Options for Students and Families in Des Moines

Des Moines Public Schools believes diversity enriches the educational climate of our schools. Young people are better prepared for the future when they attend school in an educational setting reflective of society’s diversity.

Identifying similarities and understanding differences in individuals, cultures and backgrounds is not only healthy for individual students, but also for the entire community. All aspects of education (history, literature, language, etc.) are enhanced by the different viewpoints and perspectives introduced by racial, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity.

The Within-District Transfer Program is offered by DMPS so that parents can capitalize on the district’s diversity by applying to attend a school outside of their address-assigned area. For more than twenty years, thousands of Des Moines students have taken advantage of this option.

Please refer to the menu items at right for additional information about within-district transfer procedures, including limitations and stipulations.

Parents interested in participating in within-district transfers should call the Enrollment Center at 515-242-7371, or email openenrollment@dmschools.org, for additional information.

A note about Within District Transfer for school year 2024-25:

We will begin accepting Within District Transfer, Cowles Preschool, and Open Enrollment applications for the 2024-25 school year at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 5, 2023.  The application will be made available at that time to submit online and will be found on this webpage:  https://www.dmschools.org/enrollment-registration/information-forms/.

If you are unable to submit the application online, please contact the Welcome Center to have an application mailed to you.  The Welcome Center can be reached by emailing welcomecenter@dmschools.org or by calling 515-242-7371.  Please include your name and full street address in your email or voicemail.  Applications must be received or postmarked on July 5, 2023 or later in order to be accepted.  No early applications will be accepted.