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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Polk County Public High Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 22 public high schools serving 26,658 students in Polk County, IA.
The top-ranked public high schools in Polk County, IA are North Polk High School, Southview Middle School and Ankeny High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Polk County, IA public high schools have an average math proficiency score of 61% (versus the Iowa public high school average of 65%), and reading proficiency score of 70% (versus the 71% statewide average). High schools in Polk County have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Iowa public high schools.
Polk County, IA public high school have a Graduation Rate of 86%, which is less than the Iowa average of 87%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Urbandale High School, with 98% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Iowa or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 42% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Iowa public high school average of 28% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public High Schools in Polk County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
North Polk High School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
13930 Ne 6th St
Alleman, IA 50007
(515) 984-3400
Gr: 9-12 | 644 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #22.
Southview Middle School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1020 Sw Cherry St
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9635
Gr: 8-9 | 913 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #33.
Ankeny High School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1155 Sw Cherry St
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9630
Gr: 10-12 | 1,375 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #44.
Northview Middle School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1302 N Ankeny Blvd
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9700
Gr: 8-9 | 1,021 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #55.
Ankeny Centennial High School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2220 Nw State St
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9610
Gr: 10-12 | 1,470 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #66.
Dallas Center-grimes High School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2555 W 1st St
Grimes, IA 50111
(515) 986-9747
Gr: 9-12 | 1,073 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #77.
Johnston Middle School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
6501 Nw 62nd Ave
Johnston, IA 50131
(515) 278-0476
Gr: 8-9 | 1,161 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #88.
Johnston Senior High School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
6500 Nw 100th Street
Johnston, IA 50131
(515) 278-0449
Gr: 10-12 | 1,820 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #99.
Bondurant-farrar High School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1000 Grant St. North
Bondurant, IA 50035
(515) 957-8191
Gr: 9-12 | 849 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #1010.
Valley High School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
3650 Woodland Ave
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 633-4000
Gr: 10-12 | 2,178 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #1111.
Southeast Polk High School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
7945 Ne University Ave.
Pleasant Hill, IA 50327
(515) 967-6631
Gr: 10-12 | 1,722 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #1212.
Urbandale High School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
7111 Aurora Avenue
Urbandale, IA 50322
(515) 457-6800
Gr: 9-12 | 1,301 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #1313.
Valley Southwoods
(Math: 55% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
625 S 35th St
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-4500
Gr: 9 | 678 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #1414.
Roosevelt High School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
4419 Center St
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-7272
Gr: 9-12 | 2,051 students Student-teacher ratio: 31:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #1515.
Hoover High School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
4800 Aurora Ave
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-7300
Gr: 9-12 | 898 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #1616.
Saydel High School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
5601 Ne 7th St
Des Moines, IA 50313
(515) 262-9325
Gr: 9-12 | 458 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #1717.
Lincoln High School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2600 Sw 9th St
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-7500
Gr: 9-12 | 2,364 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #1818.
East High School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
815 E 13th St
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-7788
Gr: 9-12 | 1,952 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #1919.
North High School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
501 Holcomb Ave
Des Moines, IA 50313
(515) 242-7200
Gr: 9-12 | 1,428 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #2020.
Walnut Creek Campus
Alternative School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1020 8th Street
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-6480
Gr: 9-12 | 152 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #2121.
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%
Rank: n/an/a
Great Oaks High School And Career Center
100 East Euclid
Des Moines, IA 50313
(319) 321-9976
Gr: 9-12 | 72 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 68%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public high schools in Polk County, IA?
The top-ranked public high schools in Polk County, IA include North Polk High School, Southview Middle School and Ankeny High School.
How many public high schools are located in Polk County?
22 public high schools are located in Polk County.
What is the racial composition of students in Polk County?
Polk County public high schools minority enrollment is 42% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Iowa public high schools average of 28% (majority Hispanic).
Which public high schools in Polk County are often viewed compared to one another?

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