Des Moines schools (Johnston, Jefferson, Monroe: neighborhoods, buy, new construction)

[Cornfield]

Hi,

I heard Des Moines schools are open enrollment. Does it mean that we can choose any school we want and don't have to worry about living in the neighborhood? I heard Greenwood is a good school, which neighborhood is it in, and can we live in other neighborhoods or even a Des Moines suburb and still go to that school?

I also heard Johnston has good schools. Can we live in Des Moines and still go to the school in Johnston?

We are moving to the Des Moines area later this year, and trying to find a place to live and good school to go to our daughter who is entering elementary.

Thanks for your help!

[Northern Traveler]

There are guidelines - not everyone can.

[Cornfield]

Originally Posted by Northern Traveler

There are guidelines - not everyone can.

Thanks. I'll call the schools then.

[capitalcityguy]

Originally Posted by Cornfield

I also heard Johnston has good schools. Can we live in Des Moines and still go to the school in Johnston?

We are moving to the Des Moines area later this year, and trying to find a place to live and good school to go to our daughter who is entering elementary.

Thanks for your help!

Yes, a large part of NW Des Moines proper falls in the Johnston school district. There are some great neighborhoods here (ie..we live in this area) and if you buy new construction, you get a 5 year tax abatement!

[Cornfield]

Thanks so much. Does Beaverdale neighborhood belong to the Johnson school district? If not, what school can we go to if we live in Beaverdale?

[annalyta]

Beaverdale is not in the Johnston school district. Most of Beaverdale goes to Monroe-Rice. This is a school that is pretty easy to open enroll out of because it is a school in need of assistance (You might want to visit, for all I know it is a good school). You can sometimes open enroll into another district, but many of the suburbs are closed to open enrollment because they are full. This is also true for a few Des Moines schools: Perkins and Hanawalt will probably be closed for the next year. However, if you apply early, you never know. I have had a good experience with Greenwood and Hubbell is an IB school.
There are also schools that are open to the whole district. Jefferson is a traditional school on the south side, Phillips is a traditional school on the east side, Cowles is a Montessori school on the west side, Downtown and Walnut st are schools downtown. These schools do not require open enrollment, but they often have waiting lists. So it is important to contact the schools early.
Des Moines is also planning more IB elementary schools, but they haven't finalized it. I have heard that Park Ave on the south side is likely and well as I think Howe.

[vergla]

you might want to try the suberbs desmoines school ok but the the suberb schools are better i know this for a fact because the i know alot people who moved to the suberb for better schools. i heard ankeny schools are good and also southeast polk schools a good schools.

[DMRyan]

Good schools and that post, oh the irony!

[capitalcityguy]

Originally Posted by DMRyan

Good schools and that post, oh the irony!

Wow! My thoughts exactly!

[vergla]

Originally Posted by DMRyan

Good schools and that post, oh the irony!

My husband was from desmoines and he gradurated and he dosent know how to read and i also know alot who dosent know how to read plus that we lived in desmoines and my daughtler attend a preschool in desmoines and all they had her do was color and play and that was it and by the way the preschool was run by desmoines public schools after we moved to suburb my daughtler went to a perschool that was run by a suburb public school and they her teach alot more then coloring and playing .