For the 2025-26 school year, there are 31 private schools serving 8,996 students in Polk County, IA (there are 143 public schools, serving 84,542 public students). 10% of all K-12 students in Polk County, IA are educated in private schools (compared to the IA state average of 9%).
The top ranked private schools in Polk County, IA include Dowling Catholic High School, Alrazi Academy, and Ankeny Christian Academy.
The average tuition cost is $9,241, which is lower than the Iowa private school average tuition cost of $9,773.
Top Ranked Polk County Private Schools (2025-26)
School
Location
Quick Facts
1119 5th St
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 255-0220
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 255-0220
Gr: PK-8 | 168 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 2 | Extracurrculars: 2 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Ankeny Christian Academy![Ankeny Christian Academy Photo]( "Ankeny Christian Academy Photo")
(Christian)
1604 West 1st St
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-8114
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-8114
Gr: PK-12 | 509 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 4 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
100 45th St
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 274-0453
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 274-0453
Gr: PK-8 | 336 students Avg. class size: 16 students Sports: 3 | Extracurrculars: 5 Tuition listed
Des Moines Adventist School
(Seventh Day Adventist)
2317 Watrous Ave
Des Moines, IA 50321
(515) 285-7729
Des Moines, IA 50321
(515) 285-7729
Gr: PK-8 | 41 students Avg. class size: 15 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
13007 Douglas Pkwy
Urbandale, IA 50323
(515) 334-2240
Urbandale, IA 50323
(515) 334-2240
Gr: PK-12 | 1,086 student Avg. class size: 16 students Tuition listed
Dowling Catholic High School
(Catholic)
1400 Buffalo Rd
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 222-1015
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 222-1015
Gr: 9-12 | 1,389 student Avg. class size: 23 students Sports: 20 Tuition listed
Sacred Heart School
(Catholic)
1601 Grand Ave
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 223-1284
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 223-1284
Gr: K-8 | 511 students
16 Columbus Ave
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 243-1874
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 243-1874
Gr: PK-8 | 349 students Avg. class size: 20 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
St. Augustin Catholic School
(Catholic)
4320 Grand Ave
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 279-5947
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 279-5947
Gr: PK-8 | 282 students Avg. class size: 26 students Sports: 5 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
St. Francis Of Assisi School
(Catholic)
7075 Ashworth Rd
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 457-7167
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 457-7167
Gr: PK-8 | 728 students Avg. class size: 22 students Sports: 4 Tuition & acceptance rate listed
St. Pius X Catholic School
(Catholic)
3601 66th Street
Urbandale, IA 50322
(515) 276-1061
Urbandale, IA 50322
(515) 276-1061
Gr: PK-8 | 397 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 5 Tuition listed
5810 Carpenter Ave
Des Moines, IA 50311
(515) 277-0178
Des Moines, IA 50311
(515) 277-0178
Gr: PK-8 | 238 students Avg. class size: 20 students Sports: 7 | Extracurrculars: 3 Tuition listed
Christ The King School
(Catholic)
701 Wall Ave
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 285-3349
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 285-3349
Gr: PK-8 | 233 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Cottontail Creek Montessori School
Montessori School
7297 Nw Fisher Ln
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 289-1401
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 289-1401
Gr: PK-K | 93 students
Empigo Academy
(Christian)
4801 Franklin Ave
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 350-4008
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 350-4008
Gr: 9-12 Sports: 5 Tuition listed
Gospel Assembly Christian Academy
(Christian)
4665 72nd St
Urbandale, IA 50322
(515) 276-9047
Urbandale, IA 50322
(515) 276-9047
Gr: 1-12 | 15 students
Holy Family School
(Catholic)
1265 E 9th St
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 262-8025
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 262-8025
Gr: K-8 | 208 students Avg. class size: 15 students Tuition & acceptance rate listed
Joshua Christian Academy
(Christian)
1740 Garfield Ave
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 265-0603
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 265-0603
Gr: PK-12 | 139 students Avg. class size: 18 students Sports: 5 Tuition listed
Montessori Children's House![Montessori Children's House Photo]( "Montessori Children's House Photo")
Montessori School
1505 42nd Street
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(151) 577-1690
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(151) 577-1690
Gr: PK-2 | 209 students Avg. class size: 12 students
Mt. Olive Lutheran School
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
5625 Franklin Ave
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 277-8349
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 277-8349
Gr: PK-8 | 303 students Avg. class size: 17 students Sports: 4 Tuition listed
4111 Hubbell Ave
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 266-5065
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 266-5065
Gr: 3-12 | 42 students
Pleasant Hill KinderCare![Pleasant Hill KinderCare Photo - Reading a story on the climber!]( "Pleasant Hill KinderCare Photo - Reading a story on the climber!")
Daycare / Preschool
1425 Copper Creek Dr.
Pleasant Hill, IA 50327
(515) 262-3838
Pleasant Hill, IA 50327
(515) 262-3838
Gr: NS-PK Tuition listed
St. Joseph Elementary School
(Catholic)
2107 E 33rd St
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 266-3433
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 266-3433
Gr: PK-8 | 206 students
St. Luke The Evangelist Catholic School
(Catholic)
1102 Nw Weigel Dr
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 985-7074
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 985-7074
Gr: K-8 | 243 students Tuition listed
Shepherds Flock Early Learning Center
Daycare / Preschool (Other Lutheran)
3900 Ashworth Rd
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 225-1952
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 225-1952
Gr: PK-K | 135 students
Westlakes KinderCare![Westlakes KinderCare Photo - Discovery Preschool A Classroom]( "Westlakes KinderCare Photo - Discovery Preschool A Classroom")
Daycare / Preschool
6670 University Ave.
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 221-0718
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 221-0718
Gr: NS-PK
Whiz Kid Academy
Daycare / Preschool
1721 25th Street
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 225-8513
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 225-8513
Gr: NS-7 Avg. class size: 15 students
Polk County Private Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
Country Club KinderCare (Closed 2025)
Daycare / Preschool
7210 Vista Drive
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 222-9685
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 222-9685
Gr: NS-PK
Lincoln Heights Lutheran School (Closed 2004)
(Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod)
1217 Sw Watrous Ave
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 288-3013
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 288-3013
Gr: 1-8 | 14 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked private schools in Polk County, IA?
The top ranked private schools in Polk County, IA include Dowling Catholic High School, Alrazi Academy, and Ankeny Christian Academy.
How many private schools are located in Polk County?
31 private schools are located in Polk County.
How much do private schools cost in Polk County?
The average tuition cost is $9,241, which is lower than the Iowa private school average tuition cost of $9,773.
How diverse are private schools in Polk County?
Polk County private schools are approximately 24% minority students, which is higher than the Iowa private school average of 16%.
What percentage of students in Polk County go to private school?
10% of all K-12 students in Polk County are educated in private schools (compared to the IA state average of 9%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Polk County?
Which private schools in Polk County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of private schools in Polk County include: Ankeny Christian Academy vs. Des Moines Christian School, Des Moines Christian School vs. Ankeny Christian Academy, Shepherds Flock Early Learning Center vs. Montessori Children's House
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