Total enrollment
77,436
-1,494 (-2%) vs SY 2017-18
Polk County
Iowa · Public K-12
Polk County, Iowa's 137 public schools span elementary through high school (91 elementary, 21 middle, and 22 high). Total enrollment is roughly 77,436 students.
7-year change in Polk County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
132
+2 (+2%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
54%
was 62%
% Hispanic
20%
was 16%
% Black
14%
was 11%
% Asian
6%
was 6%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
137
13 districts
Enrollment
77,436
NCES CCD
Median income
$83,576
Above Iowa avg
Free/reduced lunch
49.1%
Above Iowa avg
Elementary
91
38,472 students
Middle
21
13,968 students
High
22
24,887 students
Combined / other
3
109 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Des Moines Independent Comm School District
29,676 students · 13 districts in Polk County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Polk 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+
40.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.4%
civilian labor
Median age
36
24.4% under 18
Test scores in Polk County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 119 schools ranked. Iowa state average: 73.7%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Northview Middle School· 92.9%
- Runnells Elementary· 91.2%
- Mitchellville Elementary· 90.8%
- North Polk Middle School· 90.5%
- Prairie Trail Elementary· 90.2%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Edmunds Elementary School· 34.5%
- King Elementary School· 36.1%
- Monroe Elementary School· 39.0%
- Park Ave Elementary School· 39.0%
- Carver Elementary· 39.2%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln High School | Des Moines | High | 09-12 | 2,364 | · |
| Valley High School | West Des Moines | High | 10-12 | 2,178 | · |
| Roosevelt High School | Des Moines | High | 09-12 | 2,051 | · |
| East High School | Des Moines | High | 09-12 | 1,952 | · |
| Johnston Senior High School | Johnston | High | 10-12 | 1,820 | · |
| Southeast Polk High School | Pleasant Hill | High | 10-12 | 1,722 | · |
| Ankeny Centennial High School | Ankeny | High | 10-12 | 1,470 | · |
| North High School | Des Moines | High | 09-12 | 1,428 | · |
| Ankeny High School | Ankeny | High | 10-12 | 1,375 | · |
| Urbandale High School | Urbandale | High | 09-12 | 1,301 | · |
| Johnston Middle School | Johnston | High | 08-09 | 1,161 | · |
| Summit Middle School | Johnston | Middle | 06-07 | 1,118 | · |
| Southeast Polk Middle School | Altoona | Middle | 06-07 | 1,112 | · |
| Northview Middle School | Ankeny | High | 08-09 | 1,021 | · |
| Prairie Ridge Middle School | Ankeny | Middle | 06-07 | 1,004 | · |
| Southview Middle School | Ankeny | High | 08-09 | 913 | · |
| Hoover High School | Des Moines | High | 09-12 | 898 | · |
| Urbandale Middle School | Urbandale | Middle | 06-08 | 892 | · |
| Parkview Middle School | Ankeny | Middle | 06-07 | 865 | · |
| Bondurant-Farrar High School | Bondurant | High | 09-12 | 849 | · |
| Henry A Wallace Elementary School | Johnston | Elementary | PK-05 | 840 | · |
| Westridge Elementary | West Des Moines | Elementary | PK-06 | 744 | · |
| Clay Elementary | Altoona | Elementary | PK-05 | 700 | · |
| Weeks Middle School | Des Moines | Middle | 06-08 | 688 | · |
| Valley Southwoods | West Des Moines | High | 09-09 | 678 | · |
| McCombs Middle School | Des Moines | Middle | 06-08 | 670 | · |
| Timber Ridge Elementary | Johnston | Elementary | KG-05 | 667 | · |
| Meredith Middle School | Des Moines | Middle | 06-08 | 662 | · |
| Indian Hills Junior High School | Clive | Middle | 07-08 | 661 | · |
| Merrill Middle School | Des Moines | Middle | 06-08 | 657 | · |
| Jordan Creek Elementary School | West Des Moines | Elementary | PK-06 | 652 | · |
| Stilwell Junior High School | West Des Moines | Middle | 07-08 | 645 | · |
| North Polk High School | Alleman | High | 09-12 | 644 | · |
| Brody Middle School | Des Moines | Middle | 06-08 | 641 | · |
| Rock Creek Elementary | Ankeny | Elementary | KG-05 | 639 | · |
| Brubaker Elementary School | Des Moines | Elementary | KG-05 | 622 | · |
| Olmsted Elementary School | Urbandale | Elementary | PK-05 | 622 | · |
| Horizon Elementary | Johnston | Elementary | KG-05 | 613 | · |
| Heritage Elementary | Ankeny | Elementary | KG-05 | 604 | · |
| Harding Middle School | Des Moines | Middle | 06-08 | 603 | · |
| Morris Elementary | Bondurant | Elementary | PK-02 | 601 | · |
| Valerius Elementary School | Urbandale | Elementary | PK-05 | 598 | · |
| Northeast Elementary | Ankeny | Elementary | KG-05 | 595 | · |
| Southeast Elementary School | Ankeny | Elementary | KG-05 | 585 | · |
| Beaver Creek Elementary School | Johnston | Elementary | KG-05 | 575 | · |
| Western Hills Elementary School | West Des Moines | Elementary | PK-06 | 570 | · |
| Studebaker Elementary School | Des Moines | Elementary | KG-05 | 561 | · |
| Crestview School of Inquiry | Clive | Elementary | PK-06 | 558 | · |
| Cornell Elementary School | Des Moines | Elementary | PK-04 | 555 | · |
| Callanan Middle School | Des Moines | Middle | 06-08 | 553 | · |
| Clive Learning Academy | Des Moines | Elementary | PK-06 | 551 | · |
| Westwood Elementary School | Ankeny | Elementary | KG-05 | 551 | · |
| Ashland Ridge Elementary | Ankeny | Elementary | KG-05 | 548 | · |
| Hillside Elementary School | West Des Moines | Elementary | PK-06 | 548 | · |
| Lawson Elementary School | Johnston | Elementary | KG-05 | 545 | · |
| Fairmeadows Elementary School | West Des Moines | Elementary | PK-06 | 542 | · |
| Garton Elementary | Des Moines | Elementary | PK-05 | 535 | · |
| Capitol View Elementary School | Des Moines | Elementary | PK-05 | 533 | · |
| Anderson Elementary School | Bondurant | Elementary | 02-04 | 531 | · |
| Crossroads Park Elementary School | West Des Moines | Elementary | KG-06 | 530 | · |
| Heritage Elementary | Grimes | Elementary | PK-04 | 530 | · |
| Prairie Trail Elementary | Ankeny | Elementary | KG-05 | 526 | · |
| Willowbrook Elementary | Altoona | Elementary | PK-05 | 523 | · |
| Morris Elementary School | Des Moines | Elementary | KG-05 | 519 | · |
| Webster Elementary School | Urbandale | Elementary | PK-05 | 519 | · |
| Goodrell Middle School | Des Moines | Middle | 06-08 | 511 | · |
| North Polk Middle School | Alleman | Middle | 06-08 | 504 | · |
| Four Mile Elementary | Pleasant Hill | Elementary | PK-05 | 495 | · |
| River Woods Elementary School | Des Moines | Elementary | KG-05 | 493 | · |
| Jackson Elementary School | Des Moines | Elementary | PK-05 | 490 | · |
| Crocker Elementary School | Ankeny | Elementary | KG-05 | 489 | · |
| Hiatt Middle School | Des Moines | Middle | 06-08 | 488 | · |
| Moulton Elementary School | Des Moines | Elementary | PK-05 | 465 | · |
| Saydel High School | Des Moines | High | 09-12 | 458 | · |
| Hoyt Middle School | Des Moines | Middle | 06-08 | 455 | · |
| Abbie Grove Elementary | Ankeny | Elementary | KG-05 | 445 | · |
| Bondurant - Farrar Intermediate School | Bondurant | Middle | 05-06 | 445 | · |
| Delaware Elementary | Des Moines | Elementary | PK-05 | 440 | · |
| Perkins Elementary School | Des Moines | Elementary | KG-05 | 438 | · |
| Carver Elementary | Des Moines | Elementary | PK-05 | 436 | · |
| South Prairie Elementary | Grimes | Elementary | KG-04 | 436 | · |
| Altoona Elementary | Altoona | Elementary | PK-05 | 429 | · |
| Centennial Elementary | Altoona | Elementary | PK-05 | 423 | · |
| South Union Elementary School | Des Moines | Elementary | KG-05 | 422 | · |
| North Ridge Elementary | Grimes | Elementary | KG-04 | 412 | · |
| East Elementary School | Ankeny | Elementary | KG-05 | 409 | · |
| North Polk Central Elementary School | Alleman | Elementary | PK-05 | 408 | · |
| Bondurant-Farrar Junior High | Bondurant | Middle | 07-08 | 398 | · |
| North Polk West Elementary School | Polk City | Elementary | PK-02 | 396 | · |
| Woodside Middle School | Des Moines | Middle | 05-08 | 396 | · |
| Lovejoy Elementary School | Des Moines | Elementary | KG-05 | 394 | · |
| Cowles Elementary School | Des Moines | Elementary | PK-08 | 392 | · |
| Samuelson Elementary School | Des Moines | Elementary | KG-05 | 386 | · |
| Park Ave Elementary School | Des Moines | Elementary | KG-05 | 380 | · |
| Virtual Campus | Des Moines | High | 09-12 | 380 | · |
| Hubbell Elementary | Des Moines | Elementary | KG-05 | 362 | · |
| Terrace Learning Center | Ankeny | Elementary | PK-PK | 361 | · |
| Big Creek Elementary | Polk City | Elementary | 03-05 | 357 | · |
| Northwest Elementary School | Ankeny | Elementary | KG-05 | 346 | · |
| Monroe Elementary School | Des Moines | Elementary | KG-05 | 341 | · |
Cities in Polk County
About Polk County
In Iowa, Polk County is a large county of about 503,175 residents. 137 public schools across the county teaches about 77,436 students between them.
Zooming out, census numbers show the median household earns about $83,576 a year, roughly 40% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 7%. That income level is 17% above the Iowa median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Polk County comprises 91 elementary schools (38,472 students), 21 middle schools (13,968), 22 high schools (24,887), and 3 combined or other schools.
Des Moines Independent Comm School District dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 29,676 students on its own.
Trend over the past 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment held roughly steady: 78,930 students in SY 2017-18 versus 77,436 in SY 2024-25. Polk County now counts 132 public schools, up from 130 in SY 2017-18. On the demographic side, White enrollment moved from 62% to 54% over the same window.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Polk County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
Polk County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data