Pleasant Hill, Iowa Schools - Two Districts, One City

Pleasant Hill is served by two districts, and one of them is easy to miss. Southeast Polk holds Four Mile Elementary plus the junior high and the 10-12 high school inside the city. Des Moines Public Schools also serves much of established Pleasant Hill through Pleasant Hill Elementary - which the state files under a Des Moines postal address, so it never shows up on city school lists. So the district serving a Pleasant Hill address is not something you can read off the city name.

Two Districts, One City

Most of Pleasant Hill is served by Des Moines Public Schools, while the newer portions of the city fall into the Southeast Polk Community School District. That means two homes a few blocks apart can feed entirely different schools. Before you fall for a house, confirm which district and attendance zone it's in - I help buyers verify this on every Pleasant Hill showing.

Public schools located in Pleasant Hill

Every public school building physically inside Pleasant Hill city limits, and the grades each one serves. 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.

Also in Southeast Polk CSD, outside Pleasant Hill: Southeast Polk Middle School (6-7) in Altoona · Altoona Elementary (PK-5) in Altoona · Centennial Elementary (PK-5) in Altoona · Clay Elementary (PK-5) in Altoona · Delaware Elementary (PK-5) in Des Moines · Mitchellville Elementary (PK-5) in Mitchellville · Runnells Elementary (PK-5) in Runnells · Willowbrook Elementary (PK-5) in Altoona. A Pleasant Hill address can feed any of these.

One more building carries the Pleasant Hill name but a different postal address: Pleasant Hill Elementary School (PK-5, Des Moines Public Schools). The state directory files schools by postal city, so it does not appear in the table above - but it serves Pleasant Hill families, which means more than one district is in play here. Confirm the district for the exact address.

Where to check this yourself

3 buildings sit inside Pleasant Hill across 2 districts, which is why the district office - not the city name - is the authority on any given address.

• 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.
• Des Moines Public Schools - buildings in 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.

Real Estate Tips for Pleasant Hill School-Zone Buyers

1. Verify the district and attendance zone before you offer. In Pleasant Hill this is non-negotiable - the boundary runs through town.
2. Newer Copper Creek-area homes more often fall into Southeast Polk; established western Pleasant Hill more often into Des Moines Public. Confirm every time.
3. Entry-level competition is real at the $250K-$325K price point - have financing pre-approved and your offer strategy ready.
4. Ask about boundary changes. As Pleasant Hill grows, zones can shift; don't assume last year's map still applies.

Questions buyers ask about schools here

What school district serves Pleasant Hill, Iowa?

Pleasant Hill is served by the Southeast Polk Community School District. 3 of its 11 school buildings are located inside Pleasant Hill.

What schools are located in Pleasant Hill, Iowa?

3 public school buildings sit inside Pleasant Hill: Southeast Polk High School (grades 10-12), Southeast Polk Junior High (grades 8-9), Four Mile Elementary (grades PK-5). This list comes from the Iowa Department of Education 2026-27 building directory.

What grades does the high school serve for Pleasant Hill students?

In Southeast Polk CSD the high school does not begin at grade 9. Southeast Polk High School serves grades 10-12 in Pleasant Hill. Confirm the current configuration with the district before you plan around it.

Schools in nearby cities

Buyers weighing Pleasant Hill 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:

• Des Moines 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 Pleasant Hill - 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 the right Pleasant Hill school zone?

Wherever you land, I'm happy to help you weigh the district split and the trade-offs that come with each address - 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 Pleasant Hill 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.