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Data on this report is based on areas within the legal city boundary, outlined in black on the map. Any additional neighborhoods shown on the map are associated with the city by name and are included for reference only.
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Des Moines, IA
Public School Ratings




Des Moines Public Schools

Source & Methodology

Analytics built by:   Location, Inc.

Raw data sources:
  • Test Scores: Edfacts (U.S. Department of Education), State departments of education.
  • Expenditures: National Center for Education Statistics.
  • Educational Environment: American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau).
Date(s) & Update Frequency:
  • Test data: Reflects 2023 – 2024 school year.
  • Expenditures: 2022
  • Educational Environment: 2023 (latest available). Updated annually.
  • All data updated June 2025

Methodology:   Only NeighborhoodScout gives you nationally comparable school ranks based on test scores, so you can directly compare the quality of schools in any location. Read more about Scout's School Data


School Districts in Des Moines


Des Moines Independent Comm School District details

Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2100 Fleur Drive
Des Moines, IA 50321

30,277 Students enrolled in District

59 Schools in District

15 Students Per Classroom (State average is 14)

Des Moines Independent Comm School District School Quality Ratings

District Quality Compared to Iowa

1

(10 is best)

Better than 1.6% of all IA school districts.

District Quality Compared to U.S.

2

(10 is best)

Better than 10.5% of all U.S. school districts.

Get Full Reports for Any School in This District

See All Schools


Public School Test Scores

80 60 40 20 0
48%
71%
50%
72%
46%
69%
    Proficiency in Reading and Math
    Proficiency in Reading
    Proficiency in Math

Schools in this District

School Grades
Brody Middle School
2501 Park Ave
Des Moines, IA, 50321
06-08
Brubaker Elementary School
2900 E 42nd Street
Des Moines, IA, 50317
KG-05
Callanan Middle School
3010 Center Street
Des Moines, IA, 50312
06-08
Capitol View Elementary School
320 E. 16th
Des Moines, IA, 50316
PK-05
Carver Elementary School
705 E University Ave
Des Moines, IA, 50316
PK-05
Cattell Elementary School
3101 E 12th St
Des Moines, IA, 50316
KG-05
Cowles Elementary School
6401 College Ave
Des Moines, IA, 50324
PK-08
Downtown School
1800 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA, 50309
KG-05
East High School
815 E 13th St
Des Moines, IA, 50316
09-12
Edmunds Elementary School
950 15th Street
Des Moines, IA, 50314
KG-05
SEE MORE SCHOOLS IN THIS DISTRICT

School District Enrollment by Group

Ethnic/Racial Groups This District This State
White (non-hispanic) 34.6% 75.0%
Black 22.9% 7.5%
Hispanic 33.4% 13.7%
Asian Or Pacific Islander 8.3% 2.6%
American Indian Or Native Of Alaska 0.7% 1.1%
Economic Groups This District This State
Economically disadvantaged 69.1% 40.8%
Free lunch eligible 67.7% 36.0%
Reduced lunch eligible 1.5% 4.8%

Educational Expenditures

For this District Per Student Total % of Total
Instructional Expenditures $8,157 $246,964,000 48.5%
Support Expenditures
Student $1,243 $37,634,000 7.4%
Staff $962 $29,129,000 5.7%
General Administration $281 $8,511,000 1.7%
School Administration $996 $30,149,000 5.9%
Operation $1,592 $48,198,000 9.5%
Transportation $365 $11,044,000 2.2%
Other $608 $18,415,000 3.6%
Total Support $6,047 $183,080,000 36.0%
Non-instructional Expenditures $2,613 $79,123,000 15.5%
Total Expenditures $16,817 $509,167,000 100.0%
For the State Per Student Total % of Total
Instructional Expenditures $7,867 $3,999,465,000 46.8%
Support Expenditures
Student $827 $420,541,000 4.9%
Staff $865 $439,588,000 5.1%
General Administration $335 $170,522,000 2.0%
School Administration $765 $388,681,000 4.6%
Operation $1,213 $616,942,000 7.2%
Transportation $481 $244,434,000 2.9%
Other $419 $213,166,000 2.5%
Total Support $4,905 $2,493,874,000 29.2%
Non-instructional Expenditures $4,028 $2,048,038,000 24.0%
Total Expenditures $16,800 $8,541,377,000 100.0%
For the Nation Per Student Total % of Total
Instructional Expenditures $9,169 $453,314,948,000 49.6%
Support Expenditures
Student $1,031 $50,976,033,477 5.6%
Staff $799 $39,519,417,000 4.3%
General Administration $308 $15,224,255,000 1.7%
School Administration $850 $42,029,112,000 4.6%
Operation $1,430 $70,704,769,000 7.7%
Transportation $613 $30,295,759,523 3.3%
Other $623 $30,798,344,000 3.4%
Total Support $5,654 $279,547,690,000 30.6%
Non-instructional Expenditures $3,675 $181,697,172,000 19.9%
Total Expenditures $18,499 $914,559,810,000 100.0%

Saydel Comm School District details

Saydel Comm School District
5740 Ne 14th Street
Des Moines, IA 50313

1,376 Students enrolled in District

3 Schools in District

14 Students Per Classroom (State average is 14)

Saydel Comm School District School Quality Ratings

District Quality Compared to Iowa

1

(10 is best)

Better than 8.1% of all IA school districts.

District Quality Compared to U.S.

3

(10 is best)

Better than 26.3% of all U.S. school districts.



Public School Test Scores

80 60 40 20 0
58%
71%
58%
72%
58%
69%
    Proficiency in Reading and Math
    Proficiency in Reading
    Proficiency in Math

Schools in this District

School Grades
Cornell Elementary School
5817 Ne 3rd St
Des Moines, IA, 50313
PK-04
Saydel High School
5601 Ne 7th St
Des Moines, IA, 50313
09-12
Woodside Middle School
5810 Ne 14th St
Des Moines, IA, 50313
05-08

School District Enrollment by Group

Ethnic/Racial Groups This District This State
White (non-hispanic) 76.6% 75.0%
Black 0.8% 7.5%
Hispanic 21.8% 13.7%
Asian Or Pacific Islander 0.7% 2.6%
American Indian Or Native Of Alaska 0.2% 1.1%
Economic Groups This District This State
Economically disadvantaged 46.7% 40.8%
Free lunch eligible 42.6% 36.0%
Reduced lunch eligible 4.1% 4.8%

Educational Expenditures

For this District Per Student Total % of Total
Instructional Expenditures $7,525 $10,354,000 27.3%
Support Expenditures
Student $448 $617,000 1.6%
Staff $1,295 $1,782,000 4.7%
General Administration $390 $536,000 1.4%
School Administration $855 $1,176,000 3.1%
Operation $1,498 $2,061,000 5.4%
Transportation $772 $1,062,000 2.8%
Other $680 $936,000 2.5%
Total Support $5,938 $8,170,000 21.6%
Non-instructional Expenditures $14,053 $19,337,000 51.1%
Total Expenditures $27,515 $37,861,000 100.0%
For the State Per Student Total % of Total
Instructional Expenditures $7,867 $3,999,465,000 46.8%
Support Expenditures
Student $827 $420,541,000 4.9%
Staff $865 $439,588,000 5.1%
General Administration $335 $170,522,000 2.0%
School Administration $765 $388,681,000 4.6%
Operation $1,213 $616,942,000 7.2%
Transportation $481 $244,434,000 2.9%
Other $419 $213,166,000 2.5%
Total Support $4,905 $2,493,874,000 29.2%
Non-instructional Expenditures $4,028 $2,048,038,000 24.0%
Total Expenditures $16,800 $8,541,377,000 100.0%
For the Nation Per Student Total % of Total
Instructional Expenditures $9,169 $453,314,948,000 49.6%
Support Expenditures
Student $1,031 $50,976,033,477 5.6%
Staff $799 $39,519,417,000 4.3%
General Administration $308 $15,224,255,000 1.7%
School Administration $850 $42,029,112,000 4.6%
Operation $1,430 $70,704,769,000 7.7%
Transportation $613 $30,295,759,523 3.3%
Other $623 $30,798,344,000 3.4%
Total Support $5,654 $279,547,690,000 30.6%
Non-instructional Expenditures $3,675 $181,697,172,000 19.9%
Total Expenditures $18,499 $914,559,810,000 100.0%

School Districts serving Des Moines, IA

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