Item: Des Moines Independent Comm School District
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Des Moines Independent Comm School District

2100 Fleur Drive
Des Moines, IA 50321

( shown in map)

Bottom 50%

Tel: (515) 242-7911

Top Rankings

Des Moines Independent Comm School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Iowa for:

Overview

This School District

This State (IA)

# Schools

59 Schools

1,320 Schools

# Students

29,871 Students

501,674 Students

# Teachers

1,899 Teachers

34,800 Teachers

Student : Teacher Ratio

16:1

Student By Grade

View Data

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	Iowa
Pre-K	1,358	70
Kind	2,136	111
1	2,303	105
2	2,265	108
3	2,087	107
4	2,226	109
5	2,152	109
6	1,963	108
7	2,033	109
8	1,957	112
9	2,185	118
10	2,330	121
11	2,339	118
12	2,537	117

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District Rank

Des Moines Independent Comm School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 325 school districts in Iowa (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.

The school district's graduation rate of 73% has decreased from 81% over five school years.

This School District

State Average (IA)

#325 out of 327 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

View Data

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
2023	#325
2022	#327
2021	#327
2019	#329
2018	#331
2017	#330
2016	#333
2015	#337
2014	#340
2013	#344
2012	#344

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43%

68%

View Data

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	Iowa
2023	43%	68%
2022	40%	64%
2021	43%	64%
2019	49%	69%
2018	55%	76%
2017	58%	77%
2016	60%	78%
2015	61%	79%
2014	61%	79%
2013	60%	77%
2012	59%	76%

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49%

70%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	Iowa
2022	49%	70%
2021	46%	68%
2019	47%	68%
2018	55%	74%
2017	59%	75%
2016	61%	75%
2015	61%	76%
2014	60%	76%
2013	57%	72%
2012	56%	71%
2011	62%	76%

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41%

63%

View Data

Science Proficiency Trends
Year	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	Iowa
2022	41%	63%
2021	37%	60%

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73%

90%

View Data

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	Iowa
2023	73%	90%
2022	76%	90%
2021	75%	87%
2020	77%	89%
2019	83%	88%
2018	81%	89%
2017	82%	89%
2016	81%	88%
2015	78%	88%
2014	82%	89%
2013	79%	87%

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Students by Ethnicity:

0.75

0.47

View Data

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	Iowa
2023	0.75	0.46
2022	0.75	0.45
2021	0.74	0.43
2020	0.74	0.42
2019	0.74	0.42
2018	0.72	0.39
2017	0.72	0.39
2016	0.72	0.38
2015	0.71	0.38
2014	0.71	0.37
2013	0.70	0.35
2012	0.70	0.34
2011	0.68	0.34
2010	0.67	0.32
2009	0.60	0.29
2008	0.58	0.28
2007	0.57	0.26
2006	0.55	0.23
2005	0.54	0.24
2004	0.52	0.22
2003	0.51	0.21
2002	0.49	0.20
2001	0.47	0.20
2000	0.43	0.15
1999	0.44	0.16
1998	0.43	0.15
1997	0.42	0.13
1996	0.39	0.13
1995	0.39	0.13
1994	0.36	0.13
1993	0.35	0.11
1992	0.33	0.10
1991	0.32	0.10

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% American Indian

n/a

View Data

American Indian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2001-2010)
Year	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	Iowa
2010	1%	1%
2008	1%	1%
2007	1%	1%
2006	1%	1%
2005	1%	1%
2004	1%	1%
2003	1%	1%
2002	1%	1%
2001	1%	1%

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% Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	Iowa
2023	8%	2%
2022	9%	3%
2021	9%	3%
2020	9%	3%
2019	9%	3%
2018	8%	2%
2017	8%	2%
2016	8%	2%
2015	7%	3%
2014	7%	3%
2013	8%	3%
2012	8%	2%
2011	6%	2%
2010	5%	2%
2009	6%	2%
2008	5%	2%
2007	5%	2%
2006	5%	2%
2005	5%	2%
2004	5%	2%
2003	5%	2%
2002	5%	2%
2001	5%	2%
2000	4%	1%
1999	5%	2%
1998	5%	2%
1997	5%	2%
1996	5%	2%
1995	6%	2%
1994	5%	2%
1993	5%	1%
1992	5%	1%
1991	5%	1%

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% Hispanic

31%

13%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	Iowa
2023	30%	13%
2022	29%	12%
2021	28%	12%
2020	27%	11%
2019	27%	11%
2018	26%	11%
2017	26%	11%
2016	25%	10%
2015	25%	11%
2014	24%	10%
2013	23%	9%
2012	22%	9%
2011	22%	9%
2010	21%	8%
2009	17%	7%
2008	16%	7%
2007	15%	6%
2006	15%	5%
2005	13%	5%
2004	12%	5%
2003	11%	4%
2002	10%	4%
2001	9%	4%
2000	7%	2%
1999	7%	3%
1998	6%	3%
1997	5%	2%
1996	4%	2%
1995	4%	2%
1994	3%	2%
1993	3%	2%
1992	2%	1%
1991	2%	1%

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% Black

22%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	Iowa
2023	21%	7%
2022	21%	7%
2021	21%	7%
2020	20%	6%
2019	20%	6%
2018	19%	6%
2017	19%	6%
2016	18%	6%
2015	18%	5%
2014	18%	5%
2013	17%	5%
2012	17%	5%
2011	17%	5%
2010	17%	5%
2009	19%	6%
2008	18%	6%
2007	17%	5%
2006	17%	4%
2005	16%	5%
2004	16%	4%
2003	15%	4%
2002	15%	4%
2001	15%	4%
2000	14%	3%
1999	15%	4%
1998	14%	3%
1997	14%	3%
1996	14%	3%
1995	13%	3%
1994	13%	3%
1993	13%	3%
1992	12%	3%
1991	11%	3%

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% White

32%

71%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2023)
Year	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	Iowa
2023	34%	72%
2022	35%	73%
2021	36%	74%
2020	38%	75%
2019	38%	75%
2018	41%	77%
2017	41%	77%
2016	43%	78%
2015	44%	78%
2014	45%	79%
2013	46%	80%
2012	47%	81%
2011	49%	81%
2010	51%	82%
2009	58%	84%
2008	60%	84%
2007	62%	86%
2006	62%	88%
2005	65%	87%
2004	66%	88%
2003	68%	89%
2002	69%	89%
2001	70%	89%
2000	74%	94%
1999	72%	91%
1998	74%	92%
1997	75%	93%
1996	77%	93%
1995	76%	93%
1994	79%	93%
1993	79%	94%
1992	81%	95%
1991	82%	95%

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% Hawaiian

n/a

% Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2011-2023)
Year	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	Iowa
2023	7%	5%
2022	6%	5%
2021	6%	4%
2020	6%	4%
2019	6%	4%
2018	6%	4%
2017	6%	4%
2016	6%	4%
2015	6%	3%
2014	6%	3%
2013	6%	3%
2012	6%	3%
2011	6%	2%

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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $19,764 is higher than the state median of $16,468. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

The school district's spending/student of $17,189 is higher than the state median of $16,042. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

This School District

This State (IA)

Total Revenue

$590 MM

$8,262 MM

View Data

Total Revenues Trends
Year	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	Iowa
2021	$590MM	$12MM
2020	$532MM	$11MM
2019	$525MM	$11MM
2018	$509MM	$10MM
2017	$497MM	$10MM
2016	$483MM	$10MM
2015	$387MM	$7MM
2014	$443MM	$9MM
2012	$431MM	$9MM
2011	$414MM	$8MM
2010	$387MM	$7MM
2009	$399MM	$7MM
2008	$383MM	$7MM
2007	$365MM	$7MM
2006	$352MM	$6MM
2005	$343MM	$6MM
2004	$330MM	$6MM
2003	$327MM	$6MM
2002	$313MM	$6MM
2001	$307MM	$5MM
2000	$263MM	$5MM
1999	$246MM	$5MM
1998	$239MM	$5MM
1997	$220MM	$4MM
1996	$209MM	$4MM
1995	$202MM	$4MM
1992	$171MM	$3MM
1990	$145MM	$2MM

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Spending

$513 MM

$8,048 MM

View Data

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	Iowa
2021	$513MM	$11MM
2020	$494MM	$11MM
2019	$504MM	$10MM
2018	$497MM	$10MM
2017	$485MM	$10MM
2016	$489MM	$10MM
2015	$390MM	$7MM
2014	$448MM	$8MM
2012	$416MM	$8MM
2011	$405MM	$8MM
2010	$390MM	$7MM
2009	$382MM	$7MM
2008	$389MM	$7MM
2007	$376MM	$6MM
2006	$340MM	$6MM
2005	$304MM	$6MM
2004	$332MM	$6MM
2003	$337MM	$6MM
2002	$315MM	$6MM
2001	$288MM	$6MM
2000	$262MM	$5MM
1999	$239MM	$5MM
1998	$232MM	$5MM
1997	$225MM	$4MM
1996	$209MM	$4MM
1995	$199MM	$4MM
1992	$184MM	$3MM
1990	$146MM	$2MM

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Revenue / Student

$19,764

$16,468

View Data

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	Iowa
2021	$18,852	$16,172
2020	$16,184	$14,700
2019	$15,840	$14,749
2018	$15,202	$14,230
2017	$14,898	$14,844
2016	$14,593	$14,113
2015	$11,796	$11,259
2014	$12,945	$13,301
2012	$12,872	$12,751
2011	$12,502	$12,165
2010	$11,817	$11,259
2009	$12,622	$11,087
2008	$11,938	$10,485
2007	$11,450	$10,103
2006	$10,979	$9,628
2005	$10,659	$9,167
2004	$10,606	$8,727
2003	$10,363	$8,857
2002	$9,786	$8,158
2001	$9,458	$7,654
2000	$8,361	$7,180
1999	$7,846	$6,993
1998	$7,556	$6,548
1997	$6,994	$6,347
1995	$6,575	$5,735

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Spending / Student

$17,189

$16,042

View Data

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	Iowa
2021	$16,395	$15,357
2020	$15,011	$14,340
2019	$15,206	$14,216
2018	$14,825	$13,767
2017	$14,534	$14,379
2016	$14,789	$14,161
2015	$11,895	$11,298
2014	$13,091	$12,593
2012	$12,433	$12,000
2011	$12,225	$11,589
2010	$11,917	$11,298
2009	$12,074	$10,614
2008	$12,134	$9,706
2007	$11,812	$9,439
2006	$10,612	$9,204
2005	$9,458	$8,457
2004	$10,677	$8,450
2003	$10,681	$8,908
2002	$9,831	$8,409
2001	$8,874	$7,961
2000	$8,321	$7,433
1999	$7,602	$7,234
1998	$7,351	$6,713
1997	$7,161	$6,475
1995	$6,454	$5,710

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Des Moines Independent Comm School District?

Des Moines Independent Comm School District manages 59 public schools serving 29,871 students.

What is the rank of Des Moines Independent Comm School District?

Des Moines Independent Comm School District is ranked #324 out of 325 school districts in Iowa (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Iowa school districts for: Most diverse schools (Top 1%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)

What is the racial composition of students in Des Moines Independent Comm School District?

32% of Des Moines Independent Comm School District students are White, 31% of students are Hispanic, 22% of students are Black, 8% of students are Asian, and 7% of students are Two or more races.

What is the student/teacher ratio of Des Moines Independent Comm School District?

Des Moines Independent Comm School District has a student/teacher ratio of 16:1, which is higher than the Iowa state average of 14:1.

What is Des Moines Independent Comm School District's spending/student ratio?

The school district's spending/student of $17,189 is higher than the state median of $16,042. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

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Quick Stats (2025)

District size: 59 schools
Grades: PK-12
Enrollment: 29,871 students
Student:Teacher Ratio: 16:1
Minority Enrollment: 68%
: 73% (Top 50% in IA)
: Bottom 50%
: 43% (Btm 50%)
: 49% (Btm 50%)
: 41% (Btm 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education