For the 2025 school year, there are 26 public middle schools serving 17,585 students in Polk County, IA.
The top ranked public middle schools in Polk County, IA are North Polk Middle School, Southview Middle School and Northview Middle School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Polk County, IA public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 65% (versus the Iowa public middle school average of 68%), and reading proficiency score of 69% (versus the 71% statewide average). Middle schools in Polk County have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Iowa public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 42% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is more than the Iowa public middle school average of 25% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Middle Schools in Polk County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
North Polk Middle School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
315 Ne 141st Ave.
Alleman, IA 50007
(515) 984-3400
Alleman, IA 50007
(515) 984-3400
Gr: 6-8 | 493 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
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.
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: #44.
Parkview Middle School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
105 Nw Pleasant St
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9640
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9640
Gr: 6-7 | 875 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #55.
Prairie Ridge Middle School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1010 Nw Prairie Ridge Dr
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9705
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9705
Gr: 6-7 | 1,008 student Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #66.
Summit Middle School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
9500 Windsor Parkway
Johnston, IA 50131
(515) 986-0318
Johnston, IA 50131
(515) 986-0318
Gr: 6-7 | 1,135 student Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #77.
Dc-g Oak View
(Math: 81% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1300 Sw County Line Rd
Grimes, IA 50111
(515) 986-0105
Grimes, IA 50111
(515) 986-0105
Gr: 7-8 | 565 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #88.
Cowles Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
6401 College Ave
Windsor Heights, IA 50324
(515) 242-7818
Windsor Heights, IA 50324
(515) 242-7818
Gr: PK-8 | 403 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #99.
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: #1010.
Southeast Polk Junior High School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
8325 Ne University Ave.
Pleasant Hill, IA 50327
(515) 967-5509
Pleasant Hill, IA 50327
(515) 967-5509
Gr: 7-8 | 1,106 student Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #1111.
Indian Hills Junior High School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
9401 Indian Hills Dr
Clive, IA 50325
(515) 633-4700
Clive, IA 50325
(515) 633-4700
Gr: 7-8 | 653 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #1212.
Stilwell Junior High School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1601 Vine St
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-6000
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-6000
Gr: 7-8 | 644 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #1313.
Urbandale Middle School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
7701 Aurora Avenue
Urbandale, IA 50322
(515) 457-6600
Urbandale, IA 50322
(515) 457-6600
Gr: 6-8 | 869 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #1414.
Merrill Middle School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
5301 Grand Ave
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8448
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8448
Gr: 6-8 | 651 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #1515.
Woodside Middle School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
5810 Ne 14th St
Des Moines, IA 50313
(515) 265-3451
Des Moines, IA 50313
(515) 265-3451
Gr: 5-8 | 376 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #1616.
Callanan Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
3010 Center Street
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8101
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8101
Gr: 6-8 | 543 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #1717.
Mccombs Middle School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
201 Sw County Line Rd
Des Moines, IA 50320
(515) 242-8447
Des Moines, IA 50320
(515) 242-8447
Gr: 6-8 | 644 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #1818.
Hoyt Middle School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2700 E 42nd St
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8446
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8446
Gr: 6-8 | 486 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #1919.
Brody Middle School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2501 Park Ave
Des Moines, IA 50321
(515) 242-8443
Des Moines, IA 50321
(515) 242-8443
Gr: 6-8 | 598 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #2020.
Meredith Middle School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
4827 Madison Ave
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-7250
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-7250
Gr: 6-8 | 653 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
Rank: #2121.
Goodrell Middle School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
3300 E. 29th Street
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8444
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8444
Gr: 6-8 | 493 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #2222.
Weeks Middle School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
901 East Park Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8449
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8449
Gr: 6-8 | 668 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #2323.
Harding Middle School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
203 E Euclid Ave
Des Moines, IA 50313
(515) 242-8445
Des Moines, IA 50313
(515) 242-8445
Gr: 6-8 | 634 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #2424.
Hiatt Middle School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1430 E. University Ave
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-7774
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-7774
Gr: 6-8 | 466 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #2525.
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%
Rank: n/an/a
1201 Grant Street
Bondurant, IA 50035
(515) 957-7970
Bondurant, IA 50035
(515) 957-7970
Gr: 7-8 | 408 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
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 middle schools in Polk County, IA?
The top ranked public middle schools in Polk County, IA include North Polk Middle School, Southview Middle School and Northview Middle School.
How many public middle schools are located in Polk County?
26 public middle schools are located in Polk County.
What is the racial composition of students in Polk County?
Polk County public middle schools minority enrollment is 42% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is more than the Iowa public middle schools average of 25% (majority Hispanic).
Which public middle schools in Polk County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public middle schools in Polk County include: Indian Hills Junior High School vs. Urbandale Middle School, Prairie Ridge Middle School vs. Parkview Middle School, Parkview Middle School vs. Prairie Ridge Middle School
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