Des Moines Independent Community School District


The Des Moines Independent Community School District is the largest public school district in Iowa. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges and the Iowa Department of Education.
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Area

The district currently serves most of the city of Des Moines as well as parts of suburban Pleasant Hill and Windsor Heights. The city is split into four different area districts. District one covers the west, two covers the north, three covers the east, and district four the south.

History

Advanced Placement Program and International Baccalaureate Programme
In 2008, Des Moines Public Schools became the first school district in Iowa to offer the International Baccalaureate Programme.
Between the 2018-2019 school year and the 2024, the student enrollment levels went down about 2,500.
On January 9, 2023. Des Moines Public Schools was hit with a cybersecurity attack.
On September 26, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement reported that superintendent Ian Roberts had been detained in Des Moines, Iowa, and stated that a "final order of removal" had been issued for Roberts's deportation in May 2024. Roberts reportedly fled from a traffic stop, then abandoned his school-issued vehicle. At the time of his arrest, ICE said that he was found in possession of a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash, and a fixed blade hunting knife. Jackie Norris, Chair of the School Board made a statement placing Roberts on paid administrative leave pending further investigation appointing Matt Smith as interim Superintendent.

Schools

In addition to traditional neighborhood schools, the district has various neighborhood schools with programs such as the IB Programme, Turn Around Arts, and more. The district also offers many special schools and program such as Central Campus, Central Academy, Options Academy, Ruby Van Meter and Focus.

High schools (Grades 9-12)

Special schools & programs

  • Ruby Van Meter School - A special education school serving disabled students with high support needs.
  • Central Academy - A magnet school located in downtown Des Moines.
  • Central Campus - A magnet program serving high school students throughout Iowa with 9 career academies.
  • *Business Academy
  • *Information Technology & Arts Academy
  • *Engineering Academy
  • *Human Service Academy
  • *Health Sciences Academy
  • *Skill Trades Academy
  • *Technology & Systems Integration Academy
  • *Transportation Academy
  • Academic Pathways - A set of three programs designed for both adults and current high schoolers who need a new path to earning a high school diploma
  • Orchard Place School - A Psychiatric Medical Institute for Children ages 10–18. The largest PMIC in Iowa

Middle schools (grades 6-8)

  • Brody Middle School
  • Callanan Middle School
  • Cowles Montessori School
  • Goodrell Middle School
  • Harding Middle School
  • Hiatt Middle School
  • Hoyt Middle School
  • McCombs Middle School
  • Meredith Middle School
  • Merrill Middle School
  • Weeks Middle School
  • Virtual Campus Middle School

Elementary schools (K-5, PK-5, K-6)

Pre-Schools

  • McKee Education Center
  • Mitchell Early Learning Center
  • Jesse Franklin Taylor Education Center
  • Woodlawn Education Center

Media

  • DMPS-TV Channel 12 is the school district's Educational-access television cable TV channel, which is provided through Mediacom Cable Television as part of a franchise agreement with the City of Des Moines. The district televises their school board meetings through this network. Additionally, the school district operates its own social media outlets.

Facts and figures

Enrollment

Note: The table rows shown in red represents data that was cited directly from the Des Moines Public Schools enrollment reports. Some of this data conflicts with data from the Iowa Department of Education annual reports. This is because the underlying data is complex, and the table above is a summary of the data collected from the two sources.