Is North High School a good school?

North High School ranks in the bottom 3.8% of Iowa high schools.

How many students attend North High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,458 students attended North High School.

What is the racial makeup of North High School?

Students at North High School are 36% Hispanic, 26% African American, 20% White, 11% Asian, 6% Two or more races.

What schools feed into North High School?

North High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Cattell Elementary School Elementary : Findley Elementary School Elementary : Garton Elementary Elementary : Madison Elementary School Elementary : Moulton Elementary School Elementary : Oak Park Middle : Goodrell Middle School Middle : Harding Middle School

North High School

Summary:

North High School is a public high school located in Des Moines, Iowa, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 1,458 students. The school is part of the Des Moines Independent Community School District, which is ranked 301 out of 309 districts in the state and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

North High School has a significantly more diverse student population compared to the nearby schools, with a racial makeup of 19.55% White, 25.65% African American, 36.15% Hispanic, 11.39% Asian, and 6.31% two or more races. The school also has a very high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 86.69% to 88.76% over the past three school years, which is significantly higher than the other schools in the district and the surrounding area. However, North High School's academic performance, as measured by the percentage of students proficient or better in ISASP tests, is consistently lower than the district and state averages across all grade levels and subject areas.

North High School has consistently ranked in the bottom 10% of Iowa high schools based on the SchoolDigger statewide ranking, with a 0-star rating for the past several years. While the nearby schools, such as Lincoln High School, East High School, and Saydel High School, also have lower academic performance compared to the state averages, North High School's performance is consistently the lowest among the schools in the district and the surrounding area. The school's spending per student ($15,636 in 2018-2019) is higher than the nearby schools, suggesting that the issue may not be solely related to funding, and the district and school leadership may need to examine how resources are being allocated and utilized to improve student outcomes.

Detail:

Public 9-12

501 Holcomb Ave
Des Moines, IA 50313

(515) 242-7200

District: Des Moines Independent Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
325^th of 338 Iowa High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $15,636

Feeder schools for North High School:

Elementary:	Cattell Elementary School
	Findley Elementary School
	Garton Elementary
	Madison Elementary School
	More...
	Moulton Elementary School
	Oak Park
Middle:	Goodrell Middle School
	Harding Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 22.0

Number of students: 1,458

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

36.1%

African American:

25.7%

White:

19.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 86.7%

See top rated Iowa high schools

Compare North High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details North High School ranks worse than 96.2% of high schools in Iowa. It also ranks 4^th among 5 ranked high schools in the Des Moines Independent Community School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 2.17. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at North High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details North High School has the largest high school student body size in the Des Moines Independent Community School District. (See more...)

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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at North High School is $15,636, which is the 2^nd highest among 5 high schools in the Des Moines Independent Community School District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

North High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks North High School 325^th of 338 Iowa public high schools. (See North High School in the ranking list.)

Des Moines Independent Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Des Moines Independent Community School District 301^st of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Rating:

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Rank History for North High School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IA State Percentile
2012	0.73	342^nd	351	2.6%
2013	12.11	327^th	351	6.8%
2014	0.08	318^th	322	1.2%
2015	0.35	317^th	324	2.2%
2016	1.19	314^th	320	1.9%
2017	0.82	316^th	325	2.8%
2018	0.47	312^th	320	2.5%
2019	1.04	320^th	327	2.1%
2021	1.16	320^th	327	2.1%
2022	2.98	327^th	332	1.5%
2023	2.12	329^th	336	2.1%
2024	2.17	325^th	338	3.8%

See the entire list of Iowa High School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Iowa Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)

100%

Reviews:

by a student
Sunday, October 23, 2016

The school fired the drama, the two engineering education teachers, three science teachers, a math a sewing teacher. The football program stinks, they are worse than the Cubs. The principal penalizes us by shortening the lunch hour and the administrators are unfeeling toward us. They have got rid of the old caring teachers and the young are naive and believe anything the principal says. I can't see how the President obama came here and thought it was so great, and now we are a demonstration school. WHat for to demonstrate how the morale is terrible. A teacher had on the wall, "The beatings will continue until the morale improves." They need to fire all the administration here and get some people who really care about the students. I graduate this year, I sure hope what they claim I know is what everyone else knows. Close Quote

by a teacher
Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Since Matt Smith left North High, there has been a steady decline in all areas of improvement. North High is back to the 2008 standards. Students are rude to teachers, they are more interested on what games to play with their school iPads, personal smart phones. Discipline is at a new low.

The older staff have been forced out of the building,either forced to resign, retire or just gone. The younger teachers and new administration seem less student orientated and they don't care or see that what Dr. Smith's methods worked, they are doing what many parents do, not get student focused.

They have school improvement leaders who are more orientated to blaming teachers than to bring in failing students and getting them back on track.

It is time for a change Close Quote

Enrollment information for North High School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	621	171	124	16	2	n/a	n/a	0	934
1989	589	169	111	18	4	n/a	n/a	0	891
1990	604	133	106	23	2	n/a	n/a	0	868
1991	657	173	115	21	3	n/a	n/a	0	969
1992	699	219	139	21	0	n/a	n/a	0	1078
1993	778	199	151	26	1	n/a	n/a	0	1155
1994	767	188	152	25	6	n/a	n/a	0	1138
1995	766	204	151	38	5	n/a	n/a	0	1164
1996	766	204	151	38	5	n/a	n/a	0	1164
1997	746	231	160	45	4	n/a	n/a	0	1186
1998	706	233	126	65	4	n/a	n/a	0	1134
1999	648	245	134	73	4	n/a	n/a	0	1104
2000	611	230	134	115	3	n/a	n/a	0	1093
2001	609	221	132	168	2	n/a	n/a	0	1132
2002	696	250	111	197	8	n/a	n/a	0	1262
2003	696	250	111	197	8	n/a	n/a	0	1262
2004	688	245	87	175	3	n/a	n/a	0	1198
2005	681	256	79	166	4	n/a	n/a	0	1186
2006	663	246	74	168	5	n/a	n/a	0	1156
2007	633	245	77	172	3	n/a	n/a	0	1130
2008	580	248	82	229	4	n/a	n/a	0	1143
2009	556	274	70	221	9	n/a	n/a	0	1130
2010	486	266	92	269	5	3	45	0	1166
2011	461	239	106	269	3	3	55	0	1136
2012	430	222	100	293	3	3	70	0	1121
2013	413	262	116	317	6	3	69	0	1186
2014	423	291	124	340	6	2	71	0	1257
2015	369	302	121	327	3	4	72	0	1198
2016	391	317	129	339	4	4	75	0	1259
2017	342	322	136	384	9	4	77	0	1274
2018	332	342	148	411	8	6	72	0	1319
2019	336	417	162	444	9	6	80	0	1454
2020	321	369	170	447	4	3	82	0	1396
2021	315	387	186	503	7	3	96	0	1497
2022	297	392	161	479	7	3	94	0	1433
2023	285	374	166	527	10	3	92	1	1458

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at North High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	934	67.6	13.8	40.9
1989	891	66.2	13.4	33.4
1990	868	53.4	16.2	22.4
1991	969	74.8	12.9	23.3
1992	1078	69.0	15.6	24.9
1993	1155	74.9	15.4	26
1994	1138	86.4	13.2	27.2
1995	1164	72.3	16.1	29.4
1996	1164	72.3	16.1	29.4
1997	1186	72.3	16.4	35.9
1998	1134	72.3	15.7	40.7
1999	1104	64.5	17.1	55.2
2000	1093	74.6	14.7	52.9
2001	1132	76.4	14.8	59
2002	1262	78.5	16.1	56.9
2003	1262	78.5	16.1	56.9
2004	1198	85.1	14.1	58
2005	1186	75.5	15.7	64.8
2006	1156	76.2	15.2	68.3
2007	1130	77.7	14.5	60.6
2008	1143	78.0	14.7	71.7
2009	1130	77.9	14.5	68.9
2010	1166	77.3	15.0	77.3
2011	1136	66.5	17.0	76.8
2012	1121	66.0	16.9	78.9
2013	1186	67.9	17.4	84.7
2014	1257	72.3	17.3	80.6
2015	1198	70.0	17.1	82.1
2016	1259	80.0	15.7	84.6
2017	1274	76.4	16.6	86.1
2018	1319	71.0	18.5	86.1
2019	1454	71.5	20.3	88.6
2020	1396	66.5	20.9	86
2021	1497	66.0	22.6	87
2022	1433	65.9	21.7	88.8
2023	1458	66.0	22.0	86.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio North High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	934	67.6	13.8	40.9
1989	891	66.2	13.4	33.4
1990	868	53.4	16.2	22.4
1991	969	74.8	12.9	23.3
1992	1078	69.0	15.6	24.9
1993	1155	74.9	15.4	26
1994	1138	86.4	13.2	27.2
1995	1164	72.3	16.1	29.4
1996	1164	72.3	16.1	29.4
1997	1186	72.3	16.4	35.9
1998	1134	72.3	15.7	40.7
1999	1104	64.5	17.1	55.2
2000	1093	74.6	14.7	52.9
2001	1132	76.4	14.8	59
2002	1262	78.5	16.1	56.9
2003	1262	78.5	16.1	56.9
2004	1198	85.1	14.1	58
2005	1186	75.5	15.7	64.8
2006	1156	76.2	15.2	68.3
2007	1130	77.7	14.5	60.6
2008	1143	78.0	14.7	71.7
2009	1130	77.9	14.5	68.9
2010	1166	77.3	15.0	77.3
2011	1136	66.5	17.0	76.8
2012	1121	66.0	16.9	78.9
2013	1186	67.9	17.4	84.7
2014	1257	72.3	17.3	80.6
2015	1198	70.0	17.1	82.1
2016	1259	80.0	15.7	84.6
2017	1274	76.4	16.6	86.1
2018	1319	71.0	18.5	86.1
2019	1454	71.5	20.3	88.6
2020	1396	66.5	20.9	86
2021	1497	66.0	22.6	87
2022	1433	65.9	21.7	88.8
2023	1458	66.0	22.0	86.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for North High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$747 (4.8%)	$14,889 (95.2%)	$15,636

Data source: Iowa Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on North High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 320^th of 327 High schools	Ranks 329^th of 336 High schools	0.1%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
10th Grade English Language Arts (North High School)	42.9	42.2	0.7%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Des Moines Independent Community School District)	53.3	54.4	1.1%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	74.3	72.9	1.4%
10th Grade Mathematics (North High School)	37.6	36.7	0.9%
10th Grade Mathematics (Des Moines Independent Community School District)	48.5	45.7	2.8%
10th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	67.1	67	0.1%
11th Grade English Language Arts (North High School)	36.3	46.9	10.6%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Des Moines Independent Community School District)	44.3	50.2	5.9%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)	71.4	68.7	2.7%
11th Grade Mathematics (North High School)	32.5	40.5	8%
11th Grade Mathematics (Des Moines Independent Community School District)	38.9	43.7	4.8%
11th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)	66.9	67.3	0.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1454	1458	0.3%
African American	417	374	10.3%
American Indian	9	10	11.1%
Asian	162	166	2.5%
Hispanic	444	527	18.7%
Pacific Islander	6	3	50%
White	336	285	15.2%
Two or More Races	80	92	15%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	88.6%	86.7%	1.9%

Schools Near North High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				ISASP English Language Arts (2024)			ISASP Mathematics (2024)			ISASP Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISASP English Language Arts 9th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 10th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 11th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 9th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 10th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 11th Grade	ISASP Science 10th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
North High School	Public	9-12	501 Holcomb Ave	Des Moines	50313	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 242-7200	1,458	66	22.0	86.7%	285 (19.5%)	374 (25.7%)	527 (36.1%)	166 (11.4%)	10 (0.7%)	3 (0.2%)	92 (6.3%)	2.2	325^th of 338 public high schools	3.8%		2.1	329^th of 336 public high schools	2.1%	4	46.0	46.4	41.2	36.0	39.4	30.9	27.2	$15,636	$747	$14,889
East High School	Public	9-12	815 E 13th St	Des Moines	50316	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 242-7788	2,040	94	21.6	78.7%	523 (25.6%)	323 (15.8%)	928 (45.5%)	135 (6.6%)	12 (0.6%)	3 (0.1%)	115 (5.6%)	2.1	326^th of 338 public high schools	3.6%		2.6	328^th of 336 public high schools	2.4%	2	41.8	43.8	47.7	28.4	33.4	38.3	27.3	$14,908	$672	$14,236
Virtual Campus	Public, Virtual	9-12	1800 Grand Avenue	Des Moines	50309	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	Yes	No	(515) 242-8502	668	39	17.3	79.5%	307 (46.0%)	96 (14.4%)	178 (26.6%)	28 (4.2%)	4 (0.6%)	3 (0.4%)	51 (7.6%)	8.9	314^th of 338 public high schools	7.1%		5.2	322^nd of 336 public high schools	4.2%	8	52.1	64.3	61.1	33.3	40.0	30.1	34.3
Saydel High School	Public	9-12	5601 NE 7th St	Des Moines	50313	Polk County	Saydel Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 262-9325	451	33	13.5	60.5%	338 (74.9%)	4 (0.9%)	80 (17.7%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (5.8%)	12.6	308^th of 338 public high schools	8.9%		8.5	313^th of 336 public high schools	6.8%	5	51.5	61.4	40.4	40.6	60.2	46.3	42.1	$15,532	$350	$15,182
Roosevelt High School	Public	9-12	4419 Center St	Des Moines	50312	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 242-7272	1,986	66	29.9	53.0%	926 (46.6%)	483 (24.3%)	337 (17.0%)	60 (3.0%)	6 (0.3%)	6 (0.3%)	165 (8.3%)	22.5	290^th of 338 public high schools	14.2%		22.8	286^th of 336 public high schools	14.9%	4	66.7	63.8	60.2	56.3	57.5	53.9	43.5	$14,829	$690	$14,140
Hoover High School	Public	9-12	4800 Aurora Ave	Des Moines	50310	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 242-7300	991	46	21.4	78.1%	207 (20.9%)	312 (31.5%)	230 (23.2%)	172 (17.4%)	3 (0.3%)	2 (0.2%)	62 (6.3%)	4.8	321^st of 338 public high schools	5.0%		7.8	316^th of 336 public high schools	6.0%	5	42.2	55.6	48.3	28.8	43.1	38.9	38.1	$17,790	$689	$17,101
Lincoln High School	Public	9-12	2600 SW 9th St	Des Moines	50315	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 242-7500	2,403	91	26.4	75.7%	842 (35.0%)	319 (13.3%)	909 (37.8%)	180 (7.5%)	9 (0.4%)	2 (0.1%)	142 (5.9%)	2.7	324^th of 338 public high schools	4.1%		4.5	324^th of 336 public high schools	3.6%		43.4	45.1	47.4	30.9	37.2	37.8	33.1	$14,888	$697	$14,190
Urbandale High School	Public	9-12	7111 Aurora Avenue	Urbandale	50322	Polk County	Urbandale Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 457-6800	1,347	91	14.7	36.4%	923 (68.5%)	83 (6.2%)	185 (13.7%)	76 (5.6%)	3 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	72 (5.3%)	34.3	263^rd of 338 public high schools	22.2%		43.5	219^th of 336 public high schools	34.8%	44	74.8	70.7	62.7	57.0	64.7	56.8	51.7	$11,428	$388	$11,040
Walnut Creek Campus	Public	9-12	1020 8th Street	West Des Moines	50265	Polk County	West Des Moines Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 633-6480	147	14	10.5	68.7%	79 (53.7%)	24 (16.3%)	28 (19.0%)	3 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (8.8%)	1.2	328^th of 338 public high schools	3.0%		4	325^th of 336 public high schools	3.3%	3	50.0	47.2	39.3	10.0	22.2	17.9	28.6	$18,513	$197	$18,315
Ankeny High School	Public	10-12	1155 SW Cherry St	Ankeny	50023	Polk County	Ankeny Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 965-9630	1,347	80	16.8	19.8%	1,091 (81.0%)	41 (3.0%)	97 (7.2%)	39 (2.9%)	2 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	72 (5.3%)	77.9	42^nd of 338 public high schools	87.6%		85.2	22^nd of 336 public high schools	93.5%	20		86.2	82.7		79.2	79.9	73.5	$15,157	$246	$14,911

North High School

Des Moines Independent Community School District:

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Rank History for North High School

Review counts

Enrollment information for North High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at North High School

Student/Teacher Ratio North High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for North High School

Impact of COVID-19 on North High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near North High School