Des Moines Public Schools
Iowa's largest public school district, operating 60+ schools serving over 30,000 K-12 students across the Des Moines metropolitan area with nearly 5,000 employees, funded by property taxes, state aid, and federal grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1907
- HeadquartersDes Moines, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Des Moines Public Schools does
Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) is a public school district and government state entity established in 1907, operating as Iowa's largest provider of public K-12 education. The district serves over 30,000 students from preschool through 12th grade across more than 60 schools located throughout the Des Moines metropolitan area, supported by nearly 5,000 employees. DMPS delivers a comprehensive educational portfolio spanning traditional academics, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs, Career & Technical Education, Montessori, Special Education (including dedicated schools Ruby Van Meter and Orchard Place Campus School), English Language Learner services, and alternative pathways (Options Academy, PLACE Academy, Flex Academy). The district also operates support services including Metro Kids Care (before/after school care), Virtual Campus (online K-12), a Community Schools Initiative integrating health and mental health services, and a marine biology lab launched in 2026.
DMPS does not generate commercial revenue. As a government entity, it is funded primarily through local property taxes, state funding from the Iowa Department of Education, and federal grants, with education services provided free to enrolled students. Capital projects are financed via voter-approved bonds, most recently a $265 million bond approved in November 2025 for the five-year 'Reimagining Education, Reinvigorating Schools' plan covering Signature Schools, STEM, CTE Maker Spaces, and facility upgrades. The district's technology infrastructure is built on third-party platforms rather than proprietary systems: Infinite Campus for student information, Nutrislice for meal planning, Follett Destiny for library management, GoGuardian for content filtering, ParentSquare for family communications, and Parchment for transcript services.
Governance is vested in an elected seven-member School Board. The district has been in a period of leadership turbulence: superintendent Ian Roberts, hired in 2023 through external recruiting firm JG Consulting, was arrested by ICE for immigration violations, pleaded guilty to falsely claiming U.S. citizenship, and was sentenced to two years in federal prison. A state audit found he directed district business to a consulting firm he was affiliated with despite conflict-of-interest warnings; the district paid roughly $6,476 to Lively Paradox and made over $2,000 in prohibited donations. Matt Smith was approved in May 2025 as interim superintendent through the 2026-27 school year. The district is concurrently defending a wrongful-death lawsuit (granted summary judgment in March 2026), has revised its conflict-of-interest and donation policies, and is pursuing legal action against JG Consulting for vetting failures.
Des Moines Public Schools firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Des Moines Public Schools
- Legal name
- Des Moines Public Schools
- Website
- https://dmschools.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1907
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Iowa's largest public school district, operating 60+ schools serving over 30,000 K-12 students across the Des Moines metropolitan area with nearly 5,000 employees, funded by property taxes, state aid, and federal grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Des Moines Public Schools industry classification
Industry- Product category
- K-12 Public Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (611710), Child Care Services (62441), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public Special Education Schools & Programs (EDAJAAAH), Therapeutic/Behavioral & Residential Treatment K–12 Schools (EDAJABAI), Family Advocacy, Parent Training & Support Services (EDAJAKAK)
Keywords
Where Des Moines Public Schools is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Des Moines
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Des Moines Public Schools business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Public Education Funding: Des Moines Public Schools operates as a public school district funded primarily through property taxes, state funding from the Iowa Department of Education, and federal grants. Education services are provided free of charge to students.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
Des Moines Public Schools product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Des Moines Public Schools is Iowa's largest public school district, delivering comprehensive K-12 education services from preschool through high school graduation to more than 30,000 students across 60+ schools. The district provides standard academic instruction alongside Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Montessori, Career & Technical Education, special education, English Language Learner programs, alternative education pathways through the Pathways Programs (Options Academy, PLACE Academy, Flex Academy, Core Diploma), and before/after school care via Metro Kids Care. Services are delivered free of charge to families and are funded through property taxes, state aid, and federal grants.
Product overview
Des Moines Public Schools operates a multi-platform educational ecosystem serving over 30,000 students across more than 60 schools. The district offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs including core academics through the main district website and student information systems, alternative education pathways via the Pathways programs (Options Academy, PLACE Academy, Flex Academy), specialized programs (Montessori, AP, Special Education, ELL), and support services (Metro Kids Care, Virtual Campus, Community Schools). The technology infrastructure includes Infinite Campus for student records, Nutrislice for meal services, and Follett Destiny for library management.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- K-12 Public Education Programs Comprehensive K-12 public education delivered through preschools, elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools across the Des Moines metropolitan area, with pathways to college-level coursework and career readiness.
- Early Childhood Education / Preschool Universal preschool and early childhood education services, including partnerships with Head Start, providing quality preschool options for young children and their families in the Des Moines community.
- Metro Kids Care Before and after school care program offering supervised educational and recreational activities for elementary students, addressing childcare needs of working families.
- Virtual Campus Online learning option providing virtual education for students in grades K-12, offering flexibility for families seeking remote learning alternatives within the district.
- Pathways Programs (Alternative Education) Alternative education programs including Options Academy (HiSET diploma), PLACE Academy (high school equivalency), Flex Academy (flexible learning studios), Core Diploma, and Reengagement programs for students needing non-traditional pathways to graduation.
- Montessori Education Program Montessori-based educational approach offered at select DMPS elementary schools, following Montessori principles for early-grade learners.
- Advanced Placement (AP) Program College-level courses offered at DMPS high schools allowing students to earn college credit through AP exams, with district-wide recognition on the Iowa AP Index.
- Special Education Programs Comprehensive special education services including vision services, deaf/hard of hearing programs, occupational and physical therapy, behavioral supports, and dedicated special schools and programs such as Ruby Van Meter and Orchard Place Campus School.
- English Language Learners (ELL) Program Language support services for students learning English, including bilingual family liaisons and culturally responsive instruction across district schools.
- Career & Technical Education (CTE) Career and technical education programs providing students with practical skills and pathways for college and career readiness, including STEM opportunities and CTE Maker Spaces.
- Community Schools Initiative Community school model providing integrated student and family services including school-based health clinics, mental health services, after school programs, and family engagement resources.
Quantifiable outcome
- 5 High Schools ranked on the Iowa AP Index
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Des Moines Public Schools
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Des Moines Public Schools technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Des Moines Public Schools partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Lively ParadoxminorConsulting firm affiliated with former superintendent Ian Roberts. The district paid Lively Paradox $6,476 in consulting and travel expenses despite finance officials warning of conflict of interest. The district has since revised its conflict-of-interest and donation policies following audit findings.
- Broadlawns Medical CentercoreBroadlawns Medical Center provides mental health services through the FOCUS program, which offers educational and mental health services to students with disabilities in grades 3-12. The district is working to finalize a new contract as part of the relocation of the FOCUS program to the Woodlawn Education Center for the 2026-27 school year.
- JG ConsultingminorTexas-based consulting firm that facilitated the hiring of former superintendent Ian Roberts. The district received an abbreviated background check and likely forged transcript from JG Consulting. The district is suing JG Consulting for failures in vetting processes.
- Des Moines Public LibrarycorePartnership allowing students to use school IDs as library cards at the Des Moines Public Library, increasing access to books and digital resources for middle and high school students. This initiative aims to bypass restrictions related to state law on certain materials while expanding reading access.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Des Moines Public Schools competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Waukee Community School District: Fast-growing Des Moines metro-area public school district that competes directly with DMPS for suburban families. A relevant peer given proximity competition for enrollment within the same metropolitan labor market.
- Minneapolis Public Schools: Mid-sized urban public school district in the Upper Midwest serving approximately 30,000 students. Directly comparable in scale, urban demographics, and the challenges of operating a large diverse district in a neighboring state.
- Ankeny Community School District: Suburban Des Moines metro-area public school district competing directly for families in the same metropolitan area. Comparable as an in-market competitor for residential enrollment growth.
Regional players
- Iowa City Community School District: Public school district serving the Iowa City area with approximately 14,000 students. Operates under the same Iowa Department of Education funding framework as DMPS, making it a directly comparable in-state district peer.
- Omaha Public Schools: Neighboring Nebraska metro public school district serving approximately 50,000 students. Comparable as a large Midwestern urban district with similar demographic profile and proximity to Des Moines.
- Kansas City Public Schools: Mid-sized urban public school district in the central United States with comparable enrollment scale and similar urban district challenges including charter school competition and enrollment volatility.
- Lincoln Public Schools: Public school district in Nebraska serving approximately 42,000 students. Comparable in scale and as a Midwestern district operating under similar state funding frameworks.
- Cedar Rapids Community School District: Iowa's second-largest public school district serving approximately 16,000 students in eastern Iowa. Comparable as a peer Iowa public school district operating K-12 programs with similar funding model and state regulatory environment.
Broad incumbents
- Denver Public Schools: Mid-large urban public school district serving approximately 90,000 students. Comparable as an urban district with notable charter school sector overlap, providing a model for how DMPS may need to compete for students.
- Chicago Public Schools: Large urban public school district serving approximately 320,000 students. Comparable as a large-scale urban district operating under similar municipal governance and funding structures, though at significantly greater scale.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Des Moines Public Schools social profiles
Digital presenceDes Moines Public Schools compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Des Moines Public Schools financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Des Moines Public Schools leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Des Moines Public Schools subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Des Moines Public Schools funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Des Moines Public Schools M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Des Moines Public Schools
What does Des Moines Public Schools do?
Des Moines Public Schools is Iowa's largest public school district, delivering comprehensive K-12 education services from preschool through high school graduation to more than 30,000 students across 60+ schools. The district provides standard academic instruction alongside Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Montessori, Career & Technical Education, special education, English Language Learner programs, alternative education pathways through the Pathways Programs (Options Academy, PLACE Academy, Flex Academy, Core Diploma), and before/after school care via Metro Kids Care. Services are delivered free of charge to families and are funded through property taxes, state aid, and federal grants.
Is Des Moines Public Schools a public or private company?
Des Moines Public Schools is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Des Moines Public Schools founded?
Des Moines Public Schools was founded in 1907. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Des Moines Public Schools based?
Des Moines Public Schools is headquartered in Des Moines, United States, in the North America region.
How does Des Moines Public Schools make money?
One revenue line is on record: public Education Funding.
Who are Des Moines Public Schools's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Waukee Community School District, Minneapolis Public Schools and Ankeny Community School District. Regional players are Iowa City Community School District, Omaha Public Schools, Kansas City Public Schools, Lincoln Public Schools and Cedar Rapids Community School District. Broad incumbents are Denver Public Schools and Chicago Public Schools.
Does Des Moines Public Schools have an API?
No public API is recorded for Des Moines Public Schools.
What industry is Des Moines Public Schools in?
Des Moines Public Schools's product category is K-12 Public Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADABAA, Public School Districts (K–12), with a secondary code of EDAJAAAH, Public Special Education Schools & Programs. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.