Top Rankings
Des Moines Independent Comm School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Iowa for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 7 public high schools serving 9,430 students in Des Moines Independent Comm School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in Iowa.
Public High Schools in Des Moines Independent Comm School District have an average math proficiency score of 38% (versus the Iowa public high school average of 60%), and reading proficiency score of 53% (versus the 71% statewide average).
Public High School in Des Moines Independent Comm School District have a Graduation Rate of 76%, which is less than the Iowa average of 88%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Roosevelt High School, with 86% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Iowa or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 69% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Iowa public high school average of 27% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (IA)
# Schools
59 Schools
365 Schools
# Students
29,871 Students
171,507 Students
# Teachers
1,899 Teachers
11,091 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Des Moines Independent Comm School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 325 school districts in Iowa (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 76% has decreased from 82% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#327 out of 327 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
40%
64%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
49%
70%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
41%
63%
Graduation Rate
76%
90%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.75
0.45
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
8%
2%
% Hispanic
31%
13%
% Black
22%
6%
% White
32%
73%
% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
% Two or more races
7%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $19,764 is higher than the state median of $16,468. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $17,189 is higher than the state median of $16,042. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$590 MM
$8,262 MM
Spending
$513 MM
$8,048 MM
Revenue / Student
$19,764
$16,468
Spending / Student
$17,189
$16,042
Best Des Moines Independent Comm School District Public High Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Roosevelt High School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
4419 Center St
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-7272
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-7272
Grades: 9-12
| 2,039 students
Rank: #22.
Virtual Campus
(Math: 39% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1800 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 242-8502
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 242-8502
Grades: 9-12
| 387 students
Rank: #33.
Hoover High School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
4800 Aurora Ave
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-7300
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-7300
Grades: 9-12
| 923 students
Rank: #44.
Lincoln High School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2600 Sw 9th St
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-7500
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-7500
Grades: 9-12
| 2,441 students
Rank: #55.
East High School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
815 E 13th St
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-7788
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-7788
Grades: 9-12
| 2,014 students
Rank: #66.
North High School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
501 Holcomb Ave
Des Moines, IA 50313
(515) 242-7200
Des Moines, IA 50313
(515) 242-7200
Grades: 9-12
| 1,514 students
Rank: #77.
Ruby Van Meter
Special Education School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
710 28th St
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8220
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8220
Grades: K-12
| 112 students
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