Best traditional public schools in Des Moines Independent Comm School District (2025)
District-run public schools. Ranked by the Success Index (US) from official American data; 53 schools in Des Moines Independent Comm School District, Iowa. Rank positions shown on each profile are within United States and Iowa.
- Elementary Schools in Des Moines Independent Comm School District
- Middle Schools in Des Moines Independent Comm School District
- High Schools in Des Moines Independent Comm School District
- Schools by Math Proficiency in Des Moines Independent Comm School District
- Schools by Reading Proficiency in Des Moines Independent Comm School District
- Lowest Student–Teacher Ratio in Des Moines Independent Comm School District
- Largest Schools in Des Moines Independent Comm School District
- 185Cowles Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary83% Math proficiency · 392 students
- 284Downtown SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary72% Math proficiency · 197 students
- 374Jefferson Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary77% Math proficiency · 312 students
- 472Merrill Middle SchoolDes Moines · Public Middle68% Math proficiency · 657 students
- 572Hanawalt ElementaryDes Moines · Public Elementary67% Math proficiency · 312 students
- 670Greenwood Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary67% Math proficiency · 293 students
- 769Pleasant Hill Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary67% Math proficiency · 241 students
- 868Windsor ElementaryDes Moines · Public Elementary67% Math proficiency · 254 students
- 965Hubbell ElementaryDes Moines · Public Elementary58% Math proficiency · 362 students
- 1064Perkins Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary70% Math proficiency · 438 students
- 1159Brody Middle SchoolDes Moines · Public Middle63% Math proficiency · 641 students
- 1258Moore Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary57% Math proficiency · 285 students
- 1358Willard Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary67% Math proficiency · 247 students
- 1458Walnut Street SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary62% Math proficiency · 257 students
- 1555Wright Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary57% Math proficiency · 265 students
- 1653Samuelson Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary55% Math proficiency · 386 students
- 1750Oak ParkDes Moines · Public Elementary47% Math proficiency · 288 students
- 1849Callanan Middle SchoolDes Moines · Public Middle53% Math proficiency · 553 students
- 1949Phillips ElementaryDes Moines · Public Elementary47% Math proficiency · 263 students
- 2048Park Ave Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary47% Math proficiency · 380 students
- 2147Brubaker Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary46% Math proficiency · 622 students
- 2247Roosevelt High SchoolDes Moines · Public High51% Math proficiency · 2,051 students
- 2346Hillis Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary42% Math proficiency · 279 students
- 2446Studebaker Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary53% Math proficiency · 561 students
- 2545Findley Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary47% Math proficiency · 324 students
- 2645Madison Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary47% Math proficiency · 285 students
- 2745McCombs Middle SchoolDes Moines · Public Middle54% Math proficiency · 670 students
- 2845Capitol View Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary51% Math proficiency · 533 students
- 2945Meredith Middle SchoolDes Moines · Public Middle49% Math proficiency · 662 students
- 3043Weeks Middle SchoolDes Moines · Public Middle47% Math proficiency · 688 students
- 3142Morris Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary46% Math proficiency · 519 students
- 3241Cattell Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary42% Math proficiency · 314 students
- 3341Hoyt Middle SchoolDes Moines · Public Middle48% Math proficiency · 455 students
- 3441Stowe Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary42% Math proficiency · 297 students
- 3540McKinley Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary42% Math proficiency · 275 students
- 3640Jackson Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary46% Math proficiency · 490 students
- 3740Howe ElementaryDes Moines · Public Elementary42% Math proficiency · 297 students
- 3839Goodrell Middle SchoolDes Moines · Public Middle47% Math proficiency · 511 students
- 3939River Woods Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary39% Math proficiency · 493 students
- 4038Garton ElementaryDes Moines · Public Elementary47% Math proficiency · 535 students
- 4134South Union Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary38% Math proficiency · 422 students
- 4234Lincoln High SchoolDes Moines · Public High42% Math proficiency · 2,364 students
- 4333Edmunds Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary42% Math proficiency · 259 students
- 4432Lovejoy Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary37% Math proficiency · 394 students
- 4532Hoover High SchoolDes Moines · Public High39% Math proficiency · 898 students
- 4631Harding Middle SchoolDes Moines · Public Middle38% Math proficiency · 603 students
- 4729Carver ElementaryDes Moines · Public Elementary43% Math proficiency · 436 students
- 4828Monroe Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary30% Math proficiency · 341 students
- 4927Moulton Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary36% Math proficiency · 465 students
- 5027Hiatt Middle SchoolDes Moines · Public Middle34% Math proficiency · 488 students
- 5125North High SchoolDes Moines · Public High32% Math proficiency · 1,428 students
- 5224East High SchoolDes Moines · Public High26% Math proficiency · 1,952 students
- 5320King Elementary SchoolDes Moines · Public Elementary27% Math proficiency · 315 students
| # | School | Sector | Success Index (US) | Key result | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cowles Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades PK–8 | Public | 84.8 Top 5% | 83% Math proficiency | 392 |
| 2 | Downtown School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 83.7 Top 10% | 72% Math proficiency | 197 |
| 3 | Jefferson Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 73.9 Top 25% | 77% Math proficiency | 312 |
| 4 | Merrill Middle School Des Moines · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 72.3 Top 25% | 68% Math proficiency | 657 |
| 5 | Hanawalt Elementary Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 71.9 Top 25% | 67% Math proficiency | 312 |
| 6 | Greenwood Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 69.7 Top 25% | 67% Math proficiency | 293 |
| 7 | Pleasant Hill Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 69.0 Top 25% | 67% Math proficiency | 241 |
| 8 | Windsor Elementary Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 67.9 Top 50% | 67% Math proficiency | 254 |
| 9 | Hubbell Elementary Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 65.2 Top 50% | 58% Math proficiency | 362 |
| 10 | Perkins Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 63.8 Top 50% | 70% Math proficiency | 438 |
| 11 | Brody Middle School Des Moines · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 58.8 Top 50% | 63% Math proficiency | 641 |
| 12 | Moore Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 58.4 Top 50% | 57% Math proficiency | 285 |
| 13 | Willard Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 58.0 Top 50% | 67% Math proficiency | 247 |
| 14 | Walnut Street School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 57.5 Top 50% | 62% Math proficiency | 257 |
| 15 | Wright Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 55.0 Top 50% | 57% Math proficiency | 265 |
| 16 | Samuelson Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 52.5 Top 50% | 55% Math proficiency | 386 |
| 17 | Oak Park Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 49.5 Lower 50% | 47% Math proficiency | 288 |
| 18 | Callanan Middle School Des Moines · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 48.6 Lower 50% | 53% Math proficiency | 553 |
| 19 | Phillips Elementary Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 48.6 Lower 50% | 47% Math proficiency | 263 |
| 20 | Park Ave Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 47.5 Lower 50% | 47% Math proficiency | 380 |
| 21 | Brubaker Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 46.8 Lower 50% | 46% Math proficiency | 622 |
| 22 | Roosevelt High School Des Moines · High · Grades 9–12 | Public | 46.5 Lower 50% | 51% Math proficiency | 2,051 |
| 23 | Hillis Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 46.3 Lower 50% | 42% Math proficiency | 279 |
| 24 | Studebaker Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 46.3 Lower 50% | 53% Math proficiency | 561 |
| 25 | Findley Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–6 | Public | 45.1 Lower 50% | 47% Math proficiency | 324 |
| 26 | Madison Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 44.9 Lower 50% | 47% Math proficiency | 285 |
| 27 | McCombs Middle School Des Moines · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 44.8 Lower 50% | 54% Math proficiency | 670 |
| 28 | Capitol View Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 44.6 Lower 50% | 51% Math proficiency | 533 |
| 29 | Meredith Middle School Des Moines · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 44.6 Lower 50% | 49% Math proficiency | 662 |
| 30 | Weeks Middle School Des Moines · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 43.3 Lower 50% | 47% Math proficiency | 688 |
| 31 | Morris Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 41.5 Lower 50% | 46% Math proficiency | 519 |
| 32 | Cattell Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 41.3 Lower 50% | 42% Math proficiency | 314 |
| 33 | Hoyt Middle School Des Moines · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 41.0 Lower 50% | 48% Math proficiency | 455 |
| 34 | Stowe Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 40.7 Lower 50% | 42% Math proficiency | 297 |
| 35 | McKinley Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 40.3 Lower 50% | 42% Math proficiency | 275 |
| 36 | Jackson Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 39.8 Lower 50% | 46% Math proficiency | 490 |
| 37 | Howe Elementary Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 39.6 Lower 50% | 42% Math proficiency | 297 |
| 38 | Goodrell Middle School Des Moines · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 39.1 Lower 50% | 47% Math proficiency | 511 |
| 39 | River Woods Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 38.5 Lower 50% | 39% Math proficiency | 493 |
| 40 | Garton Elementary Des Moines · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 37.8 Lower 50% | 47% Math proficiency | 535 |
| 41 | South Union Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 34.2 Lower 50% | 38% Math proficiency | 422 |
| 42 | Lincoln High School Des Moines · High · Grades 9–12 | Public | 33.5 Lower 50% | 42% Math proficiency | 2,364 |
| 43 | Edmunds Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 32.8 Lower 50% | 42% Math proficiency | 259 |
| 44 | Lovejoy Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 32.0 Lower 50% | 37% Math proficiency | 394 |
| 45 | Hoover High School Des Moines · High · Grades 9–12 | Public | 31.6 Lower 50% | 39% Math proficiency | 898 |
| 46 | Harding Middle School Des Moines · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 30.6 Lower 50% | 38% Math proficiency | 603 |
| 47 | Carver Elementary Des Moines · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 29.1 Lower 50% | 43% Math proficiency | 436 |
| 48 | Monroe Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 28.1 Lower 50% | 30% Math proficiency | 341 |
| 49 | Moulton Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades PK–5 | Public | 26.9 Lower 50% | 36% Math proficiency | 465 |
| 50 | Hiatt Middle School Des Moines · Middle · Grades 6–8 | Public | 26.8 Lower 50% | 34% Math proficiency | 488 |
| 51 | North High School Des Moines · High · Grades 9–12 | Public | 24.7 Lower 50% | 32% Math proficiency | 1,428 |
| 52 | East High School Des Moines · High · Grades 9–12 | Public | 23.7 Lower 50% | 26% Math proficiency | 1,952 |
| 53 | King Elementary School Des Moines · Elementary · Grades K–5 | Public | 19.7 Lower 50% | 27% Math proficiency | 315 |
Cowles Elementary School in Des Moines leads the 2025 list of traditional public schools in Des Moines Independent Comm School District with a Success Index (US) of 84.8. Of the 53 schools shown, 53 are public.
For the full picture see the wider Iowa traditional public schools rankings, every school on the Des Moines Independent Comm School District page, or the comparison tool to put a shortlist side by side.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best public school in Des Moines Independent Comm School District?
Cowles Elementary School in Des Moines, Iowa ranks first among traditional public schools in Des Moines Independent Comm School District with a Success Index (US) of 84.8 out of 100 (Enrollment: 392).
How are traditional public schools in Des Moines Independent Comm School District ranked?
Each school's Success Index (US) combines 4 factors: math proficiency (30%), reading proficiency (30%), community advantage (fewer free/reduced-price lunch) (25%), students per teacher (15%). Each factor is a percentile against schools of the same type across United States. Schools with fewer than 60 students are excluded from rankings.
Are these 2025 rankings official?
No. They are computed by Success Tutoring from official American data (Urban Institute Education Data Portal (NCES CCD, EDFacts); NCES Common Core of Data). States set their own assessments and proficiency cut scores, so proficiency rates are most comparable within a state. Use the state rankings for like-for-like comparisons.