Total enrollment
5,632
-32 (-1%) vs SY 2020-21
Des Moines County
Iowa · Public K-12
Public K-12 enrollment in Des Moines County totals about 5,632 students across 15 schools, an average of 375 per school. Burlington Comm School District is the largest district. By grade band, the county runs 8 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools.
4-year change in Des Moines County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
15
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Des Moines County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Iowa | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 64.4% | #78 of 89 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 5,632 | #18 of 90 | #1,219 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 15 | #22 of 90 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.7:1 | #49 of 90 | #1,195 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 45.0% | #32 of 90 | #1,868 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 45.9% | #19 of 89 | #1,264 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Des Moines County school rankings
Residents
38,487
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
15
4 districts
Enrollment
5,632
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$62,928
Below Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
45.0%
Above Iowa avg
Elementary
8
2,533 students
Middle
3
1,086 students
High
4
2,013 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Burlington Comm School District
3,140 students · 4 districts in Des Moines County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Des Moines 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+
23.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
9.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.1%
civilian labor
Median age
42
22.2% under 18
Test scores in Des Moines County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 14 schools ranked. Iowa state average: 73.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington Community High School | Burlington | High | 09-12 | 1,016 | · |
| West Burlington Elem School | West Burlington | Elementary | PK-06 | 479 | · |
| Edward Stone Middle School | Burlington | Middle | 07-08 | 452 | · |
| Mediapolis Elementary School | Mediapolis | Elementary | PK-05 | 432 | · |
| Aldo Leopold Intermediate School | Burlington | Middle | 05-06 | 412 | · |
| West Burlington Arnold Jr./Sr. High School | West Burlington | High | 07-12 | 396 | · |
| Danville Elementary School | Danville | Elementary | PK-06 | 362 | · |
| Mediapolis High School | Mediapolis | High | 09-12 | 312 | · |
| Black Hawk Elementary School | Burlington | Elementary | KG-04 | 305 | · |
| Sunnyside Elementary School | Burlington | Elementary | KG-04 | 298 | · |
| Danville Junior-Senior High School | Danville | High | 07-12 | 289 | · |
| North Hill Elementary School | Burlington | Elementary | KG-04 | 268 | · |
| Mediapolis Middle School | Mediapolis | Middle | 06-08 | 222 | · |
| James Wilson Grimes School | Burlington | Elementary | KG-04 | 212 | · |
| Corse Early Childhood Center | Burlington | Elementary | PK-PK | 177 | · |
Cities in Des Moines County
About Des Moines County
Des Moines County is a rural-scale county of about 38,487 residents in Iowa. Its public-school system hosts approximately 5,632 students across 15 schools.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $62,928, about 24% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 10% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 12% meaningfully below the Iowa median.
On the school-mix side, Des Moines County consists of 8 elementary schools (2,533 students), 3 middle schools (1,086), and 4 high schools (2,013).
The largest single district in Des Moines County is Burlington Comm School District, which alone enrolls about 3,140 students.
Over the past 4-year window. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment stayed largely flat: 5,664 students in SY 2020-21 versus 5,632 in SY 2024-25.
On allk12, the community for Des Moines County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data