The Des Moines Independent Community School District (The Des Moines Public Schools, or DMPS) is the largest public school district in Iowa. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges and the Iowa Department of Education.
Contents
Area
The district currently serves most of the city of Des Moines as well as parts of suburban Pleasant Hill and Windsor Heights. The city is split into four different area districts. District one covers the west, two covers the north, three covers the east, and district four the south.
History
Advanced Placement Program and International Baccalaureate Programme
In 2008, Des Moines Public Schools became the first school district in Iowa to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme.
Between the 2018-2019 school year and the 2024, the student enrollment levels went down about 2,500.
On January 9, 2023. Des Moines Public Schools was hit with a cybersecurity attack.
On September 26, 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported that superintendent Ian Roberts had been detained in Des Moines, Iowa, and stated that a "final order of removal" had been issued for Roberts's deportation in May 2024. Roberts reportedly fled from a traffic stop, then abandoned his school-issued vehicle. At the time of his arrest, ICE said that he was found in possession of a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash, and a fixed blade hunting knife. Jackie Norris, Chair of the School Board made a statement placing Roberts on paid administrative leave pending further investigation appointing Matt Smith as interim Superintendent.
Schools
In addition to traditional neighborhood schools, the district has various neighborhood schools with programs such as the IB Programme, Turn Around Arts, and more. The district also offers many special schools and program such as Central Campus, Central Academy, Options Academy, Ruby Van Meter and Focus.
High schools (Grades 9-12)
East High School — serving students located in the east segment
Hoover High School — serving students located in the northwest segment
Lincoln High School — serving students located in the south segment
North High School — serving students located in the north segment
Roosevelt High School - Serving students located in the west segment
Virtual Campus High School — Online
Special schools & programs
Ruby Van Meter School - A special education school serving disabled students with high support needs.
Central Academy (Est. 1985) - A magnet school located in downtown Des Moines.
Central Campus - A magnet program serving high school students throughout Iowa with 9 career academies.
Business Academy
Information Technology & Arts Academy
Engineering Academy
Human Service Academy
Health Sciences Academy
Skill Trades Academy
Technology & Systems Integration Academy
Transportation Academy
Academic Pathways - A set of three programs designed for both adults and current high schoolers who need a new path to earning a high school diploma
Orchard Place School - A Psychiatric Medical Institute for Children ages 10–18. The largest PMIC in Iowa
Middle schools (grades 6-8)
Brody Middle School
Callanan Middle School
Cowles Montessori School
Goodrell Middle School
Harding Middle School
Hiatt Middle School
Hoyt Middle School
McCombs Middle School
Meredith Middle School
Merrill Middle School
Weeks Middle School
Virtual Campus Middle School
Elementary schools (K-5, PK-5, K-6)
Brubaker Elementary School
Capitol View Elementary School
Carver Community School (est. 2007)
Cattell Elementary School
Cowles Montessori Elementary School
Downtown School
Edmunds Elementary School
Findley Elementary school
Garton Elementary School
Greenwood Elementary School
Hanawalt Elementary School
Hillis Elementary School
Howe Elementary School
Hubbell Elementary School
Jackson Elementary School
Jefferson Elementary Traditional School
King Elementary School
Lovejoy Elementary School
Madison Elementary School
McKinley Elementary School
Monroe Elementary School
Moore Elementary School
Morris Elementary School
Moulton Extended Learning Center
Pre-Schools
McKee Education Center
Mitchell Early Learning Center
Jesse Franklin Taylor Education Center
Woodlawn Education Center
Media
DMPS-TV Channel 12 is the school district's Educational-access television cable TV channel, which is provided through Mediacom Cable Television as part of a franchise agreement with the City of Des Moines. The district televises their school board meetings through this network. Additionally, the school district operates its own social media outlets.
Facts and figures
Enrollment
Note: The table rows shown in red represents data that was cited directly from the Des Moines Public Schools enrollment reports. Some of this data conflicts with data from the Iowa Department of Education annual reports. This is because the underlying data is complex, and the table above is a summary of the data collected from the two sources.