Can the Iowa ESA be used at Des Moines Catholic schools?
Yes. All 13 Catholic schools in Polk, Dallas, Warren and Madison counties in our data hold Iowa state accreditation, which is what the ESA requires. That includes Dowling Catholic High School and parish schools from Ankeny to Perry.
How many diocesan families already use it?
About 55 percent of students at Diocese of Des Moines schools, 3,780 in 2024-25, used an ESA, according to the diocese.
What does the Catholic Tuition Organization add?
A need-based grant for families below 400 percent of poverty ($132,000 for a family of four on a 2025 return). The CTO reported $2.7 million in grants to 1,879 students in September 2026, and the diocese says an ESA does not reduce a CTO award.
Where are the Catholic schools?
Des Moines itself has 7 parish schools, from Holy Trinity in the north to St. Anthony and Christ the King on the south side. West Des Moines has Sacred Heart, St. Francis of Assisi and Dowling Catholic; Urbandale has St. Pius X, Ankeny has St. Luke the Evangelist and Perry has St. Patrick.
| Source | Is | Isn't |
|---|---|---|
| ESA | $8,148 at any accredited Catholic school | Available for preschool |
| CTO grant | Need-based, applied to tuition first | Reduced by the ESA |
| Parish rate | Set by each parish and school | A state program |
What should we do next?
Take the two-minute funding check. An advisor confirms which of these sources fit your child and sends the dates that apply.