2024 Best Schools with Gifted and Talented Programs in the Des Moines Area

• Waukee Community School District, IA•

• 10-12

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  448 reviews

Senior: My overall experience at Waukee High School has been excellent! I truly believe that there is so much resources provided at Waukee High School and that if you reach out your experience will be fulfilled. One part I love about my school is the amount it offers when it comes to classes. I have created a schedule every year that allows me take classes that I am interested in and feel that they will benefit me for my future plans. One of the worst parts about Waukee High School is the tolerance of teachers mistreating students. I have experienced one teacher in particular that has been called out numerous times by students and parents about their mistreatment during class and extra curricular activities. This teacher is still teaching at the school even after numerous reports throughout the years I have attended. Despite this, Waukee High School has been very good to me and I am proud to be graduating from there in the spring.... Read 448 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,154

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Ankeny Community School District, IA•

• K-5

• grade A

• Students 571

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Ankeny Community School District, IA•

• PK, K-5

• grade A

• Students 672

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• West Des Moines Community School District, IA•

• 10-12

• •
  Rating 3.86 out of 5  464 reviews

Alum: My high school experience is a time filled with growth, learning, and unforgettable moments. From the first day of freshman year to the last day of senior year, I navigated through classes, made lasting friendships, and discovered my passions. Whether it was participating in extracurricular activities, taking on leadership roles, or excelling academically, I embraced every opportunity that came my way. Through the ups and downs, I persevered, learned valuable life lessons, and created memories that will stay with me forever. High school has shaped me into the person I am today, and you're ready to take on the next chapter of your journey with confidence and excitement!... Read 464 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,058

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Waukee Community School District, IA•

• PK, K-5

• grade A

• Students 642

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Waukee Community School District, IA•

• K-5

• grade A

• Students 658

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Van Meter Community School District, IA•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

Senior: A small school that's perfect for building a strong relate ship with your teachers and continuing your education. The teachers care for your student's success and will do everything they can to prepare you for high school and college.... Read 2 reviews

• grade A

• Students 542

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Waukee Community School District, IA•

• K-5

• grade A

• Students 707

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Ankeny Community School District, IA•

• K-5

• grade A

• Students 741

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Ankeny Community School District, IA•

• 8-9

• •
  Rating 3.56 out of 5  18 reviews

Middle School Student: Nice teachers but they assign way too much homework so that’s annoying and it takes a lot of time to do.... Read 18 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,004

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Ankeny Community School District, IA•

• 6-7

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  3 reviews

Parent: Excellent school overall. Good education, an the school staff is amazing. I'm glad I live in Ankeny.... Read 3 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,028

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Ankeny Community School District, IA•

• 10-12

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  190 reviews

Alum: I was a senior at Ankeny Centennial High School last year and just graduated in June 2023. My experience at this school was overall pretty good. I was able to build connections with teachers and other students around me and I was able to make lots of memories! ACHS has so many good impacts on the students lives, the education, memories, experiences, and the staff are all amazing and long lasting. I learned so many things at ACHS that I will continue to use throughout college and the rest of my life. Any student who goes to ACHS is lucky to be able to have a great school with amazing staff that care about them.... Read 190 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,419

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Waukee Community School District, IA•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 3 out of 5  7 reviews

Parent: Right now I have a 5th grader there and a new Kindergartner. Our experience has been overall good. My son has had a couple teachers that I question their abilities to teach well, but has had some excellent teachers that make up for it. The school itself is small for as many students that it has, but I don't think that detracts from the education the students receive. The area around the school is family friendly with only a few concerns, a hotel just down the way from the trails behind the school and the busy roads not too far away. Overall the choice we made to move to this area 10 years ago was a good one. My son loves his school and some of the friends he has made and we are hoping our other kids enjoy their future experiences as well.... Read 7 reviews

• grade A

• Students 590

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Ankeny Community School District, IA•

• PK, K-5

• grade A

• Students 491

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Waukee Community School District, IA•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 3 out of 5  1 review

• grade A

• Students 687

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Ankeny Community School District, IA•

• PK, K-5

• grade A

• Students 736

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Ankeny Community School District, IA•

• 8-9

• •
  Rating 4.33 out of 5  3 reviews

Freshman: I came to Southview Middle School from a homeschool perspective. I loved the variety of extracurricular activities it had to offer because as a homeschooler, I never had the opportunity to enroll in sports or elective classes and I emersed myself in the social aspect. The teachers at Southview were wonderful, encouraging, and strived to help students advance all ways possible. I was able to get a head start on my college by taking online classes through the school. Throughout my two years at Southview, I might make an adjustment to the 'turning in late policy'. At Southview, when an assignment doesn't get turned in, the student gets an extended amount of time to make up the missing work. I think that this could be detrimental to students because in college a deadline is a hard deadline with no exceptions. Overall, I had a great experience at Southview.... Read 3 reviews

• grade A

• Students 910

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Ankeny Community School District, IA•

• 10-12

• •
  Rating 3.87 out of 5  307 reviews

Senior: Ankeny high school has been a great experience overall for me personally. all of the teachers and staff are very inclusive, and supportive of the students. In my classes, most of which are college level courses that can be very difficult for the average student the teachers take time to go over to each student and acknowledge they understand the material as well as allotting select times where students can come in before or after school, or during an open period. The sports are very prestigious, with many hard-working athletes and coaches. The culture and support system around the athletics is a resounding reason as to their successes. The most prominent reason as to why the Athletics and Academics at Ankeny high school are so successful is because of the unwavering culture we have here. That said it's not a perfect school, the Facilities and food could both be improved as while as the diversity of the demographic. Overall, I am proud to be graduating as an Ankeny Hawk in 2023.... Read 307 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,330

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Waukee Community School District, IA•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 3.5 out of 5  2 reviews

• grade A

• Students 766

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Johnston Community School District, IA•

• PK, K-5

• grade A

• Students 867

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District, IA•

• K-4

• grade A

• Students 425

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Van Meter Community School District, IA•

• 6-8

• grade A

• Students 220

• Student-teacher ratio 37:1

• Waukee Community School District, IA•

• 6-7

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

Middle school student: It was a great school. The teachers really made or broke a day for me. probably 95% of teachers made learning fun... Read 2 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,021

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Waukee Community School District, IA•

• 8-9

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Freshman: Timberline is a great school. The teachers are what make it so amazing. The staff is made up of some of the best people I have ever met. I wish there was less stress out on grades and perfection and more put on understanding material and preparing for life after high school. The admin are also very great, they work very hard to make a student’s time at Timberline the best it can be, and they care about each and every student, despite there being a lot of them.... Read 1 review

• grade A

• Students 862

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• North Polk Community School District, IA•

• 6-8

• grade A

• Students 431

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1