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2019 Best Public Middle Schools in the Des Moines AreaAbout this List

The 2019 Best Public Middle Schools ranking is based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents using data from the U.S. Department of Education. Ranking factors include state test scores, student-teacher ratio, student diversity, teacher quality, middle school ratings, and the overall quality of the school district. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

1 – 25 of 37
Best Schools
37 results

  1. Timberline School

    • Waukee Community School District, IA
    • 8-9
    1 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area
    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 663 Students
    • 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  2. Waukee South Middle School

    • Waukee Community School District, IA
    • 6-7
    • 1
    2 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area

    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
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 698 Students
    • 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  3. Summit Middle School

    • Johnston Community School District, IA
    • 6-7
    3 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area
    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,092 Students
    • 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes
  4. Sponsored

    BASIS Independent McLean

    • Private School
    • McLean, VA
    • PK, K-12
    • 9

    Parent: Our son is currently in the 2nd grade. He has been at the school for two years, and it has been a wonderful experience. The enthusiasm of the teachers, who are truly experts in the subjects they teach, is infectious. They consistently set high standards for all students at every stage of their academic career. This is a school that prioritizes academics and the students themselves; it is targeted to students with intellectual curiosity and a strong work ethic. We are very happy here!
    Read 9 Reviews

    • NG
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 375 Students
    • 6:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  5. Stilwell Junior High School

    • West Des Moines Community School District, IA
    • 7-8
    • 2
    4 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area

    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
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 724 Students
    • 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  6. Waukee Middle School

    • Waukee Community School District, IA
    • 6-7
    5 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area
    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 689 Students
    • 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  7. Johnston Middle School

    • Johnston Community School District, IA
    • 8-9
    • 3
    6 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area
    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,048 Students
    • 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  10. Southview Middle School

    • Ankeny Community School District, IA
    • 8-9
    • 1
    7 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area

    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
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 747 Students
    • 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  11. Prairieview School

    • Waukee Community School District, IA
    • 8-9
    • 3
    8 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area

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

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 616 Students
    • 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  12. North Polk Middle School

    • North Polk Community School District, IA
    • 6-8
    9 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area
    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 335 Students
    • 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  14. Dallas Center - Grimes Middle School

    • Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District, IA
    • 6-7
    • 6
    10 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area

    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
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 400 Students
    • 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  15. Northview Middle School

    • Ankeny Community School District, IA
    • 8-9
    • 15
    11 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area

    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
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 801 Students
    • 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  16. Prairie Ridge Middle School

    • Ankeny Community School District, IA
    • 6-7
    • 4
    12 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area

    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
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 813 Students
    • 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  19. Parkview Middle School

    • Ankeny Community School District, IA
    • 6-7
    13 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area
    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 849 Students
    • 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  20. Bondurant-Farrar Middle School

    • Bondurant-Farrar Community School District, IA
    • 6-8
    • 4
    14 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area

    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
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 417 Students
    • 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  21. Cowles Elementary School

    • Des Moines Independent Community School District, IA
    • PK, K-8
    15 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area
    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 402 Students
    • 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  22. Norwalk Middle School

    • Norwalk Community School District, IA
    • 6-8
    16 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area
    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 598 Students
    • 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  23. Adel DeSoto Minburn (ADM) Middle School

    • Adel DeSoto Minburn Community School District, IA
    • 6-8
    17 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area
    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 359 Students
    • 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  26. Carlisle Middle School

    • Carlisle Community School District, IA
    • 6-8
    18 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area
    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 446 Students
    • 18:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  27. Indian Hills Junior High School

    • West Des Moines Community School District, IA
    • 7-8
    • 1
    19 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area

    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-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 700 Students
    • 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  28. Spring Creek Sixth Grade Center

    • Southeast Polk Community School District, IA
    • 6
    20 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area
    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 468 Students
    • 14:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  29. Urbandale Middle School

    • Urbandale Community School District, IA
    • 6-8
    21 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area
    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 933 Students
    • 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  30. Indianola Middle School

    • Indianola Community School District, IA
    • 6-8
    22 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area
    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 821 Students
    • 15:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes
  31. Review Your School

  32. Merrill Middle School

    • Des Moines Independent Community School District, IA
    • 6-8
    • 2
    23 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area
    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 730 Students
    • 19:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  33. Meadows

    • Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District, IA
    • 8-9
    24 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area
    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 375 Students
    • 16:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes

  34. Southeast Polk Junior High School

    • Southeast Polk Community School District, IA
    • 7-8
    • 1
    25 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area

    Junior: Overall the Junior high was a good place to be. The staff were pretty nice and I feel like I got a good education in regards for middle school level. Planning for high school was hard because every thing they told us during the process of registering for our high school schedules was incorrect or was put in a confusing way. Other than that I had no problems with the Junior High School.
    Read 1 Review

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,036 Students
    • 17:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes
  35. Sponsored

    Nysmith School for the Gifted

    • Private School
    • Herndon, VA
    • PK, K-8
    • 4

    Alum: Our 3 kids attended Nysmith from pre-K to 8th grade and it was the best decision of our lives! They never wanted to miss a day of school, because Nysmith knows how to make learning fun. Our kids went on to a great high school (TJ), that was perfect for their math/science/technology interests, and attended their #1 college choices. They were not only ready academically after Nysmith, but they were also happy and confident. The teachers, who are experts and passionate about the subjects they teach, treated the kids with kindness and respect, welcomed their questions, nurtured their curiosity, and helped my kids discover their gifts and abilities - sometimes before they even knew what they were. I highly recommend Nysmith. Or, better yet, don't listen to me...look at their website, see how their alums are doing, schedule a tour and a couple of student visit days for your child. See for yourselves what Nysmith is all about!
    Read 4 Reviews

    • NG
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 580 Students
    • 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes
  36. Sponsored

    Norfolk Academy

    • Private School
    • Norfolk, VA
    • 1-12
    • 130

    Parent: Norfolk Academy provided an extraordinary educational journey for my two children, fueling their curiosity and inspiring them to explore new avenues that they might not have discovered without the incredible teachers and coaches at this school. My oldest child, who came in sixth grade, now studies engineering at an Ivy League university; he particularly loved the robotics team, as well as soccer, swimming, and crew teams. My youngest child, who is a senior at NA, came in first grade, and she has developed a passion for medicine and health, largely through the school's Global Health Fellows program and the Medical Scholars program.
    Read 130 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,203 Students
    • 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
    View Nearby Homes
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