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Best public schools in Des Moines, IA

66 public schools in Des Moines: 45 elementary · 11 middle · 8 high · 1 K-8 · 1 combined. Ranked by our score, based on 2024-25 state test results.

Rankings renumber to share equal ranks and fill gaps when schools are hidden. Scores compare each school with schools of the same type across Iowa.

Elementary schools

45 schools in Des Moines, best first
1
Downtown School 74.6
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-5 · 235 students
ELA 78%Math 84%Science 76%
#155 of 609 in Iowa
2
Delaware Elementary 60.8
Southeast Polk Comm School District · Grades PK-5 · 423 students
ELA 81%Math 78%Science 64%
#239 of 609 in Iowa
3
Cornell Elementary School 56.9
Saydel Comm School District · Grades PK-4 · 560 students
ELA 77%Math 81%
#263 of 609 in Iowa
4
Jefferson Elementary School 53.0
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades PK-5 · 306 students
ELA 75%Math 79%Science 65%
#287 of 609 in Iowa
5
Clive Learning Academy 41.5
West Des Moines Comm School District · Grades PK-6 · 512 students
ELA 73%Math 70%Science 67%
#357 of 609 in Iowa
6
Hubbell Elementary 33.9
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-5 · 383 students
ELA 70%Math 69%Science 61%
#403 of 609 in Iowa
7
Greenwood Elementary School 28.5
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades PK-5 · 307 students
ELA 68%Math 69%Science 57%
#436 of 609 in Iowa
8
Hanawalt Elementary 23.6
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-5 · 317 students
ELA 60%Math 70%Science 58%
#466 of 609 in Iowa
9
Perkins Elementary School 19.0
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-5 · 444 students
ELA 60%Math 62%Science 55%
#494 of 609 in Iowa
10
Walnut Street School 17.7
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades PK-5 · 244 students
ELA 62%Math 49%Science 59%
#502 of 609 in Iowa
11
Pleasant Hill Elementary School 17.2
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades PK-5 · 211 students
ELA 62%Math 63%Science 44%
#505 of 609 in Iowa
12
Windsor Elementary 16.0
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-5 · 267 students
ELA 63%Math 61%Science 44%
#512 of 609 in Iowa
13
Willard Elementary School 14.9
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-5 · 282 students
ELA 55%Math 65%Science 42%
#519 of 609 in Iowa
14
Moore Elementary School 14.5
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-5 · 298 students
ELA 58%Math 51%Science 56%
#521 of 609 in Iowa
15
Horizon Science Academy Des Moines 12.4
Charter Organization: Concept Schools · Grades PK-4 · Charter · 79 students
ELA 42%Math 68%
#534 of 609 in Iowa
16
Jackson Elementary School 9.8
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades PK-5 · 495 students
ELA 55%Math 52%Science 37%
#550 of 609 in Iowa
17
River Woods Elementary School 9.3
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-5 · 505 students
ELA 51%Math 49%Science 53%
#553 of 609 in Iowa
18
South Union Elementary School 8.6
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-5 · 424 students
ELA 53%Math 50%Science 40%
#557 of 609 in Iowa
19
McKinley Elementary School 8.5
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades PK-5 · 269 students
ELA 50%Math 50%Science 46%
#558 of 609 in Iowa
20
Madison Elementary School 8.1
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades PK-5 · 247 students
ELA 53%Math 52%Science 30%
#560 of 609 in Iowa
21
Morris Elementary School 7.8
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-5 · 498 students
ELA 51%Math 51%Science 39%
#562 of 609 in Iowa
22
Phillips Elementary 7.3
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-5 · 254 students
ELA 45%Math 56%Science 32%
#565 of 609 in Iowa
23
Samuelson Elementary School 7.0
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-5 · 384 students
ELA 47%Math 51%Science 35%
#567 of 609 in Iowa
24
Cattell Elementary School 6.3
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-5 · 308 students
ELA 49%Math 50%Science 26%
#571 of 609 in Iowa
25
Studebaker Elementary School 6.2
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-5 · 553 students
ELA 49%Math 44%Science 38%
#572 of 609 in Iowa
26
Moulton Elementary School 5.0
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades PK-5 · 450 students
ELA 45%Math 47%Science 38%
#579 of 609 in Iowa
27
Oak Park 4.8
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-5 · 309 students
ELA 44%Math 51%Science 21%
#580 of 609 in Iowa
28
Wright Elementary School 4.4
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-5 · 244 students
ELA 47%Math 42%Science 36%
#583 of 609 in Iowa
29
Garton Elementary 4.2
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades PK-5 · 429 students
ELA 40%Math 51%Science 29%
#584 of 609 in Iowa
30
Brubaker Elementary School 3.9
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-5 · 618 students
ELA 46%Math 43%Science 34%
#586 of 609 in Iowa
31
Park Ave Elementary School 3.5
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-5 · 408 students
ELA 39%Math 47%Science 39%
#588 of 609 in Iowa
32
Findley Elementary School 3.4
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-6 · 284 students
ELA 46%Math 38%Science 36%
#589 of 609 in Iowa
33
Carver Elementary 3.2
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades PK-5 · 419 students
ELA 39%Math 47%Science 37%
#590 of 609 in Iowa
34
Hillis Elementary School 3.0
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-5 · 291 students
ELA 43%Math 47%Science 29%
#591 of 609 in Iowa
35
Stowe Elementary School 2.2
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-5 · 311 students
ELA 45%Math 36%Science 32%
#596 of 609 in Iowa
36
Capitol View Elementary School 2.1
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades PK-5 · 545 students
ELA 44%Math 43%Science 32%
#597 of 609 in Iowa
37
Monroe Elementary School 1.9
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-5 · 377 students
ELA 39%Math 47%Science 29%
#598 of 609 in Iowa
38
Lovejoy Elementary School 1.4
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-5 · 412 students
ELA 40%Math 41%Science 33%
#601 of 609 in Iowa
39
Howe Elementary 1.1
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-5 · 303 students
ELA 42%Math 41%Science 32%
#603 of 609 in Iowa
40
King Elementary School 0.6
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-5 · 273 students
ELA 36%Math 30%Science 27%
#606 of 609 in Iowa
41
Edmunds Elementary School 0.4
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-5 · 286 students
ELA 35%Math 37%Science 19%
#607 of 609 in Iowa
–
Jessie Franklin Taylor —
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades PK · 194 students
No published test results
 –
McKee Elementary School —
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades PK · 263 students
No published test results
 –
Mitchell Early Childhood Center —
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades PK · 340 students
No published test results
 –
Woodlawn Early Childhood Center —
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades PK · 215 students
No published test results

Middle schools

11 schools in Des Moines, best first
1
Merrill Middle School 37.2
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades 6-8 · 651 students
ELA 76%Math 74%Science 69%
#150 of 238 in Iowa
2
Woodside Middle School 20.4
Saydel Comm School District · Grades 5-8 · 376 students
ELA 73%Math 63%Science 57%
#190 of 238 in Iowa
3
Meredith Middle School 8.2
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades 6-8 · 653 students
ELA 59%Math 51%Science 50%
#219 of 238 in Iowa
4
McCombs Middle School 7.8
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades 6-8 · 644 students
ELA 56%Math 56%Science 50%
#220 of 238 in Iowa
5
Brody Middle School 5.7
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades 6-8 · 598 students
ELA 55%Math 48%Science 51%
#225 of 238 in Iowa
6
Callanan Middle School 4.0
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades 6-8 · 543 students
ELA 51%Math 44%Science 48%
#229 of 238 in Iowa
7
Weeks Middle School 2.7
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades 6-8 · 668 students
ELA 51%Math 40%Science 42%
#232 of 238 in Iowa
8
Hoyt Middle School 2.3
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades 6-8 · 486 students
ELA 44%Math 40%Science 48%
#233 of 238 in Iowa
9
Goodrell Middle School 1.9
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades 6-8 · 493 students
ELA 44%Math 41%Science 46%
#234 of 238 in Iowa
10
Harding Middle School 1.5
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades 6-8 · 634 students
ELA 42%Math 42%Science 35%
#235 of 238 in Iowa
11
Hiatt Middle School 0.6
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades 6-8 · 466 students
ELA 45%Math 35%Science 37%
#237 of 238 in Iowa

High schools

8 schools in Des Moines, best first
1
Roosevelt High School 19.9
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades 9-12 · 2,039 students
ELA 67%Math 59%Science 61%
#236 of 294 in Iowa
2
Saydel High School 6.3
Saydel Comm School District · Grades 9-12 · 440 students
ELA 55%Math 45%Science 45%
#276 of 294 in Iowa
3
Hoover High School 6.0
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades 9-12 · 923 students
ELA 51%Math 42%Science 40%
#277 of 294 in Iowa
4
Lincoln High School 4.9
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades 9-12 · 2,441 students
ELA 49%Math 40%Science 39%
#280 of 294 in Iowa
5
North High School 3.9
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades 9-12 · 1,514 students
ELA 45%Math 36%Science 42%
#283 of 294 in Iowa
6
Virtual Campus 3.6
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades 9-12 · 387 students
ELA 50%Math 27%Science 38%
#284 of 294 in Iowa
7
East High School 2.9
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades 9-12 · 2,014 students
ELA 45%Math 36%Science 38%
#286 of 294 in Iowa
8
Great Oaks High School and Career Center 0.5
Charter Organization: Oakmont Education · Grades 9-12 · Charter
ELA 25%Math 14%
#293 of 294 in Iowa

K-8 schools

1 school in Des Moines
1
Cowles Elementary School 90.4
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades PK-8 · 403 students
ELA 88%Math 84%Science 90%
#1 of 2 in Iowa

Combined schools

1 school in Des Moines
1
Ruby Van Meter 1.0
Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Grades K-12 · 112 students
ELA 4%Math 0%Science 0%
#49 of 49 in Iowa

School districts serving Des Moines

Nearby cities and towns