Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::offsetGet($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetGet(mixed $offset): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 106 Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::offsetSet($offset, $value) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetSet(mixed $offset, mixed $value): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 115 Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::offsetUnset($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetUnset(mixed $offset): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 130 Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::current() should either be compatible with Iterator::current(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 48 Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::next() should either be compatible with Iterator::next(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 56 Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::rewind() should either be compatible with Iterator::rewind(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 80 Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Drivers\Memcached\Item::jsonSerialize() should either be compatible with JsonSerializable::jsonSerialize(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Core/Item/ItemExtendedTrait.php on line 438 Des Moines Independent Comm School District (2026) - Windsor Heights, IA
Public School Review - Established 2003

Des Moines Independent Comm School District

2100 Fleur Drive
Des Moines, IA 50321
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Tel: (515) 242-7911
www.dmschools.org

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 12 public middle schools serving 6,429 students in Des Moines Independent Comm School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in Iowa.
Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Independent Comm School District have an average math proficiency score of 42% (versus the Iowa public middle school average of 68%), and reading proficiency score of 48% (versus the 71% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 67% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Iowa public middle school average of 27% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (IA)
# Schools
59 Schools
372 Schools
# Students
29,676 Students
129,526 Students
# Teachers
1,894 Teachers
9,068 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1

Student By Grade

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends

GradeDes Moines Independent Comm School DistrictIowa
Pre-K840
Kind441
1371
2401
3401
4361
53816
62,01482
71,977109
82,051107
9423
101315
111116
124016
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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.
Definition of Terms
This School District
State Average (IA)
#325 out of 327 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

Overall School District Rank Trends

YearDes Moines Independent Comm School District
2023#325
2022#327
2021#327
2019#329
2018#331
2017#330
2016#333
2015#337
2014#340
2013#344
2012#344
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43%
68%

Math Proficiency Trends

YearDes Moines Independent Comm School DistrictIowa
202343%68%
202240%64%
202143%64%
201949%69%
201855%76%
201758%77%
201660%78%
201561%79%
201461%79%
201360%77%
201259%76%
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49%
70%

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends

YearDes Moines Independent Comm School DistrictIowa
202249%70%
202146%68%
201947%68%
201855%74%
201759%75%
201661%75%
201561%76%
201460%76%
201357%72%
201256%71%
201162%76%
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41%
63%

Science Proficiency Trends

YearDes Moines Independent Comm School DistrictIowa
202241%63%
202137%60%
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73%
90%

Graduation Rate Trends

YearDes Moines Independent Comm School DistrictIowa
202373%90%
202276%90%
202175%87%
202077%89%
201983%88%
201881%89%
201782%89%
201681%88%
201578%88%
201482%89%
201379%87%
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Students by Ethnicity:

0.75
0.45

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends

YearDes Moines Independent Comm School DistrictIowa
20240.750.48
20230.750.46
20220.750.45
20210.740.43
20200.740.42
20190.740.42
20180.720.39
20170.720.39
20160.720.38
20150.710.38
20140.710.37
20130.700.35
20120.700.34
20110.680.34
20100.670.32
20090.600.29
20080.580.28
20070.570.26
20060.550.23
20050.540.24
20040.520.22
20030.510.21
20020.490.20
20010.470.20
20000.430.15
19990.440.16
19980.430.15
19970.420.13
19960.390.13
19950.390.13
19940.360.13
19930.350.11
19920.330.10
19910.320.10
19900.320.10
19890.320.10
19880.310.10
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% American Indian
n/a
1%

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2001-2010)

YearDes Moines Independent Comm School DistrictIowa
20101%1%
20081%1%
20071%1%
20061%1%
20051%1%
20041%1%
20031%1%
20021%1%
20011%1%
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% Asian
8%
2%

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearDes Moines Independent Comm School DistrictIowa
20248%3%
20238%2%
20229%3%
20219%3%
20209%3%
20199%3%
20188%2%
20178%2%
20168%2%
20157%3%
20147%3%
20138%3%
20128%2%
20116%2%
20105%2%
20096%2%
20085%2%
20075%2%
20065%2%
20055%2%
20045%2%
20035%2%
20025%2%
20015%2%
20004%1%
19995%2%
19985%2%
19975%2%
19965%2%
19956%2%
19945%2%
19935%1%
19925%1%
19915%1%
19904%1%
19894%1%
19884%1%
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% Hispanic
32%
12%

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearDes Moines Independent Comm School DistrictIowa
202430%13%
202330%13%
202229%12%
202128%12%
202027%11%
201927%11%
201826%11%
201726%11%
201625%10%
201525%11%
201424%10%
201323%9%
201222%9%
201122%9%
201021%8%
200917%7%
200816%7%
200715%6%
200615%5%
200513%5%
200412%5%
200311%4%
200210%4%
20019%4%
20007%2%
19997%3%
19986%3%
19975%2%
19964%2%
19954%2%
19943%2%
19933%2%
19922%1%
19912%1%
19902%1%
19892%1%
19882%1%
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% Black
22%
6%

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearDes Moines Independent Comm School DistrictIowa
202421%7%
202321%7%
202221%7%
202121%7%
202020%6%
201920%6%
201819%6%
201719%6%
201618%6%
201518%5%
201418%5%
201317%5%
201217%5%
201117%5%
201017%5%
200919%6%
200818%6%
200717%5%
200617%4%
200516%5%
200416%4%
200315%4%
200215%4%
200115%4%
200014%3%
199915%4%
199814%3%
199714%3%
199614%3%
199513%3%
199413%3%
199313%3%
199212%3%
199111%3%
199012%3%
198912%3%
198812%3%
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% White
31%
73%

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearDes Moines Independent Comm School DistrictIowa
202433%71%
202334%72%
202235%73%
202136%74%
202038%75%
201938%75%
201841%77%
201741%77%
201643%78%
201544%78%
201445%79%
201346%80%
201247%81%
201149%81%
201051%82%
200958%84%
200860%84%
200762%86%
200662%88%
200565%87%
200466%88%
200368%89%
200269%89%
200170%89%
200074%94%
199972%91%
199874%92%
199775%93%
199677%93%
199576%93%
199479%93%
199379%94%
199281%95%
199182%95%
199082%95%
198982%95%
198882%95%
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% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
% Two or more races
7%
5%

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2010-2024)

YearDes Moines Independent Comm School DistrictIowa
20247%5%
20237%5%
20226%5%
20216%4%
20206%4%
20196%4%
20186%4%
20176%4%
20166%4%
20156%3%
20146%3%
20136%3%
20126%3%
20116%2%
20105%2%
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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.
Definition of Terms
This School District
This State (IA)
Total Revenue
$590 MM
$8,262 MM

Total Revenues Trends

YearDes Moines Independent Comm School DistrictIowa
2023$590 MM$12 MM
2022$532 MM$11 MM
2021$590 MM$12 MM
2020$532 MM$11 MM
2019$525 MM$11 MM
2018$509 MM$10 MM
2017$497 MM$10 MM
2016$483 MM$10 MM
2015$387 MM$7 MM
2014$443 MM$9 MM
2012$431 MM$9 MM
2011$414 MM$8 MM
2010$387 MM$7 MM
2009$399 MM$7 MM
2008$383 MM$7 MM
2007$365 MM$7 MM
2006$352 MM$6 MM
2005$343 MM$6 MM
2004$330 MM$6 MM
2003$327 MM$6 MM
2002$313 MM$6 MM
2001$307 MM$5 MM
2000$263 MM$5 MM
1999$246 MM$5 MM
1998$239 MM$5 MM
1997$220 MM$4 MM
1996$209 MM$4 MM
1995$202 MM$4 MM
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Spending
$513 MM
$8,048 MM

Total Expenditure Trends

YearDes Moines Independent Comm School DistrictIowa
2023$513 MM$11 MM
2022$494 MM$11 MM
2021$513 MM$11 MM
2020$494 MM$11 MM
2019$504 MM$10 MM
2018$497 MM$10 MM
2017$485 MM$10 MM
2016$489 MM$10 MM
2015$390 MM$7 MM
2014$448 MM$8 MM
2012$416 MM$8 MM
2011$405 MM$8 MM
2010$390 MM$7 MM
2009$382 MM$7 MM
2008$389 MM$7 MM
2007$376 MM$6 MM
2006$340 MM$6 MM
2005$304 MM$6 MM
2004$332 MM$6 MM
2003$337 MM$6 MM
2002$315 MM$6 MM
2001$288 MM$6 MM
2000$262 MM$5 MM
1999$239 MM$5 MM
1998$232 MM$5 MM
1997$225 MM$4 MM
1996$209 MM$4 MM
1995$199 MM$4 MM
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Revenue / Student
$19,894
$16,592

Average Revenue Per Student Trends

YearDes Moines Independent Comm School DistrictIowa
2023$19,498$15,936
2022$16,184$14,700
2021$18,852$16,172
2020$16,184$14,700
2019$15,840$14,749
2018$15,202$14,230
2017$14,898$14,844
2016$14,593$14,113
2015$11,796$11,259
2014$12,945$13,301
2012$12,872$12,751
2011$12,502$12,165
2010$11,817$11,259
2009$12,622$11,087
2008$11,938$10,485
2007$11,450$10,103
2006$10,979$9,628
2005$10,659$9,167
2004$10,606$8,727
2003$10,363$8,857
2002$9,786$8,158
2001$9,458$7,654
2000$8,361$7,180
1999$7,846$6,993
1998$7,556$6,548
1997$6,994$6,347
1995$6,575$5,735
1992$5,424$5,300
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Spending / Student
$17,302
$16,163

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends

YearDes Moines Independent Comm School DistrictIowa
2023$16,958$15,133
2022$15,011$14,340
2021$16,395$15,357
2020$15,011$14,340
2019$15,206$14,216
2018$14,825$13,767
2017$14,534$14,379
2016$14,789$14,161
2015$11,895$11,298
2014$13,091$12,593
2012$12,433$12,000
2011$12,225$11,589
2010$11,917$11,298
2009$12,074$10,614
2008$12,134$9,706
2007$11,812$9,439
2006$10,612$9,204
2005$9,458$8,457
2004$10,677$8,450
2003$10,681$8,908
2002$9,831$8,409
2001$8,874$7,961
2000$8,321$7,433
1999$7,602$7,234
1998$7,351$6,713
1997$7,161$6,475
1995$6,454$5,710
1992$5,839$5,398
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Best Des Moines Independent Comm School District Public Middle Schools (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.
Merrill Middle School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
5301 Grand Ave
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8448
Gr: 6-8 | 657 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #33.
Callanan Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
3010 Center Street
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8101
Gr: 6-8 | 553 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #44.
Mccombs Middle School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
201 Sw County Line Rd
Des Moines, IA 50320
(515) 242-8447
Gr: 6-8 | 670 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #55.
Hoyt Middle School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2700 E 42nd St
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8446
Gr: 6-8 | 455 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #66.
Brody Middle School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2501 Park Ave
Des Moines, IA 50321
(515) 242-8443
Gr: 6-8 | 641 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #77.
Meredith Middle School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
4827 Madison Ave
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-7250
Gr: 6-8 | 662 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #88.
Goodrell Middle School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
3300 E. 29th Street
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8444
Gr: 6-8 | 511 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #99.
Weeks Middle School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
901 East Park Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8449
Gr: 6-8 | 688 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #1010.
Harding Middle School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
203 E Euclid Ave
Des Moines, IA 50313
(515) 242-8445
Gr: 6-8 | 603 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #1111.
Hiatt Middle School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1430 E. University Ave
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-7774
Gr: 6-8 | 488 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #1212.
Ruby Van Meter
Special Education School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
710 28th St
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8220
Gr: K-12 | 109 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 55%

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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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