Best Schools in Des Moines, Iowa
77 schools · 51 Elementary · 11 Middle · 7 High · 8 Other
Choosing a school in Des Moines?
Use this page to compare every school in Des Moines by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Delaware Elementary
Elementary · Southeast Polk Comm School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Mt Olive Lutheran School
Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Holy Family School
Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Des Moines for 2026 are Delaware Elementary (8.9/10), Mt Olive Lutheran School (8.5/10), and Holy Family School (8.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 50 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
77
64 public · 13 private
Avg Score
4.8
out of 10
Median Home
$218,054
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
77
64 public · 13 private
Avg Score
4.8
out of 10
Median Home
$218,054
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Rates 8.9/10 despite 46% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.5 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Des Moines schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Des Moines
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (50 of 77). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware Elementary | 8.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Mt Olive Lutheran School | 8.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Holy Family School | 8.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Joshua Christian Academy | 8.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Bergman Academy | 8.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Cornell Elementary School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Cowles Elementary School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Willard Elementary School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 9 | Moore Elementary School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Woodside Middle School | 6.8 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 4.8/10
- Median household income
- $69,144
- Median home value
- $218,054
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 33%
- Avg commute
- 20 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 62%
10% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Des Moines compares
Iowa rank
#160 of 175
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.5
below Iowa avg (6.3)
Median household income
$69k
91% of Iowa median
Schools in this city
77
Education Snapshot
Des Moines, IowaDes Moines operates 77 schools across 4 districts, serving approximately 35,091 students. The level mix skews elementary-heavy — 51 elementary schools against just 7 high schools — which means secondary options are narrow relative to the city's enrollment base. The average MySchoolScout composite rating of 4.8/10 sits 1.5 points below Iowa's state average of 6.3/10, a meaningful gap that reflects system-wide performance pressure rather than a few outlier campuses dragging the number down. Economic indicators reinforce that picture: Des Moines's median household income of $68,900 runs 11% below the Iowa state median of $77,713, and 30% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Families moving from higher-rated Iowa markets will feel the rating gap immediately; those already in Des Moines should filter school-by-school within the 4-district system, since individual schools likely vary considerably above and below that 4.8 composite.
About Schools in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines has 64 ranked public schools, giving families a wide range of options across the metro. The district average sits at 5.6 out of 10, which places the city in moderate territory statewide. That average, though, masks real variation — 11 schools, or 17% of the total, score 7 or higher, meaning strong options exist for parents willing to research by neighborhood or enrollment zone.
Elementary schools dominate the top of the local rankings. Cornell Elementary School leads the city with a score of 7.9 out of 10, followed closely by Garton Elementary at 7.8 and Moulton Elementary School at 7.6. Clive Learning Academy ties Moulton at 7.6, and South Union Elementary School rounds out the top five at 7.4. The concentration of high performers at the elementary level signals that families with younger children have the most choices when seeking above-average academics within the public system.
The 5.6 city average means roughly half the schools fall below that mark, so location within Des Moines matters significantly. Parents in the western suburbs and areas served by higher-rated elementaries will generally find stronger academic profiles than those in other parts of the metro. Families without a clear top-tier school in their attendance zone should look closely at magnet and open-enrollment options — Clive Learning Academy's presence in the top five suggests that choice programs can offer competitive performance independent of home address.
Practically speaking, parents researching Des Moines should prioritize individual school scores over the city average. The gap between the top school at 7.9 and schools at the lower end of the range is substantial, and those differences translate into real disparities in tested outcomes and resources. Start with the 11 schools scoring 7 or above as a shortlist, then factor in commute, program fit, and grade span. Des Moines gives families enough ranked schools to compare meaningfully — use the data to narrow the field before scheduling visits.
Elementary Schools
51 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 423 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.9 |
| 2 | 560 students · Pre-K–4th | 8.0 |
| 3 | 403 students · Pre-K–8th | 7.7 |
| 4 | 282 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.4 |
| 5 | 298 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.9 |
| 6 | 267 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.3 |
| 7 | 512 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.1 |
| 8 | 286 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.0 |
| 9 | 429 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.0 |
| 10 | 307 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.0 |
Show all 51 elementary schools in Des Moines
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
11 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 376 students · 5th–8th | 6.8 |
| 2 | 651 students · 6th–8th | 6.2 |
| 3 | 653 students · 6th–8th | 5.5 |
| 4 | 644 students · 6th–8th | 4.9 |
| 5 | 543 students · 6th–8th | 4.3 |
| 6 | 668 students · 6th–8th | 4.1 |
| 7 | 486 students · 6th–8th | 3.6 |
| 8 | 598 students · 6th–8th | 3.3 |
| 9 | 466 students · 6th–8th | 3.1 |
| 10 | 634 students · 6th–8th | 2.9 |
Show all 11 middle schools in Des Moines
High Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 923 students · 9th–12th | 4.2 |
| 2 | 440 students · 9th–12th | 4.2 |
| 3 | 2,039 students · 9th–12th | 4.1 |
| 4 | 1,514 students · 9th–12th | 3.8 |
| 5 | 2,441 students · 9th–12th | 2.5 |
| 6 | 2,014 students · 9th–12th | 2.4 |
| 7 | 387 students · 9th–12th | 2.1 |
Other Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 194 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 3.0 | ||
| 2 | 215 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 2.7 | ||
| 3 | 263 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 2.6 | ||
| 4 | 340 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 2.6 | ||
| 5 | 112 students · Kindergarten–12th | 2.5 | ||
| Private Schools 3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Joshua Christian Academy
Private
175 students · Kindergarten–12th | 8.2 | ||
| 2 | 36 students · 3rd–12th | 5.0 | ||
| 3 | Grand View Christian School
Private
643 students · Pre-K–12th | 4.7 | ||
Schools in Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa · 77 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 13 ZIP codes
Median Income
$69,144
Median Home Value
$218,054
Median Rent
$1,088/mo
Population
238,340
College Educated
33%
Homeownership
62%
Avg Commute
20 min
Poverty Rate
14.6%
Community Profile
Des Moines has a median household income of $69,144. It is an area where 33% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $218,054, with a median rent of $1,088/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.6%. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Iowa
- Elementary
- 51
- Middle
- 11
- High
- 7
- Other
- 8
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Iowa
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Des Moines, Iowa
How many schools are in Des Moines, Iowa?
Des Moines has 77 schools, including 64 public and 13 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Des Moines, Iowa?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Des Moines is 4.8 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Des Moines, Iowa?
The top-ranked school in Des Moines on MySchoolScout is Delaware Elementary with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Des Moines, Iowa?
The top-ranked elementary school in Des Moines on MySchoolScout is Delaware Elementary with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best middle school in Des Moines, Iowa?
The top-ranked middle school in Des Moines on MySchoolScout is Woodside Middle School with a composite score of 6.8/10.
What is the best high school in Des Moines, Iowa?
The top-ranked high school in Des Moines on MySchoolScout is Hoover High School with a composite score of 4.2/10.
How many school districts serve Des Moines, Iowa?
Des Moines is served by 4 school districts: Des Moines Independent Comm School District, Saydel Comm School District, Southeast Polk Comm School District, West Des Moines Comm School District.
What is the education level in Des Moines, Iowa?
According to Census data, 33% of adults in Des Moines have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Des Moines, Iowa?
The median household income in Des Moines is approximately $69,144 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Des Moines, Iowa?
Yes, Des Moines has 13 private schools alongside 64 public schools. The top-rated private school is Mt Olive Lutheran School with a score of 8.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Des Moines, Iowa?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Des Moines is 14.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Des Moines, Iowa?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Iowa Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.