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 2026 school year, there are 58 public schools serving 29,676 students in Des Moines Independent Comm School District. This district's average testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Iowa.
Public Schools in Des Moines Independent Comm School District have an average math proficiency score of 43% (versus the Iowa public school average of 68%), and reading proficiency score of 49% (versus the 70% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 70% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Iowa public school average of 30% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (IA)
# Schools
59 Schools
1,323 Schools
# Students
29,676 Students
497,928 Students
# Teachers
1,894 Teachers
35,028 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 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 73% has decreased from 81% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#325 out of 327 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
43%
68%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
49%
70%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
41%
63%
Graduation Rate
73%
90%