For the 2025-26 school year, there are 12 public middle schools serving 6,324 students in Des Moines, IA.
The top ranked public middle schools in Des Moines, IA are Merrill Middle School, Woodside Middle School and Callanan Middle School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Des Moines, IA public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 42% (versus the Iowa public middle school average of 68%), and reading proficiency score of 47% (versus the 71% statewide average). Middle schools in Des Moines have an average ranking of 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Iowa public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 67% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Iowa public middle school average of 25% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines, IA (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #33.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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: #66.
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: #77.
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: #88.
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: #99.
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: #1010.
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: #1111.
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: #1212.
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%
Des Moines, Iowa 51³Ô¹ÏÍøºÚÁÏ (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%
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%
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%
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%
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%
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%
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%
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 Des Moines, IA?
The top ranked public middle schools in Des Moines, IA include Merrill Middle School, Woodside Middle School and Callanan Middle School.
How many public middle schools are located in Des Moines?
12 public middle schools are located in Des Moines.
What is the racial composition of students in Des Moines?
Des Moines public middle schools minority enrollment is 67% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Iowa public middle schools average of 25% (majority Hispanic).
Which public middle schools in Des Moines are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public middle schools in Des Moines include: Hoyt Middle School vs. Goodrell Middle School, Merrill Middle School vs. Callanan Middle School, Callanan Middle School vs. Merrill Middle School
Recent Articles
School Choice vs. Neighborhood Schools: Key Factors
Explore school choice vs. neighborhood schools in 2025. Learn key factors parents should weigh when deciding the best fit for their child.
Best School Match 2025: Public vs Charter vs Magnet
Compare 2025 public, charter, and magnet school options with updated data, trends, and strategies to find the best fit.
Public School Boundaries and Equity in 2025
Explore how public school boundaries shape access, equity, and opportunity for students in 2025. Learn the impact on families and education policy.
