Des Moines Public Schools

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.

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

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

• K-12 public education
• Early childhood education
• Special education services
• Career technical education
• Alternative education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. 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

Core 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

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Lively ParadoxminorOthers · 28 April 2026Consulting 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 CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2026Broadlawns 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 ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 21 November 2025Texas-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 LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 August 2025Partnership 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/dmschools
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/DMPStv
• Facebookfacebook.com/dmschools
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/des-moines-public-schools
• Instagraminstagram.com/desmoinespublicschools

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Des Moines Public Schools