Des Moines, Iowa Schools - All 66 Buildings by District

Seven different school districts operate buildings inside Des Moines city limits. Most of the city is Des Moines Public Schools, but Southeast Polk, West Des Moines, Saydel and several charter and alternative operators all have buildings here too. That's why “what district is this house in?” is a real question in Des Moines rather than a formality. Below is every building the state directory places in the city, grouped by grade level.

Des Moines Public Schools at a Glance

Most of the city is served by Des Moines Public Schools - officially the Des Moines Independent Community School District, the largest in Iowa and the first in the state to offer the International Baccalaureate program. But DMPS is not the only district inside the city. Southeast Polk, West Des Moines, Saydel and several charter and alternative operators run buildings here too, which is why the district question is genuinely open in Des Moines.

Public schools located in Des Moines

Des Moines is split across 7 school districts: Des Moines Public Schools, Great Oaks Des Moines, Horizon Science Academy Des Moines, Opportunity Ed_Des Moines, Saydel CSD, Southeast Polk CSD, West Des Moines CSD. Every building physically inside the city limits is listed below, with the district that operates it. Attendance is assigned by address, not by city line - verify the zone for the exact property before you write an offer.

Source: Iowa Department of Education, 2026-27 public school building directory.

No high-school or middle-school building sits inside Des Moines for Southeast Polk CSD students. Those grades are served from: Southeast Polk High School (10-12) in Pleasant Hill · Southeast Polk Junior High (8-9) in Pleasant Hill · Southeast Polk Middle School (6-7) in Altoona.

Also in Southeast Polk CSD, outside Des Moines: Altoona Elementary (PK-5) in Altoona · Centennial Elementary (PK-5) in Altoona · Clay Elementary (PK-5) in Altoona · Four Mile Elementary (PK-5) in Pleasant Hill · Mitchellville Elementary (PK-5) in Mitchellville · Runnells Elementary (PK-5) in Runnells · Willowbrook Elementary (PK-5) in Altoona. A Des Moines address can feed any of these.

No high-school or middle-school building sits inside Des Moines for West Des Moines CSD students. Those grades are served from: Valley High School (9-12) in West Des Moines · Valley Southwoods (9-9) in West Des Moines · Indian Hills Junior High School (7-8) in Clive · Stilwell Junior High School (7-8) in West Des Moines.

Also in West Des Moines CSD, outside Des Moines: Crestview School of Inquiry (PK-6) in Clive · Crossroads Park Elementary School (PK-6) in West Des Moines · Fairmeadows Elementary School (PK-6) in West Des Moines · Hillside Elementary School (PK-6) in West Des Moines · Jordan Creek Elementary School (PK-6) in West Des Moines · Western Hills Elementary School (PK-6) in West Des Moines · Westridge Elementary (PK-6) in West Des Moines. A Des Moines address can feed any of these.

What actually decides which school you get

Your address, and it is a real question here rather than a formality - seven districts operate buildings inside the city. Within Des Moines Public Schools the neighborhood elementary is assigned by address, but DMPS also runs magnet and choice programs that let families apply outside that assignment. So the boundary is the starting point, not the whole answer. Confirm both the assignment and the choice options with the district.

The Districts on the Edges of the City

This is the single most important thing to understand about Des Moines schools: the city touches several districts along its borders. A home with a Des Moines mailing address may actually be zoned to Southeast Polk, Johnston, West Des Moines Community, Saydel, or Carlisle depending on which edge of the city it sits on. Attendance boundaries do not follow city limits. Never assume the district from the address - we confirm it for the specific property.

Real Estate Tips for Des Moines School-Zone Buyers

1. Verify the district AND the attendance zone before you offer. In a city this size, the district itself can change block to block on the edges.
2. Consider magnet and IB options. DMPS offers programs that aren't tied strictly to your neighborhood school - worth exploring if a specific program matters to you.
3. Match the neighborhood to the school picture you want. Different neighborhoods feed different schools; I can map that against your budget and priorities.
4. Have financing ready. Move-in-ready homes in popular neighborhoods still draw quick offers - get pre-approved so you can move when the right one appears.

Where to check this yourself

66 buildings sit inside Des Moines across 7 districts, which is why the district office - not the city name - is the authority on any given address.

• Des Moines Public Schools - buildings in Des Moines. Boundary maps, enrollment and calendars; the only authority on which building an address feeds.
• Great Oaks Des Moines - buildings in Des Moines. Boundary maps, enrollment and calendars; the only authority on which building an address feeds.
• Horizon Science Academy Des Moines - buildings in Des Moines. Boundary maps, enrollment and calendars; the only authority on which building an address feeds.
• Opportunity Ed_Des Moines - buildings in Des Moines. Boundary maps, enrollment and calendars; the only authority on which building an address feeds.
• Saydel CSD - buildings in Des Moines. Boundary maps, enrollment and calendars; the only authority on which building an address feeds.
• Southeast Polk CSD - buildings in Altoona, Des Moines, Mitchellville, Pleasant Hill and more. Boundary maps, enrollment and calendars; the only authority on which building an address feeds.
• West Des Moines CSD - buildings in Clive, Des Moines, West Des Moines. Boundary maps, enrollment and calendars; the only authority on which building an address feeds.
• Iowa DOE School Performance Profiles - state-published outcomes and enrollment data. Go here instead of a reputation.
• Iowa DOE building directory (2026-27) - source for every name, grade span and location above. It files schools by postal city, which is not always the municipal boundary.

Questions buyers ask about schools here

What school district serves Des Moines, Iowa?

Des Moines is served by 7 districts: Des Moines Independent Community School District, Great Oaks Des Moines, Horizon Science Academy Des Moines, Opportunity Ed Des Moines, Saydel Community School District, Southeast Polk Community School District and West Des Moines Community School District. The boundary runs through the city, so which district applies depends on the exact address rather than the city name.

What schools are located in Des Moines, Iowa?

66 public school buildings sit inside Des Moines. The high and middle schools are East High School (grades 9-12), Great Oaks DSM (grades 9-12), Hoover High School (grades 9-12), Lincoln High School (grades 9-12), North High School (grades 9-12), OEN - Des Moines Prep (grades 8-10), Roosevelt High School (grades 9-12), Ruby Van Meter (grades K-12), plus 14 middle and junior high buildings, plus 44 elementary and early-learning buildings listed in full on this page. This list comes from the Iowa Department of Education 2026-27 building directory.

Which elementary school will my child attend in Des Moines?

First the address decides the district, then the district decides the building. Des Moines Public Schools runs Brubaker Elementary School, Capitol View Elementary School, Carver Elementary, Cattell Elementary School, Downtown School and 31 more; Horizon Science Academy Des Moines runs Horizon Science Academy DSM; Saydel CSD runs Cornell Elementary School; Southeast Polk CSD runs Delaware Elementary; West Des Moines CSD runs Clive Learning Academy. Verify both with the district office before you write an offer.

What grades does the high school serve for Des Moines students?

In Des Moines Public Schools the high school does not begin at grade 9. Ruby Van Meter serves grades K-12 in Des Moines. Confirm the current configuration with the district before you plan around it.

Schools in nearby cities

Buyers weighing Des Moines usually have one or two other towns on the list. Each of these is the same guide for that city, built from the same state directory:

• Pleasant Hill schools - also in Des Moines Public Schools.
• Windsor Heights schools - also in Des Moines Public Schools.
• Altoona schools - also in Southeast Polk CSD.
• Mitchellville schools - also in Southeast Polk CSD.
• Living in Des Moines - the wider guide to the town itself: housing, commute and what the market is doing.
• All 24 Central Iowa city guides

Ready to find a home in a Des Moines school zone?

Wherever you land, I'm happy to help you weigh the school zones and the trade-offs that come with each - no pressure, no sales pitch. A quick 15-minute conversation is often all it takes to point you in the right direction:

• 📱 Call or text Jackson - 515-490-8614
• ✉️ Jackson@FlandersTeam.com
• 🏠 Full Des Moines real estate guide
• 🏠 The Central Iowa Buyer's Guide
• 🏠 Jackson's Hub - everything else

Jackson Krile is a REALTOR® on the Flanders Team at RE/MAX Real Estate Center. Licensed in Iowa #S66867000. DMAAR + CIBR member.