Iowa›Polk County›Des Moines
Best Schools in Des Moines, Iowa
Compare 66 elementary, middle, and high schools. View ratings, test scores, reviews, and more.
66
Total Schools
Public & Charter Schools
32,298
Total Students
Across Des Moines
14.4:1
Avg Student-Teacher Ratio
District average
66 schools found
Advanced Insights & Statistics
Dynamic metrics computed specifically for currently filtered schools
Academic Proficiency Averages
Math Assessment Score60%
ELA Assessment Score66%
🎯 Proficiency averages represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding state proficiency standard benchmarks.
Classroom Attention Ratio
Favorable Class Size (<15:1)16 Schools
Moderate Class Size (15-20:1)3 Schools
Larger Class Size (>20:1)1 Schools
💡 Lower classroom ratios are associated with greater individual student support, tutoring efficiency, and learning success.
Filtered Quality Highlights
- ✓5% of schools in this view have an Overall Rating of 8.0/10 or above.
- ✓Largest student enrollment is 2,051 students at Roosevelt High School.
- ✓Best student-teacher ratio is 10:1, offering optimal classroom attention.
🏆 Quality highlights let you quickly understand extremes within your current search criteria.
Cowles Elementary School
publicmiddlePK-8
6401 College Ave, Des Moines, IA 50324
8.2
Rating
Students
392
Student-Teacher
16:1
ELA Proficiency
87%
Math Proficiency
77%
Downtown School
publicelementaryK-5
1800 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309
7.7
Rating
Students
197
Student-Teacher
13:1
ELA Proficiency
82%
Math Proficiency
72%
Delaware Elementary
publicelementaryPK-5
4401 E 46Th St, Des Moines, IA 50317
7.5
Rating
Students
440
Student-Teacher
12:1
ELA Proficiency
77%
Math Proficiency
72%
Windsor Elementary
publicelementaryK-5
5912 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50311
6.7
Rating
Students
254
Student-Teacher
11:1
ELA Proficiency
67%
Math Proficiency
67%
Jefferson Elementary School
publicelementaryPK-5
2425 Watrous Ave, Des Moines, IA 50321
6.7
Rating
Students
312
Student-Teacher
14:1
ELA Proficiency
67%
Math Proficiency
67%
Cornell Elementary School
publicelementaryPK-4
5817 Ne 3Rd St, Des Moines, IA 50313
6.7
Rating
Students
555
Student-Teacher
14:1
ELA Proficiency
67%
Math Proficiency
67%
Hanawalt Elementary
publicelementaryK-5
225 56Th Street, Des Moines, IA 50312
6.7
Rating
Students
312
Student-Teacher
13:1
ELA Proficiency
72%
Math Proficiency
62%
Merrill Middle School
publicmiddleGrade 6-8
5301 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312
6.6
Rating
Students
657
Student-Teacher
16:1
ELA Proficiency
72%
Math Proficiency
60%
Greenwood Elementary School
publicelementaryPK-5
316 37Th Street, Des Moines, IA 50312
6.5
Rating
Students
293
Student-Teacher
14:1
ELA Proficiency
67%
Math Proficiency
62%
Hubbell Elementary
publicelementaryK-5
800 42Nd St, Des Moines, IA 50312
6.4
Rating
Students
362
Student-Teacher
14:1
ELA Proficiency
68%
Math Proficiency
60%
Clive Learning Academy
publicmiddlePK-6
1600 73Rd Street, Des Moines, IA 50324
6.2
Rating
Students
551
Student-Teacher
12:1
ELA Proficiency
63%
Math Proficiency
61%
Perkins Elementary School
publicelementaryK-5
4301 College, Des Moines, IA 50311
6.2
Rating
Students
438
Student-Teacher
15:1
ELA Proficiency
62%
Math Proficiency
62%
Roosevelt High School
publichighGrade 9-12
4419 Center St, Des Moines, IA 50312
6.1
Rating
Students
2,051
Student-Teacher
31:1
ELA Proficiency
69%
Math Proficiency
53%
Findley Elementary School
publicmiddleK-6
3025 Oxford Street, Des Moines, IA 50313
5.7
Rating
Students
324
Student-Teacher
12:1
ELA Proficiency
57%
Math Proficiency
57%
Samuelson Elementary School
publicelementaryK-5
3929 Bel-Aire Rd, Des Moines, IA 50310
5.7
Rating
Students
386
Student-Teacher
12:1
ELA Proficiency
57%
Math Proficiency
57%
Phillips Elementary
publicelementaryK-5
1701 Lay St, Des Moines, IA 50317
5.5
Rating
Students
263
Student-Teacher
10:1
ELA Proficiency
57%
Math Proficiency
52%
Pleasant Hill Elementary School
publicelementaryPK-5
4801 E Oakwood Dr, Des Moines, IA 50327
5.5
Rating
Students
241
Student-Teacher
11:1
ELA Proficiency
57%
Math Proficiency
52%
Woodside Middle School
publicmiddleGrade 5-8
5810 Ne 14Th St, Des Moines, IA 50313
5
Rating
Students
396
Student-Teacher
14:1
ELA Proficiency
53%
Math Proficiency
46%
Walnut Street School
publicelementaryPK-5
901 Walnut St, Des Moines, IA 50309
5
Rating
Students
257
Student-Teacher
14:1
ELA Proficiency
57%
Math Proficiency
42%
Willard Elementary School
publicelementaryK-5
2941 Dean Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50317
5
Rating
Students
247
Student-Teacher
10:1
ELA Proficiency
57%
Math Proficiency
42%
Detailed Overview of Schools in Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa is home to 66 schools serving over 32,298 students across elementary, middle, and high school levels. The district offers a mix of public, charter, and private institutions with strong academic programs and diverse extracurricular activities.
Data sourced from NCES, CCD, and state education agencies. See methodology →
Verified with NCES & state education agency data
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Des Moines, Iowa?
There are 66 schools in Des Moines, serving 32,298 students across elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the best elementary school in Des Moines?
Based on our ratings, the top-rated elementary schools in Des Moines include schools with ratings of 9.0 or higher. Use our filters to view all elementary schools sorted by rating.
What is the average student-teacher ratio in Des Moines?
The average student-teacher ratio across all schools in Des Moines is 14.4:1.