For the 2025 school year, there are 22 public high schools serving 26,658 students in Polk County, IA.
The top ranked public high schools in Polk County, IA are North Polk High School, Southview Middle School and Ankeny High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Polk County, IA public high schools have an average math proficiency score of 61% (versus the Iowa public high school average of 65%), and reading proficiency score of 70% (versus the 71% statewide average). High schools in Polk County have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Iowa public high schools.
Polk County, IA public high school have a Graduation Rate of 86%, which is less than the Iowa average of 87%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Urbandale High School, with 98% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Iowa or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 42% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Iowa public high school average of 27% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public High Schools in Polk County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
North Polk High School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
13930 Ne 6th St
Alleman, IA 50007
(515) 984-3400
Alleman, IA 50007
(515) 984-3400
Gr: 9-12 | 647 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #22.
Southview Middle School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1020 Sw Cherry St
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9635
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9635
Gr: 8-9 | 881 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #33.
Ankeny High School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1155 Sw Cherry St
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9630
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9630
Gr: 10-12 | 1,346 student Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #44.
Northview Middle School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1302 N Ankeny Blvd
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9700
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9700
Gr: 8-9 | 1,021 student Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #55.
Ankeny Centennial High School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2220 Nw State St
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9610
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9610
Gr: 10-12 | 1,466 student Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #66.
Dallas Center-grimes High School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2555 W 1st St
Grimes, IA 50111
(515) 986-9747
Grimes, IA 50111
(515) 986-9747
Gr: 9-12 | 1,027 student Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #77.
Johnston Middle School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
6501 Nw 62nd Ave
Johnston, IA 50131
(515) 278-0476
Johnston, IA 50131
(515) 278-0476
Gr: 8-9 | 1,200 student Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #88.
Johnston Senior High School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
6500 Nw 100th Street
Johnston, IA 50131
(515) 278-0449
Johnston, IA 50131
(515) 278-0449
Gr: 10-12 | 1,771 student Student-Teacher Ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #99.
Bondurant-farrar High School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1000 Grant St. North
Bondurant, IA 50035
(515) 957-8191
Bondurant, IA 50035
(515) 957-8191
Gr: 9-12 | 804 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #1010.
Valley High School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
3650 Woodland Ave
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 633-4000
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 633-4000
Gr: 10-12 | 2,111 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #1111.
Southeast Polk High School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
7945 Ne University Ave.
Pleasant Hill, IA 50327
(515) 967-6631
Pleasant Hill, IA 50327
(515) 967-6631
Gr: 9-12 | 2,294 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #1212.
Urbandale High School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
7111 Aurora Avenue
Urbandale, IA 50322
(515) 457-6800
Urbandale, IA 50322
(515) 457-6800
Gr: 9-12 | 1,311 student Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #1313.
Valley Southwoods
(Math: 55% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
625 S 35th St
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-4500
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-4500
Gr: 9 | 744 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #1414.
Roosevelt High School
(Math: 54% | 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
Gr: 9-12 | 2,039 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 30:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #1515.
Virtual Campus
(Math: 37% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1800 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 242-8502
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 242-8502
Gr: 9-12 | 387 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #1616.
Hoover High School
(Math: 41% | 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
Gr: 9-12 | 923 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #1717.
Saydel High School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
5601 Ne 7th St
Des Moines, IA 50313
(515) 262-9325
Des Moines, IA 50313
(515) 262-9325
Gr: 9-12 | 440 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #1818.
Lincoln High School
(Math: 37% | 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
Gr: 9-12 | 2,441 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 27:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #1919.
East High School
(Math: 32% | 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
Gr: 9-12 | 2,014 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #2020.
North High School
(Math: 33% | 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
Gr: 9-12 | 1,514 student Student-Teacher Ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #2121.
Walnut Creek Campus
Alternative School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1020 8th Street
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-6480
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-6480
Gr: 9-12 | 165 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #2222.
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
Gr: K-12 | 112 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Polk County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
3720 E 29th St
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8401
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8401
Gr: PK-5 | 337 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Bridges (Closed 2006)
Alternative School
1800 Grand
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-7552
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-7552
Gr: 6-12 | 25 students Minority enrollment: 32%
1801 16th St
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 242-8645
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 242-8645
Gr: PK | 99 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
1020 8th St
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-6300
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-6300
Gr: K-6 | 259 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
3353 240th Street
Grimes, IA 50111
(515) 986-9747
Grimes, IA 50111
(515) 986-9747
Gr: 9-12 | 458 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 1%
1800 Grand Ave
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 242-7846
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 242-7846
Gr: 7-12 | 2 students
1800 Grand Ave
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 242-7846
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 242-7846
Gr: 6-8
Des Moines Public Charter School (Closed 2013)
Charter School
620 8th St
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 242-7911
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 242-7911
Gr: 7-9 | 117 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
918 Se 11th St
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 246-1800
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 246-1800
Gr: PK-K | 15 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
6401 College Ave
Des Moines, IA 50311
(515) 242-7795
Des Moines, IA 50311
(515) 242-7795
Gr: K-5 | 10 students Minority enrollment: 70%
6401 College Ave
Des Moines, IA 50311
(515) 242-7795
Des Moines, IA 50311
(515) 242-7795
Gr: 6-8 | 21 students Minority enrollment: 53%
1800 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 242-7846
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 242-7846
Gr: 6-12 | 118 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
1000 Porter Ave
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8409
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8409
Gr: PK-5 | 547 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
The Harbor-southeast Polk Alternative School (Closed 2010)
Alternative School
1301 First Ave N
Altoona, IA 50009
(515) 957-8811
Altoona, IA 50009
(515) 957-8811
Gr: 9-12 | 57 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
800 42nd St
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8414
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8414
Gr: K-5 | 309 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
6301 Aurora Avenue
Urbandale, IA 50322
(515) 457-5100
Urbandale, IA 50322
(515) 457-5100
Gr: K-5 | 354 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
3500 74th Street
Urbandale, IA 50322
(515) 457-5700
Urbandale, IA 50322
(515) 457-5700
Gr: PK-5 | 296 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
2115 E 39th Street
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8418
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8418
Gr: PK-5 | 207 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Metro West Learning Academy (Closed 2005)
Alternative School
11500 Nw 54th Ave
Grimes, IA 50111
(515) 986-3171
Grimes, IA 50111
(515) 986-3171
Gr: 9-12 | 18 students Minority enrollment: 6%
2905 Ne 46th Ave
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 266-3109
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 266-3109
Gr: 4-5 | 198 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
925 Sw Porter
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 287-9700
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 287-9700
Gr: K-5 | 11 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 1:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Orchard Place School (Closed 2023)
Alternative School
5412 Sw 9th Street
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 287-9700
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 287-9700
Gr: K-12 | 66 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
620 8th St
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 697-5737
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 697-5737
Gr: 6-12 | 50 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
415 7th St
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-6600
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-6600
Gr: PK-3 | 180 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Ruby Van Meter School (Closed 2023)
Special Education School
710 28th St
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8220
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8220
Gr: 6-12 | 135 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Scavo Alternative High School (Closed 2023)
Alternative School
1800 Grand Ave
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 242-7589
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 242-7589
Gr: 9-12
Smouse Opportunity School (Closed 2023)
Special Education School
2820 Center St
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8210
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8210
Gr: PK-8 | 94 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
6301 Aurora Avenue
Urbandale, IA 50322
(515) 457-6500
Urbandale, IA 50322
(515) 457-6500
Gr: K-5 | 277 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
1401 E 12th St
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-8437
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-8437
Gr: PK-5 | 368 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Youth Homes Of Middle America (Closed 2006)
Alternative School
7085 Nw Beaver Dr
Johnston, IA 50131
(515) 276-3473
Johnston, IA 50131
(515) 276-3473
Gr: 6-12 | 30 students Minority enrollment: 10%
1101 9th St
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 246-1800
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 246-1800
Gr: PK-K | 18 students Minority enrollment: 83%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public high schools in Polk County, IA?
The top ranked public high schools in Polk County, IA include North Polk High School, Southview Middle School and Ankeny High School.
How many public high schools are located in Polk County?
22 public high schools are located in Polk County.
What is the racial composition of students in Polk County?
Polk County public high schools minority enrollment is 42% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Iowa public high schools average of 27% (majority Hispanic).
Which public high schools in Polk County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public high schools in Polk County include: Lincoln High School vs. East High School, Hoover High School vs. North High School, Bondurant-farrar High School vs. Ankeny High School
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