Total enrollment
22,938
+4,500 (+24%) vs SY 2017-18
Dallas County
Iowa · Public K-12
From the largest high school to the smallest elementary campus, Dallas County's 41 public schools collectively enroll about 22,938 K-12 students, with Waukee Comm School District the heaviest district by enrollment. The level mix is 21 elementary, 11 middle, and 9 high schools.
7-year change in Dallas County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
40
+6 (+18%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
72%
was 80%
% Hispanic
10%
was 9%
% Black
6%
was 3%
% Asian
5%
was 5%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
107,968
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
41
7 districts
Enrollment
22,938
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$102,379
Above Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
22.1%
Below Iowa avg
Elementary
21
9,998 students
Middle
11
5,586 students
High
9
7,354 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Waukee Comm School District
13,917 students · 7 districts in Dallas County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Dallas County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
51.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
4.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.3%
civilian labor
Median age
36
26.6% under 18
Test scores in Dallas County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 34 schools ranked. Iowa state average: 73.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- ADM Senior High School· 95.0%
- Van Meter High School· 94.8%
- Van Meter Middle School· 93.6%
- ADM Middle School· 93.3%
- Van Meter Elementary School· 92.4%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Perry Elementary· 70.2%
- Waukee High School· 70.7%
- Perry High School· 73.3%
- Radiant Elementary School· 74.2%
- Perry Middle School· 76.7%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest High School | Waukee | High | 10-12 | 1,574 | · |
| Waukee High School | Waukee | High | 10-12 | 1,375 | · |
| South Middle School | Waukee | Middle | 06-07 | 1,092 | · |
| Dallas Center-Grimes High School | Grimes | High | 09-12 | 1,073 | · |
| Timberline School | Waukee | High | 08-09 | 992 | · |
| Waukee Middle School | Waukee | Middle | 06-08 | 867 | · |
| Perry Elementary | Perry | Elementary | PK-05 | 816 | · |
| Trailridge School | Waukee | Middle | 06-08 | 754 | · |
| Walnut Hills Elementary School | Urbandale | Elementary | KG-05 | 708 | · |
| Waukee Elementary School | Waukee | Elementary | KG-05 | 706 | · |
| ADM Senior High School | Adel | High | 09-12 | 666 | · |
| Grant Ragan Elementary School | Waukee | Elementary | KG-05 | 666 | · |
| Sugar Creek Elementary School | Waukee | Elementary | KG-05 | 630 | · |
| Brookview Elementary School | West Des Moines | Elementary | KG-05 | 592 | · |
| Shuler Elementary School | Clive | Elementary | KG-05 | 592 | · |
| Eason Elementary School | Waukee | Elementary | KG-05 | 590 | · |
| Dallas Center-Grimes Middle School | Dallas Center | Middle | 05-06 | 586 | · |
| Van Meter Elementary School | Van Meter | Elementary | PK-05 | 578 | · |
| Woodland Hills Elementary School | West Des Moines | Elementary | KG-05 | 578 | · |
| Maple Grove Elementary School | West Des Moines | Elementary | KG-05 | 577 | · |
| Perry High School | Perry | High | 09-12 | 549 | · |
| Prairieview School | Waukee | High | 09-09 | 539 | · |
| DC-G Oak View | Grimes | Middle | 07-08 | 537 | · |
| Meadow View Elementary | Adel | Elementary | 02-04 | 520 | · |
| Waterford Elementary School | Urbandale | Elementary | KG-05 | 464 | · |
| Adel Elementary School | Adel | Elementary | PK-01 | 403 | · |
| Perry Middle School | Perry | Middle | 06-08 | 370 | · |
| ADM Middle School | Adel | Middle | 07-08 | 352 | · |
| Woodward-Granger Elementary School | Granger | Elementary | 02-05 | 349 | · |
| Vince Meyer Early Learning Center | Waukee | Elementary | PK-PK | 348 | · |
| DeSoto Intermediate School | Desoto | Middle | 05-06 | 337 | · |
| Van Meter High School | Van Meter | High | 09-12 | 316 | · |
| Radiant Elementary School | Urbandale | Elementary | KG-05 | 273 | · |
| Woodward-Granger High School | Woodward | High | 09-12 | 270 | · |
| Woodward-Granger Early Learning Center | Granger | Elementary | PK-01 | 253 | · |
| Van Meter Middle School | Van Meter | Middle | 06-08 | 252 | · |
| Woodward-Granger Middle School | Woodward | Middle | 06-08 | 248 | · |
| West Central Valley Middle School | Redfield | Middle | 06-08 | 191 | · |
| Dexter Elementary School | Dexter | Elementary | 03-05 | 186 | · |
| Dallas Center Elementary | Dallas Center | Elementary | KG-04 | 169 | · |
| North Middle School | Waukee | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Dallas County
About Dallas County
Dallas County is a moderately sized Iowa county of about 107,968 residents, home to 41 public schools and roughly 22,938 students.
In context, census numbers show median household income runs near $102,379, 52% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 5% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 43% above the Iowa median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Dallas County spans 21 elementary schools (9,998 students), 11 middle schools (5,586), and 9 high schools (7,354).
The largest single district in Dallas County is Waukee Comm School District, which alone enrolls about 13,917 students.
Trend over the past 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 22,938 students, grew 24% from the 18,438 reported in SY 2017-18. Over that span, Dallas County opened 6 schools, going from 34 to 40. The White share of public-school enrollment fell from 80% to 72%.
On allk12, the community for Dallas County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
Dallas County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data