For the 2026 school year, there are 27 public middle schools serving 17,585 students in Polk County, IA.
The top-ranked public middle schools in Polk County, IA are North Polk Middle School, Southview Middle School and Northview Middle School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Polk County, IA public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 65% (versus the Iowa public middle school average of 68%), and reading proficiency score of 69% (versus the 71% statewide average). Middle schools in Polk County have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Iowa public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 42% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is more than the Iowa public middle school average of 27% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Middle Schools in Polk County (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
North Polk Middle School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
315 Ne 141st Ave.
Alleman, IA 50007
(515) 984-3400
Alleman, IA 50007
(515) 984-3400
Gr: 6-8 | 504 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #22.
Southview Middle School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1020 Sw Cherry St
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9635
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9635
Gr: 8-9 | 913 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #33.
Northview Middle School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1302 N Ankeny Blvd
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9700
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9700
Gr: 8-9 | 1,021 student Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #44.
Parkview Middle School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
105 Nw Pleasant St
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9640
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9640
Gr: 6-7 | 865 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #55.
Prairie Ridge Middle School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1010 Nw Prairie Ridge Dr
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9705
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9705
Gr: 6-7 | 1,004 student Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #66.
Summit Middle School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
9500 Windsor Parkway
Johnston, IA 50131
(515) 986-0318
Johnston, IA 50131
(515) 986-0318
Gr: 6-7 | 1,118 student Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #77.
Dc-g Oak View
(Math: 81% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1300 Sw County Line Rd
Grimes, IA 50111
(515) 986-0105
Grimes, IA 50111
(515) 986-0105
Gr: 7-8 | 537 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #88.
Cowles Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
6401 College Ave
Windsor Heights, IA 50324
(515) 242-7818
Windsor Heights, IA 50324
(515) 242-7818
Gr: PK-8 | 392 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #99.
Johnston Middle School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
6501 Nw 62nd Ave
Johnston, IA 50131
(515) 278-0476
Johnston, IA 50131
(515) 278-0476
Gr: 8-9 | 1,161 student Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #1010.
Southeast Polk Junior High School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
8325 Ne University Ave.
Pleasant Hill, IA 50327
(515) 967-5509
Pleasant Hill, IA 50327
(515) 967-5509
Gr: 7-8 | 532 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1
Rank: #1111.
Indian Hills Junior High School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
9401 Indian Hills Dr
Clive, IA 50325
(515) 633-4700
Clive, IA 50325
(515) 633-4700
Gr: 7-8 | 661 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #1212.
Southeast Polk Middle School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
501 Falcon Drive
Altoona, IA 50009
(515) 967-5533
Altoona, IA 50009
(515) 967-5533
Gr: 6-7 | 1,112 student Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #1313.
Stilwell Junior High School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1601 Vine St
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-6000
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-6000
Gr: 7-8 | 645 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #1414.
Urbandale Middle School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
7701 Aurora Avenue
Urbandale, IA 50322
(515) 457-6600
Urbandale, IA 50322
(515) 457-6600
Gr: 6-8 | 892 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #1515.
Merrill Middle School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
5301 Grand Ave
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8448
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8448
Gr: 6-8 | 657 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #1616.
Woodside Middle School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
5810 Ne 14th St
Des Moines, IA 50313
(515) 265-3451
Des Moines, IA 50313
(515) 265-3451
Gr: 5-8 | 396 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #1717.
Callanan Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
3010 Center Street
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8101
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8101
Gr: 6-8 | 553 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #1818.
Mccombs Middle School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
201 Sw County Line Rd
Des Moines, IA 50320
(515) 242-8447
Des Moines, IA 50320
(515) 242-8447
Gr: 6-8 | 670 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #1919.
Hoyt Middle School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2700 E 42nd St
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8446
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8446
Gr: 6-8 | 455 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #2020.
Brody Middle School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2501 Park Ave
Des Moines, IA 50321
(515) 242-8443
Des Moines, IA 50321
(515) 242-8443
Gr: 6-8 | 641 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #2121.
Meredith Middle School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
4827 Madison Ave
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-7250
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-7250
Gr: 6-8 | 662 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #2222.
Goodrell Middle School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
3300 E. 29th Street
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8444
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8444
Gr: 6-8 | 511 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #2323.
Weeks Middle School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
901 East Park Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8449
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8449
Gr: 6-8 | 688 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #2424.
Harding Middle School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
203 E Euclid Ave
Des Moines, IA 50313
(515) 242-8445
Des Moines, IA 50313
(515) 242-8445
Gr: 6-8 | 603 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #2525.
Hiatt Middle School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1430 E. University Ave
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-7774
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-7774
Gr: 6-8 | 488 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #2626.
Ruby Van Meter
Special Education School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
710 28th St
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8220
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8220
Gr: K-12 | 109 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: n/an/a
1201 Grant Street
Bondurant, IA 50035
(515) 957-7970
Bondurant, IA 50035
(515) 957-7970
Gr: 7-8 | 398 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public middle schools in Polk County, IA?
The top-ranked public middle schools in Polk County, IA include North Polk Middle School, Southview Middle School and Northview Middle School.
How many public middle schools are located in Polk County?
26 public middle schools are located in Polk County.
What is the racial composition of students in Polk County?
Polk County public middle schools minority enrollment is 42% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is more than the Iowa public middle schools average of 27% (majority Hispanic).
Which public middle schools in Polk County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public middle schools in Polk County include: Indian Hills Junior High School vs. Urbandale Middle School, Callanan Middle School vs. Merrill Middle School, Merrill Middle School vs. Callanan Middle School
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