dallas County has one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools in Iowa.
How many public schools are located in Dallas County?
30 public schools are located in Dallas County.
What percentage of students in Dallas County go to public school?
97% of all K-12 students in Dallas County are educated in public schools (compared to the IA state average of 91%).
What is the racial composition of students in Dallas County?
Dallas County public schools minority enrollment is 27% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Iowa public schools average of 30% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in Dallas County are often viewed compared to one another?

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