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Des Moines Public Schools, Iowa, elections

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Des Moines Public Schools
School Board badge.png
District details
School board members: 7
Next election: November 4, 2025
Students: 30,277 (2023-2024)
Schools: 59 (2023-2024)
Website: Link

Des Moines Public Schools is a school district in Iowa (Polk and Warren counties). During the 2024 school year, 30,277 students attended one of the district's 59 schools.

This page provides information regarding school board members, election rules, finances, academics, policies, and more details about the district.

Elections

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Des Moines Public Schools School Board At-large

General election

The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.

General election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board At-large (2 seats)

Incumbent Maria Alonzo, Marcus Coenen, and Sara Hopkins are running in the general election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board At-large on November 4, 2025.

Candidate
Maria Alonzo (Nonpartisan)
Marcus Coenen (Nonpartisan)
Sara Hopkins (Nonpartisan)

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Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 2

General election

The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.

General election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 2

Ryan P. Howell is running in the general election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 2 on November 4, 2025.

Candidate
Ryan P. Howell (Nonpartisan)

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Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 4

General election

The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.

General election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 4

Incumbent Skylar Mayberry-Mayes is running in the general election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 4 on November 4, 2025.

Candidate
Skylar Mayberry-Mayes (Nonpartisan)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Des Moines Public Schools School Board At-large

General election

General election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board At-large

Patrick Dix defeated Logan Villhauer in the general election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board At-large on November 7, 2023.

Candidate
%
Votes
Patrick Dix (Nonpartisan)
 
65.3
 
16,248
Logan Villhauer (Nonpartisan)
 
33.7
 
8,398
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.0
 
252

Total votes: 24,898
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 1

General election

General election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 1

Incumbent Kim Martorano won election in the general election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 1 on November 7, 2023.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Kim Martorano
Kim Martorano (Nonpartisan)
 
98.0
 
9,303
 Other/Write-in votes
 
2.0
 
188

Total votes: 9,491
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 3

General election

General election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 3

Anna Campos defeated Victoria Henderson Weber in the general election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 3 on November 7, 2023.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Anna Campos
Anna Campos (Nonpartisan)
 
58.6
 
2,364
Image of Victoria Henderson Weber
Victoria Henderson Weber (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
40.3
 
1,627
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.1
 
44

Total votes: 4,035
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Des Moines Public Schools School Board At-large

General election

General election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board At-large (2 seats)

Jackie Norris and Maria Alonzo defeated Lloyd Elam in the general election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board At-large on November 2, 2021.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jackie Norris
Jackie Norris (Nonpartisan)
 
43.7
 
10,666
Maria Alonzo (Nonpartisan)
 
36.6
 
8,940
Lloyd Elam (Nonpartisan)
 
18.4
 
4,505
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.3
 
315

Total votes: 24,426
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 1

General election

Special general election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 1

Incumbent Kim Martorano defeated Shelley Skuster in the special general election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 1 on November 2, 2021.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Kim Martorano
Kim Martorano (Nonpartisan)
 
52.7
 
4,128
Image of Shelley Skuster
Shelley Skuster (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
46.3
 
3,628
 Other/Write-in votes
 
1.0
 
77

Total votes: 7,833
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 2

General election

General election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 2

Jenna Knox won election in the general election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 2 on November 2, 2021.

Candidate
%
Votes
Jenna Knox (Nonpartisan)
 
96.9
 
2,351
 Other/Write-in votes
 
3.1
 
75

Total votes: 2,426
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 4

General election

General election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 4

Incumbent Teree Caldwell-Johnson won election in the general election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 4 on November 2, 2021.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Teree Caldwell-Johnson
Teree Caldwell-Johnson (Nonpartisan)
 
91.2
 
2,240
 Other/Write-in votes
 
8.8
 
215

Total votes: 2,455
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Des Moines Public Schools School Board At-large

General election

General election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board At-large

Kelli Soyer won election in the general election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board At-large on November 5, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
Kelli Soyer (Nonpartisan)
 
97.6
 
17,288
 Other/Write-in votes
 
2.4
 
431

Total votes: 17,719
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 1

General election

General election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 1

Incumbent Heather Anderson defeated Kim Martorano in the general election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 1 on November 5, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Heather Anderson
Heather Anderson (Nonpartisan)
 
62.5
 
5,279
Image of Kim Martorano
Kim Martorano (Nonpartisan)
 
36.8
 
3,110
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.7
 
61

Total votes: 8,450
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 2

General election

Special general election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 2

Kalyn Cody won election in the special general election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 2 on November 5, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Kalyn Cody
Kalyn Cody (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
97.6
 
3,232
 Other/Write-in votes
 
2.4
 
81

Total votes: 3,313
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 3

General election

General election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 3

Incumbent Dwana Bradley won election in the general election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 3 on November 5, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Dwana Bradley
Dwana Bradley (Nonpartisan)
 
96.9
 
2,823
 Other/Write-in votes
 
3.1
 
91

Total votes: 2,914
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Des Moines Public Schools School Board At-large

General election

General election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board At-large

Incumbent Rob X. Barron and incumbent Kyrstin Delagardelle Shelley won election in the general election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board At-large on September 12, 2017.

Candidate
Image of Rob X. Barron
Rob X. Barron (Nonpartisan)
Image of Kyrstin Delagardelle Shelley
Kyrstin Delagardelle Shelley (Nonpartisan)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 2

General election

General election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 2

Incumbent Dionna Langford won election in the general election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 2 on September 12, 2017.

Candidate
Image of Dionna Langford
Dionna Langford (Nonpartisan)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 4

General election

General election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 4

Incumbent Teree Caldwell-Johnson won election in the general election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 4 on September 12, 2017.

Candidate
Image of Teree Caldwell-Johnson
Teree Caldwell-Johnson (Nonpartisan)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Des Moines Public Schools School Board At-large

General election

General election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board At-large

Incumbent Cindy Elsbernd won election in the general election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board At-large on September 8, 2015.

Candidate
Image of Cindy Elsbernd
Cindy Elsbernd (Nonpartisan)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 1

General election

General election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 1

Incumbent Heather Anderson won election in the general election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 1 on September 8, 2015.

Candidate
Image of Heather Anderson
Heather Anderson (Nonpartisan)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 3

General election

General election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 3

Incumbent Natasha Newcomb won election in the general election for Des Moines Public Schools School Board District 3 on September 8, 2015.

Candidate
Image of Natasha Newcomb
Natasha Newcomb (Nonpartisan)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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About the district

School board

Des Moines Public Schools consists of seven members serving four-year terms. To find information about school board meetings, click here.

List of school board members
NameSeatYear assumed officeYear term ends
Anna CamposDistrict 320232027
Patrick DixAt Large20232027
Kim MartoranoDistrict 120202027
Skylar Mayberry-MayesDistrict 420242025
Maria AlonzoAt Large20212025
Jenna KnoxDistrict 220212025
Jackie NorrisAt Large20212025

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District map

Overlapping state house districts

The table was limited to the lower chamber because it provides the most granularity. State house districts tend to be more numerous and therefore smaller than state senate or U.S. House districts. This provides an impression of the partisan affiliations in the area.

Budget

The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[1]

Revenue, 2021-2022
SOURCE AMOUNT AMOUNT PER STUDENT PERCENT
Federal: $79,538,000 $2,539 14%
Local: $162,405,000 $5,185 29%
State: $310,406,000 $9,910 56%
Total: $552,349,000 $17,634
Expenditures, 2021-2022
TYPE AMOUNT AMOUNT PER STUDENT PERCENT
Total Expenditures: $509,167,000 $16,255
Total Current Expenditures: $448,171,000 $14,308
Instructional Expenditures: $246,964,000 $7,884 49%
Student and Staff Support: $66,763,000 $2,131 13%
Administration: $57,075,000 $1,822 11%
Operations, Food Service, Other: $77,369,000 $2,470 15%
Total Capital Outlay: $33,455,000 $1,068
Construction: $17,501,000 $558
Total Non El-Sec Education & Other: $6,734,000 $214
Interest on Debt: $2,692,000 $85

Academic performance

Each year, state and local education agencies use tests and other standards to assess student proficiency. Although the data below was published by the U.S. Department of Education, proficiency measurements are established by the states. As a result, proficiency levels are not comparable between different states and year-over-year proficiency levels within a district may not be comparable because states may change their proficiency measurements. To protect student privacy, percentages are reported as ranges for groups of 300 students or fewer. If five or fewer students were included in a data set, the data will display as "PS."[2]

The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:

School year All (%) Asian/Pacific Islander (%) Black (%) Hispanic (%) Native American (%) Two or More Races (%) White (%)
2020-2021 43 55 26 37 35-39 44 57
2018-2019 49 56 30 43 40-44 52 62
2017-2018 55 62 35 49 40-44 57 68
2016-2017 58 60 38 53 45-49 61 71
2015-2016 60 62 40 55 45-49 61 72
2014-2015 61 62 43 55 55-59 63 72
2013-2014 61 63 42 55 60-69 62 72
2012-2013 60 61 40 54 45-49 60 71
2011-2012 59 60 38 53 40-49 58 69
2010-2011 63 64 43 57 60-69 63 74

The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:

School year All (%) Asian/Pacific Islander (%) Black (%) Hispanic (%) Native American (%) Two or More Races (%) White (%)
2020-2021 46 54 29 40 30-34 49 60
2018-2019 47 52 29 40 30-34 50 60
2017-2018 56 57 39 49 35-39 64 69
2016-2017 59 57 43 52 55-59 64 72
2015-2016 61 55 45 53 45-49 65 72
2014-2015 61 55 46 53 60-64 68 73
2013-2014 60 51 44 52 50-59 65 72
2012-2013 57 49 39 48 50-54 62 69
2011-2012 56 47 39 46 55-59 57 68
2010-2011 62 56 45 53 50-59 63 73

The following table shows the graduation rate of district students each school year:

School year All (%) Asian/Pacific Islander (%) Black (%) Hispanic (%) Native American (%) Two or More Races (%) White (%)
2019-2020 77 85-89 71 71 >=50 75-79 80
2018-2019 83 90-94 82 81 >=50 75-79 84
2017-2018 81 85-89 78 76 <50 85-89 83
2016-2017 82 85-89 80 77 >=50 75-79 86
2015-2016 81 85-89 81 79 >=50 70-74 82
2014-2015 78 85-89 77 73 >=50 80-84 79
2013-2014 82 85-89 79 75 >=50 80-84 84
2012-2013 79 85-89 76 74 >=50 75-79 82
2011-2012 79 80-84 70-74 68 >=50 80-84 84
2010-2011 76 75-79 71 66 >=50 80-84 79

Students

The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[3]

Year Enrollment Year-to-year change (%)
2023-2024 30,277 -1.5
2022-2023 30,739 -1.9
2021-2022 31,323 -1.3
2020-2021 31,720 -5.3
2019-2020 33,402 -0.7
2018-2019 33,623 -3.1
2017-2018 34,673 0.0
2016-2017 34,656 1.3
2015-2016 34,219 -0.4
2014-2015 34,355 0.4
2013-2014 34,230 0.4
2012-2013 34,092 1.9
2011-2012 33,453 1.1
2010-2011 33,091 1.0
2009-2010 32,749 3.5
2008-2009 31,613 -1.4
2007-2008 32,043 0.6
2006-2007 31,866 -0.6
2005-2006 32,068 -0.4
2004-2005 32,194 3.4
2003-2004 31,086 -1.5
2002-2003 31,553 -1.4
2001-2002 32,010 -1.3
2000-2001 32,435 2.9
1999-2000 31,509 0.0
Racial Demographics, 2023-2024
RACE Des Moines Public Schools (%) Iowa K-12 STUDENTS (%)
American Indian/Alaska Native 0.4 0.3
Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander 7.7 2.5
Black 21.3 7.0
Hispanic 31.1 13.0
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 0.2 0.7
Two or More Races 6.9 5.0
White 32.1 71.5

Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Staff

The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[4]

As of the 2023-2024 school year, Des Moines Public Schools had 2,069.25 full-time classroom teachers. The student-teacher ratio was 14.63.

Teachers, 2023-2024 school year
TYPE NUMBER OF TEACHERS
Prekindergarten: 73.70
Kindergarten: 190.87
Elementary: 1,313.62
Secondary: 491.06
Total: 2,069.25

Des Moines Public Schools employed 37.90 district administrators and 138.00 school administrators as of the 2023-2024 school year.

Administrators, 2023-2024 school year
TYPE NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATORS
District Administrators: 37.90
District Administrative Support: 3.10
School Administrators: 138.00
School Administrative Support: 1.00
Other staff, 2023-2024 school year
TYPE NUMBER OF OTHER STAFF
Instructional Aides: 57.00
Instruc. Coordinators & Supervisors: 294.60
Total Guidance Counselors: 92.95
Elementary Guidance Counselors: 0.00
Secondary Guidance Counselors: 0.00
Librarians/Media Specialists: 1.00
Library/Media Support: 6.00
Student Support Services: 223.70
Other Support Services: 21.40

Schools

The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[5]

Des Moines Public Schools operates 59 schools. They are listed below in alphabetical order.
List of schools
SCHOOL NAMENUMBER OF STUDENTSGRADES
Brody Middle School5986-8
Brubaker Elementary School618KG-5
Callanan Middle School5436-8
Capitol View Elementary School545PK-5
Carver Elementary419PK-5
Cattell Elementary School308KG-5
Cowles Elementary School403PK-8
Downtown School235KG-5
East High School2,0149-12
Edmunds Elementary School286KG-5
Findley Elementary School284KG-5
Garton Elementary429KG-5
Goodrell Middle School4936-8
Greenwood Elementary School307PK-5
Hanawalt Elementary317KG-5
Harding Middle School6346-8
Hiatt Middle School4666-8
Hillis Elementary School291KG-5
Hoover High School9239-12
Howe Elementary303KG-5
Hoyt Middle School4866-8
Hubbell Elementary383KG-5
Jackson Elementary School495PK-5
Jefferson Elementary School306KG-5
Jessie Franklin Taylor194PK-PK
King Elementary School273KG-5
Lincoln High School2,4419-12
Lovejoy Elementary School412KG-5
Madison Elementary School247KG-5
Mccombs Middle School6446-8
Mckee Elementary School263PK-PK
Mckinley Elementary School269PK-5
Meredith Middle School6536-8
Merrill Middle School6516-8
Mitchell Early Childhood Center340PK-PK
Monroe Elementary School377KG-5
Moore Elementary School298KG-5
Morris Elementary School498KG-5
Moulton Elementary School450PK-5
North High School1,5149-12
Oak Park309KG-5
Park Ave Elementary School408KG-5
Perkins Elementary School444KG-5
Phillips Elementary254KG-5
Pleasant Hill Elementary School211KG-5
River Woods Elementary School505KG-5
Roosevelt High School2,0399-12
Ruby Van Meter112KG-12
Samuelson Elementary School384KG-5
South Union Elementary School424KG-5
Stowe Elementary School311KG-5
Studebaker Elementary School553KG-5
Virtual Campus3879-12
Walnut Street School244PK-5
Weeks Middle School6686-8
Willard Elementary School282KG-5
Windsor Elementary267KG-5
Woodlawn Early Childhood Center215PK-PK
Wright Elementary School244KG-5

School board meetings

The following articles were produced by Citizen Portal using artificial intelligence to analyze public meetings. Citizen Portal publishes articles based on the availability of meeting broadcasts, so the number of articles provided may vary by district. Although these articles are not produced or edited by Ballotpedia, they are included here as a supplemental resource for readers.

School board meeting articles (click to collapse)

About school boards

Education legislation in Iowa

Bills are monitored by BillTrack50 and sorted by action history.

See also

School Boards Education Policy Local Politics Iowa
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External links

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  • Footnotes