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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 2025 school year, there are 12 public middle schools serving 6,351 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 66% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is more than the Iowa public middle school average of 25% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (IA)
# Schools
59 Schools
376 Schools
# Students
29,871 Students
127,807 Students
# Teachers
1,899 Teachers
8,868 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
0.43
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
8%
2%
% Hispanic
31%
11%
% Black
22%
6%
% White
32%
75%
% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
% Two or more races
7%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $19,764 is higher than the state median of $16,468. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $17,189 is higher than the state median of $16,042. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat 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
$19,764
$16,468
Spending / Student
$17,189
$16,042

Best Des Moines Independent Comm School District Public Middle Schools (2025)

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 | 403 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
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 | 651 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 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 | 543 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
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 | 644 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
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 | 486 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
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 | 598 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
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 | 653 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
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 | 493 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
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 | 668 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
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 | 634 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 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 | 466 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 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 | 112 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 50%

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Quick Facts (2025)

  • District size: 59 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 29,871 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 68%
  • : 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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