2019 Best Middle Schools in the Des Moines AreaAbout this List

Timberline School

• Waukee Community School District, IA
• 8-9

• A

• 663 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Waukee South Middle School

• Waukee Community School District, IA
• 6-7
• 1

Senior: Overall I had an amazing 3 years at this school. The environment, teachers, faculty, and students made it memorable. Being able to learn hands on, and understand what I’m learning to take it to the next years was crucial. Opportunities were endless here, there was always a way to excel as long as you wanted to do it, you could. No one ever discouraged me, only ever helped push me to become better and gave me the want to learn and do more not only for myself but for those around me and in my community
Read 1 Review

• A

• 698 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Summit Middle School

• Johnston Community School District, IA
• 6-7

• A

• 1,092 Students
• 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Stilwell Junior High School

• West Des Moines Community School District, IA
• 7-8
• 2

Middle School Student: Seventh and Eighth-grade school kinda small for so many students.Great teacher but the food is not that good sometimes the chicken is undercooked and pink. Many clubs here like best buddies, chess, and more. The sports here are ok but practices are at bad times like in the cold and when it's raining.
Read 2 Reviews

• A

• 724 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Waukee Middle School

• Waukee Community School District, IA
• 6-7

• A

• 689 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Johnston Middle School

• Johnston Community School District, IA
• 8-9
• 4

• A

• 1,048 Students
• 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Southview Middle School

• Ankeny Community School District, IA
• 8-9
• 1

Middle School Student: I love Southview! One thing I really love about Southview is how compassionate the teachers are. Another thing is the learning environment. The learning environment is fun but not distracting and everyone is there to learn.
Read 1 Review

• A

• 747 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Prairieview School

• Waukee Community School District, IA
• 8-9
• 3

High School Senior: Teachers work very hard to make students great
Read 3 Reviews

• A

• 616 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

North Polk Middle School

• North Polk Community School District, IA
• 6-8

• A

• 335 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Dallas Center - Grimes Middle School

• Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District, IA
• 6-7
• 6

High School Student: The reason I'm saying this is,in my opinion no school in the area is better than this school.
Read 6 Reviews

• A

• 400 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Northview Middle School

• Ankeny Community School District, IA
• 8-9
• 15

Middle School Student: While the school itself is not very diverse, the student body is pleasant and the academics are acceptable. I'd like to see more opportunities for talented and gifted students, especially in eighth grade.
Read 15 Reviews

• A

• 801 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Prairie Ridge Middle School

• Ankeny Community School District, IA
• 6-7
• 4

Parent: Prairie ridge middle school is the best school my child has been in by far. The staff there are outstanding and do their best to help the students in every way they can. The employees at prairie ridge middle school have worked incredibly hard with me in the past two years to make the best learning environment possible for my child. I appreciate all that the school has done for me and my family and will be forever grateful for these last two years. Thank you prairie ridge!
Read 4 Reviews

• A

• 813 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Parkview Middle School

• Ankeny Community School District, IA
• 6-7

• A

• 849 Students
• 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Bondurant-Farrar Middle School

• Bondurant-Farrar Community School District, IA
• 6-8
• 4

High School Senior: I wouldn't want to go back to middle school, but this school is pretty good and made my middle school years pretty awesome.
Read 4 Reviews

• A

• 417 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Cowles Elementary School

• Des Moines Independent Community School District, IA
• PK, K-8

• A-

• 402 Students
• 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Norwalk Middle School

• Norwalk Community School District, IA
• 6-8

• A-

• 598 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Des Moines Christian School

• Private School
• Urbandale, IA
• PK, K-12
• 66

Senior: It is a great Christian school. It's small enough (around 65-75 students per class) that you know everyone there and it's a big family. But it's big enough that I can have many dual-credit courses and have nice classrooms. Anyone can play sports here unlike public schools. Our school has just built a new facility that encloses a gym/theater, STEAM labs, fine-arts rooms, and the entire pre-k branch of DMC. The state of the art weight room and football field are really nice! I have many good friendships here. What I like the most about Des Moines Christian School is that the teachers actually care for the students. They are not here for the money since most of them can earn more money at public schools or colleges (we have a couple professors). I have great relationships with all my teachers (except Mr. Luscombe). DMC holds a special place in my heart forever. I would not be the same person without it.
Read 66 Reviews

• A-

• 931 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Adel DeSoto Minburn (ADM) Middle School

• Adel DeSoto Minburn Community School District, IA
• 6-8

• A-

• 359 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Grand View Christian School

• Private School
• Des Moines, IA
• PK, K-12
• 22

Senior: I have gone to Grand View Christian School since I was three years old. I have grown up in this school, and it has really been a unique family experience. The teachers truly care about the education of their students and want to see them succeed. Recently, due to enrollment increase, the school separated into two distinct buildings instead of being unified as one. If I could change one thing about Grand View Christian, I would look to reunite the school in a facility capable of holding that many students. Without being in the same school, the high school feels like a separate entity from the elementary and middle school.
Read 22 Reviews

• A-

• 270 Students
• 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Carlisle Middle School

• Carlisle Community School District, IA
• 6-8

• A-

• 446 Students
• 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Indian Hills Junior High School

• West Des Moines Community School District, IA
• 7-8
• 1

Alum: I learned more at Indian Hills than my out-of-state high school. The teachers are always willing to go the extra mile and the culture is awesome. I hope they still show those videos about walking "to the left, to the left" in the halls. Go tigers!
Read 1 Review

• A-

• 700 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Spring Creek Sixth Grade Center

• Southeast Polk Community School District, IA
• 6

• A-

• 468 Students
• 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Urbandale Middle School

• Urbandale Community School District, IA
• 6-8
• 1

• A-

• 933 Students
• 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Iowa Christian Academy

• Private School
• West Des Moines, IA
• PK, K-12
• 23

Senior: The size of ICA really makes the school great. We are small enough that the teachers at ICA are able take the time to get to know their students and make sure that the students are excelling. The teachers care about each and everyone of their students. Students also get the chance to become really close with all of the classmates. Classmates and teachers feel like family. Another element that makes ICA so great is that the school consists from kindergarten to 12th grade. This allows for younger students to look up to the older students as well as gives older students the opportunity to work with younger students. There are several occasions when the older students assist younger students in different activities such as PE class or doing arts and crafts. Overall ICA is a great school to be at no matter what age a student is.
Read 23 Reviews

• B+

• 250 Students
• 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Indianola Middle School

• Indianola Community School District, IA
• 6-8

• B+

• 821 Students
• 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio