Des Moines County Schools & Education
Des Moines County, Iowa
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
38/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
82.9%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
82.9%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 92.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,821
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,591
School Score
38/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 61/100
State Score Position
#97
of 99 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Des Moines County
Measured School Summary
Des Moines County faces educational challenges with a school score of 38/100 and a graduation rate of 82.9%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $7,821 per pupil, Des Moines County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 37% below the Iowa average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 9.4 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 3% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Des Moines County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
15 public schools and 4 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
38/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #97 of 99 Iowa counties with school score data.
Completion
82.9%
9.4 pts below the state average
Funding context
$7,821
$230 above the state average
School coverage
15
4 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Des Moines County has 15 public schools across 4 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Des Moines County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Review-carefully county
Des Moines County has a lower measured county-level school signal. Use the school table to look for specific districts or grade bands that may differ from the county average.
State position
#97
of 99 Iowa counties with school score data. The county score is 23 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Burlington Comm School District
Elementary to high school visible
3,334 students
8 listed schools in this county slice.
Mediapolis Comm School District
Elementary to high school visible
968 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
West Burlington Ind School District
Elementary and high visible
916 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
Danville Comm School District
Elementary and high visible
662 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Burlington Comm School District is the largest listed district slice, with 8 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Des Moines County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Des Moines County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Des Moines County, Iowa
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Extensive Infrastructure in the Heartland
Des Moines County hosts 15 public schools serving 5,880 students across four districts. The system includes seven elementary schools, three middle schools, and four high schools to provide comprehensive local coverage.
Burlington Community Schools Command Enrollment
The Burlington Community School District is the largest by far, managing eight schools and 3,334 students. All local education is provided through traditional public districts as no charter schools are currently active.
Town-Centered School Culture
Ten schools are located in town settings while five remain rural, creating an average school size of 392 students. Burlington Community High School stands out as the major local hub with 1,092 students.
School Overview
Total Schools
15
in Des Moines County
Reported Enrollment
5,880
15 schools reporting
School Districts
4
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
4 School Districts in Des Moines County
Burlington Comm School District
GuideMediapolis Comm School District
West Burlington Ind School District
Danville Comm School District
15 Public Schools in Des Moines County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 15 of 15 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington Community High School | Profile | Burlington Comm School District | Burlington, 52601Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 1,092 |
| Edward Stone Middle School | Record | Burlington Comm School District | Burlington, 52601Town: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 489 |
| West Burlington Arnold Jr./Sr. High School | Record | West Burlington Ind School District | West Burlington, 52655Town: Remote | 6–12 | High | 487 |
| Aldo Leopold Intermediate School | Record | Burlington Comm School District | Burlington, 52601Town: Remote | 5–6 | Middle | 464 |
| Mediapolis Elementary School | Record | Mediapolis Comm School District | Mediapolis, 52637Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 446 |
| West Burlington Elem School | Record | West Burlington Ind School District | West Burlington, 52655Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 429 |
| Danville Elementary School | Record | Danville Comm School District | Danville, 52623Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 376 |
| Black Hawk Elementary School | Record | Burlington Comm School District | Burlington, 52601Town: Remote | KG–4 | Primary | 316 |
| Mediapolis High School | Record | Mediapolis Comm School District | Mediapolis, 52637Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 295 |
| Danville Junior-Senior High School | Record | Danville Comm School District | Danville, 52623Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 286 |
| Sunnyside Elementary School | Record | Burlington Comm School District | Burlington, 52601Town: Remote | KG–4 | Primary | 277 |
| James Wilson Grimes School | Record | Burlington Comm School District | Burlington, 52601Town: Remote | KG–4 | Primary | 269 |
| North Hill Elementary School | Record | Burlington Comm School District | Burlington, 52601Town: Remote | KG–4 | Primary | 249 |
| Mediapolis Middle School | Record | Mediapolis Comm School District | Mediapolis, 52637Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 227 |
| Corse Early Childhood Center | Record | Burlington Comm School District | Burlington, 52601Town: Remote | PK | Other | 178 |
Burlington Community High School
Burlington Comm School District
Burlington, 52601 / Town: Remote
Edward Stone Middle School
Burlington Comm School District
Burlington, 52601 / Town: Remote
West Burlington Arnold Jr./Sr. High School
West Burlington Ind School District
West Burlington, 52655 / Town: Remote
Aldo Leopold Intermediate School
Burlington Comm School District
Burlington, 52601 / Town: Remote
Mediapolis Elementary School
Mediapolis Comm School District
Mediapolis, 52637 / Rural: Remote
West Burlington Elem School
West Burlington Ind School District
West Burlington, 52655 / Town: Remote
Danville Elementary School
Danville Comm School District
Danville, 52623 / Rural: Distant
Black Hawk Elementary School
Burlington Comm School District
Burlington, 52601 / Town: Remote
Mediapolis High School
Mediapolis Comm School District
Mediapolis, 52637 / Rural: Remote
Danville Junior-Senior High School
Danville Comm School District
Danville, 52623 / Rural: Distant
Sunnyside Elementary School
Burlington Comm School District
Burlington, 52601 / Town: Remote
James Wilson Grimes School
Burlington Comm School District
Burlington, 52601 / Town: Remote
North Hill Elementary School
Burlington Comm School District
Burlington, 52601 / Town: Remote
Mediapolis Middle School
Mediapolis Comm School District
Mediapolis, 52637 / Rural: Remote
Corse Early Childhood Center
Burlington Comm School District
Burlington, 52601 / Town: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,821
State avg $7,591
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Des Moines County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Iowa counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Iowa?
How should I read the school score in Des Moines County?
What is the graduation rate in Des Moines County?
How much does Des Moines County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Des Moines County, Iowa — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Des Moines County, Iowa?
Des Moines County hosts 15 public schools serving 5,880 students across four districts. The system includes seven elementary schools, three middle schools, and four high schools to provide comprehensive local coverage.
What are the major school districts in Des Moines County, Iowa?
The Burlington Community School District is the largest by far, managing eight schools and 3,334 students. All local education is provided through traditional public districts as no charter schools are currently active.
What is the school experience like in Des Moines County?
Ten schools are located in town settings while five remain rural, creating an average school size of 392 students. Burlington Community High School stands out as the major local hub with 1,092 students.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.