Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 59 schools in district

Meredith Middle School

4827 Madison Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310Des Moines Independent Comm School District →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
664
Students
Total enrolled
$16,525
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 15% vs nat'l
14.1 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 8% vs nat'l
48/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 664 students in grades 06–08 in Des Moines, Iowa.
15% above average funding
District spends $16,525 per pupil, 15% more than the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 48th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Meredith Middle School is a large middle in Des Moines, Iowa, serving grades 06–08 with 664 students. The district invests $16,525 per student — 15% above the national average of $14,347, with a 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 84% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community.

Student Body & Demographics at Meredith Middle School

664
Total Students
14.1 : 1
Student:Teacher
84%
Free Lunch
47
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (06–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution336 male · 328 female
51%
49%
Male 51%Female 49%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility84%
National avg 52% · 557 students
Student Composition
14%
20%
22%
35%
Asian14%
White20%
Hispanic / Latino22%
Black35%
Multiracial7%
Native American1%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 190897000560

Academic Outcomes at Meredith Middle School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
48
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 48th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 72th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 50310

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$16,525Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$16,525
State avg
$17,386
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$7,271
Student Support$3,140
Administration$1,983
Operations$2,479
Other$1,653
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $16,525 spent per student, an estimated $7,321 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
56%
29%
State government
56.2%
Local (property tax)
29.4%
Federal programs
14.4%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $16,525/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • 84% of students on free or reduced lunch — a high share that can indicate resource pressure
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Brubaker Elementary SchoolStudebaker Elementary SchoolCapitol View Elementary SchoolRiver Woods Elementary School
+10 more
↓
Middle
Weeks Middle SchoolHarding Middle SchoolMcCombs Middle SchoolMerrill Middle School
+5 more
↓
High School
Lincoln High SchoolEast High SchoolRoosevelt High SchoolNorth High School
+2 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountyPolk County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictDes Moines Independent Comm School District →
Phone: (515)242-7250
NCES ID: 190897000560
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Des Moines seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Des Moines Independent Comm School District
High
Lincoln High School
2,403 students · 09–12
● 47 opp76% FRL
High
East High School
2,040 students · 09–12
● 42 opp79% FRL
High
Roosevelt High School
1,986 students · 09–12
● 42 opp53% FRL
High
North High School
1,458 students · 09–12
● 42 opp87% FRL
High
Hoover High School
991 students · 09–12
● 48 opp78% FRL
Mid
Weeks Middle School
684 students · 06–08
● 47 opp86% FRL
High
Virtual Campus
668 students · 06–12
79% FRL
Mid
Harding Middle School
655 students · 06–08
● 42 opp89% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
4827 Madison Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.