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Catholic School0

Dowling Catholic High School

#1 in Best Catholic High Schools in Iowa
  • A
    Overall Grade
  • Private, Catholic
  • 9-12
  • West Des Moines, IA
  • 194 reviews
    A
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Academics
      A+
    2. Diversity
      B
    3. Teachers
      B+
    4. College Prep
      A
    5. Clubs & Activities
      A
    6. Sports
      A+
    Dowling Catholic High School is a highly rated, private, Catholic school located in West Des Moines, IA. It has 1,405 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1. Tuition is $7,986 for the highest grade offered. After graduation, 96% of students from this school go on to attend a 4-year college.
    dowlingcatholic.org
    (515) 225-3000
    1400 Buffalo Rd
    West Des Moines, IA 50109

    Tuition

    Yearly Tuition
    $7,986
    Tuition is for the highest grade offered and may have changed for the current school year. For more information, please contact the school.
    Received Financial Aid
    40%
    Average Financial Aid
    $4,500

    Dowling Catholic High School Rankings

    Niche ranks nearly 100,000 schools and districts based on statistics and millions of opinions from students and parents.

    Academics

    Average Graduation Rate
    100%
    Average SAT
    1320
    27 responses
    Average ACT
    27
    275 responses
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    Culture & Safety

    Poll
    95%
    of students agree that they feel safe at their school.21 responses
    Poll
    86%
    of students agree that they like their school and feel happy there.21 responses
    Poll
    What are your favorite school events or traditions?
    Based on 55 responses
    Report
    • Prom, homecoming week, rival football games
      27%
    • Anytime we play (and beat) Valley
      24%
    • Candlelighting ceremony and Christmas baskets
      22%
    • Religious retreats (Kairos)
      16%
    • Spirit Week
      5%
    • Church League Basketball and Intramurals
      4%
    • Homecoming
      2%

    Students

    Diversity
    B
    Based on racial and economic diversity and survey responses on school culture and diversity from students and parents.
    Students
    1,405
    95%
    of students and parents agree that students at this school are competitive.22 responses
    91%
    of students and parents agree that students at this school are creative and artsy.22 responses
    91%
    of students and parents agree that students at this school are athletic.22 responses

    Teachers

    Student-Teacher Ratio
    15:1
    National
    17:1
    Poll
    88%
    of students and parents agree that the teachers give engaging lessons.24 responses
    Poll
    88%
    of students and parents agree that the teachers genuinely care about the students.24 responses
    Poll
    88%
    of students and parents agree that the teachers adequately lead and control the classroom.24 responses

    Clubs & Activities

    Clubs & Activities
    A
    Based on student and parent reviews of clubs and activities.
    Girls Athletic Participation
    —
    Boys Athletic Participation
    —
    100%
    of students and parents agree that there are plenty of clubs and organizations for students to get involved in.22 responses
    73%
    of students and parents agree that clubs and organizations get the funding they need.22 responses
    82%
    of students and parents agree that lots of students participate in clubs and organizations.22 responses
    Living in the Area
    A+
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Cost of Living
      B
    2. Good for Families
      A+
    3. Housing
      A-
    Median Household Income
    $74,787
    National
    $55,322
    Median Rent
    $988
    National
    $949
    Median Home Value
    $210,200
    National
    $184,700
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    Dowling Catholic High School Reviews

    194 reviews
    All Categories
    I really enjoy attending a school that cares about the individual, their education, and their beliefs. Every teacher cares about the students and wants to help them succeed. Dowling prepares students for college well by leading you through the whole process and maintaining a strong academic focus throughout the four years. Dowling offers great clubs to get involved in. These clubs help shape the student as a leader and are a way to meet new people. Faith is incorporated into the education but not the primary focus. I would love to see more elective classes offered at Dowling! I believe this would help students find other interests or passions outside of the core classes.
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    I am an international student at dowling. Dowling has very professional teachers for many of the advanced classes. Also, if you are looking for a religious education, I believe Dowling is a place to go! I have learned about Catholic faith deeply, and I am planning convert to Catholicism. Besides the Academics, although it is very expensive to play sports at dowling, Dowling is a great school to play sports. School foods are tasty; however, they are also a little pricy compare to what they serve. I do not believe Dowling provide separate English education for International students, so if English is not your first language, then you might suffer a little bit.
    I graduated from Dowling in 2018 and it is undisputedly one of the best high schools to attend in Iowa to prepare students for college. The education is well worth the money and a generous amount of financial aid is given to most students. They may receive a lot of hate around Iowa, but after attending a public high school prior, I found that the students at Dowling really cared about their education and getting the best possible experience out of high school, unlike other public schools where the students were vey unmotivated to be there. If you can afford it, it is 100% worth it and any Dowling graduate will agree.