School directory
Des Moines-area private schools: all 39, checked against the state list
Each private school in Polk, Dallas, Warren and Madison counties that appears in the federal survey, the Iowa Department of Education's accredited list, or both. 34 are accredited, which is what the Students First ESA requires.
Where this comes from. Accreditation and ESA eligibility: Iowa Department of Education 2025-26 Nonpublic School Building Directory (address file March 16, 2026), retrieved October 30, 2026; the ESA can only be used at schools on that list. Enrollment and religious affiliation: NCES Private School Survey 2023-24 (2021-22 for schools that did not respond). Tuition is not reported to either agency, so confirm it with the school.
Can the Iowa ESA be used at any private school near Des Moines?
No, only at schools on the state's accredited nonpublic list. 34 of the 39 schools here qualify; the other 5 are preschools or small schools that appear in the federal survey but not on the 2025-26 accredited list.
| On the state accredited nonpublic list | Not on the list | |
|---|---|---|
| Students First ESA | Yes, $8,148 for 2026-27 | No |
| STO grants | Yes, through the school's STO | No (STOs serve accredited schools) |
| PSEO college courses | Yes, for eligible juniors and seniors | No |
| Where it shows here | ✓ Accredited | Not on list |
39
Private schools in the data34
On Iowa's accredited nonpublic list, so the Students First ESA can be used$8,148
2026-27 full-year ESA per K-12 student21
Report a pre-K class (federal survey)12
Run through grade 125
Not on the accredited list (no ESA)AllCatholic SchoolsChristian SchoolsIndependent, Montessori & Specialty SchoolsHigh Schools (Grades 9-12)Private Schools With Pre-K
Browse by community
Ankeny
4 schools · 3 accredited for the ESA
Browse →Urbandale & Johnston
3 schools · 3 accredited for the ESA
Browse →West Des Moines
7 schools · 5 accredited for the ESA
Browse →Des Moines: Downtown, Beaverdale, Drake & Waterbury
6 schools · 6 accredited for the ESA
Browse →Des Moines: East Side
6 schools · 6 accredited for the ESA
Browse →Des Moines: South Side
4 schools · 4 accredited for the ESA
Browse →Norwalk & Indianola (Warren County)
5 schools · 4 accredited for the ESA
Browse →Perry, Dallas Center & Winterset
4 schools · 3 accredited for the ESA
Browse →
How to read this directory
A check mark in the ESA column means the school is on the 2025-26 accredited list. Schools with enough public facts get a profile page; the rest stay in the table with a link to their own site where one exists.
All 39 schools
| School | Type | Community | Grades | ESA (state accredited list) | Accreditor | Students (federal survey) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AlRazi Academy 1119 5th St, West Des Moines 50265 | Islamic & Other Faith Schools | West Des Moines | PK-8 | ✓ Accredited | Independent Schools Association of the Central States | 58 |
| Ankeny Christian Academy 1604 W 1st Street, Ankeny 50023 | Christian Schools | Ankeny | PK-12 | ✓ Accredited | Christian Schools International; Special state accreditation and CSI | 510 |
| Apiary Leadership Academy 521 E Locust St, STE 302, Des Moines 50309 | Independent, Montessori & Specialty Schools | Des Moines: Downtown, Beaverdale, Drake & Waterbury | K-8 | ✓ Accredited | Middle States Association | — |
| Bergman Academy 100 45th St, Des Moines 50312 | Independent, Montessori & Specialty Schools | Des Moines: Downtown, Beaverdale, Drake & Waterbury | PK-8 | ✓ Accredited | Independent Schools Association of the Central States | 281 |
| Bridges Outdoor School 1504 Walnut Street, Dallas Center 50063 | Independent, Montessori & Specialty Schools | Perry, Dallas Center & Winterset | K-6 | ✓ Accredited | Cognia | — |
| Christ the King School 701 Wall Ave, Des Moines 50315 | Catholic Schools | Des Moines: South Side | PK-8 | ✓ Accredited | State of Iowa | 172 |
| Cottontail Creek Montessori School 7297 Nw Fisher Ln, Ankeny 50023 | Independent, Montessori & Specialty Schools | Ankeny | PK-K | Not on list | — | 5 |
| Dallas Center Christian School 23209 Quinlan Ave, Dallas Center 50063 | Christian Schools | Perry, Dallas Center & Winterset | 1-11 | Not on list | — | 13 |
| Des Moines Adventist School 2317 Watrous Avenue, Des Moines 50321 | Christian Schools | Des Moines: South Side | PK-8 | ✓ Accredited | Middle States Association | 45 |
| Des Moines Christian School 13007 Douglas Parkway, Urbandale 50323 | Christian Schools | Urbandale & Johnston | K-12 | ✓ Accredited | Cognia | — |
| Dowling Catholic High School 1400 Buffalo Rd, West Des Moines 50265 | Catholic Schools | West Des Moines | 9-12 | ✓ Accredited | State of Iowa | 1,354 |
| Gospel Assembly Christian Academy 4665 NW 72nd St, Urbandale 50322 | Christian Schools | Urbandale & Johnston | K-12 | ✓ Accredited | Cognia | 13 |
| Grand View Christian School 2905 NE 46th Ave, Des Moines 50317 | Christian Schools | Des Moines: East Side | PK-12 | ✓ Accredited | Special state accreditation; State of Iowa | 458 |
| Holy Family School 1265 E. 9th St., Des Moines 50316 | Catholic Schools | Des Moines: East Side | PK-8 | ✓ Accredited | State of Iowa | 211 |
| Holy Trinity School 2922 Beaver Ave, Des Moines 50310 | Catholic Schools | Des Moines: Downtown, Beaverdale, Drake & Waterbury | PK-8 | ✓ Accredited | State of Iowa | 358 |
| J.W. Reed Christian Academy 1619 East University Ave, Des Moines 50316 | Christian Schools | Des Moines: East Side | K-12 | ✓ Accredited | Cognia | 74 |
| Joshua Christian Academy 1740 Garfield Ave., Des Moines 50316 | Christian Schools | Des Moines: East Side | K-12 | ✓ Accredited | Christian Schools International | 199 |
| Main Street School 925 Main St., Norwalk 50211 | Independent, Montessori & Specialty Schools | Norwalk & Indianola (Warren County) | PK-12 | ✓ Accredited | Independent Schools Association of the Central States | 12 |
| Montessori Children's House 1505 42Nd St, West Des Moines 50266 | Independent, Montessori & Specialty Schools | West Des Moines | PK-2 | Not on list | — | 13 |
| Mt. Olive Lutheran School 5625 Franklin, Des Moines 50310 | Christian Schools | Des Moines: Downtown, Beaverdale, Drake & Waterbury | PK-8 | ✓ Accredited | National Lutheran School Accreditation | 191 |
| Norwalk Christian Academy 225 N Ave, Norwalk 50211 | Christian Schools | Norwalk & Indianola (Warren County) | K-5 | Not on list | — | 8 |
| OneSchool Global Des Moines 3720 E 29th St, Des Moines 50317 | Independent, Montessori & Specialty Schools | Des Moines: East Side | 3-12 | ✓ Accredited | Cognia | 23 |
| Providence Christian School 607 Mafred Dr., Norwalk 50211 | Christian Schools | Norwalk & Indianola (Warren County) | K-12 | ✓ Accredited | Christian Schools International | — |
| Sacred Heart School 1601 Grand Ave., West Des Moines 50265 | Catholic Schools | West Des Moines | PK-8 | ✓ Accredited | State of Iowa | 497 |
| Shepherd's Flock Early Learning Center 3900 Ashworth Rd, West Des Moines 50265 | Christian Schools | West Des Moines | PK-K | Not on list | — | 21 |
| St. Anthony School 16 Columbus Ave, Des Moines 50315 | Catholic Schools | Des Moines: South Side | PK-8 | ✓ Accredited | State of Iowa | 345 |
| St. Augustin School 4320 Grand Ave, Des Moines 50312 | Catholic Schools | Des Moines: Downtown, Beaverdale, Drake & Waterbury | PK-8 | ✓ Accredited | State of Iowa | 240 |
| St. Francis of Assisi School 7075 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines 50266 | Catholic Schools | West Des Moines | PK-8 | ✓ Accredited | State of Iowa | 680 |
| St. Joseph Elementary School 2107 E 33rd St, Des Moines 50317 | Catholic Schools | Des Moines: East Side | PK-8 | ✓ Accredited | State of Iowa | 201 |
| St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic School 1102 NW Weigel Dr., Ankeny 50023 | Catholic Schools | Ankeny | K-8 | ✓ Accredited | State of Iowa | 336 |
| St. Patrick School 1302 5th St, Perry 50220 | Catholic Schools | Perry, Dallas Center & Winterset | PK-8 | ✓ Accredited | State of Iowa | 93 |
| St. Pius X Catholic School 3601 66th St, Urbandale 50322 | Catholic Schools | Urbandale & Johnston | PK-8 | ✓ Accredited | State of Iowa | 349 |
| St. Theresa School 5810 Cara Carpenter Ave, Des Moines 50311 | Catholic Schools | Des Moines: Downtown, Beaverdale, Drake & Waterbury | PK-8 | ✓ Accredited | State of Iowa | 221 |
| Strong Roots Christian School 2205 W 2nd Ave, Indianola 50125 | Christian Schools | Norwalk & Indianola (Warren County) | K-11 | ✓ Accredited | Christian Schools International | — |
| The Conservatory of Worship Arts 7297 NW Fischer Ln, Ankeny 50023 | Christian Schools | Ankeny | K-6 | ✓ Accredited | Christian Schools International | — |
| Two Rivers Classical Academy 3250 SE Soteria Ave, West Des Moines 50265 | Christian Schools | West Des Moines | K-12 | ✓ Accredited | Association of Classical Christian Schools | — |
| Victory Christian Academy 805 North 1st Street, Indianola 50125 | Christian Schools | Norwalk & Indianola (Warren County) | PK-6 | ✓ Accredited | Christian Schools International | 23 |
| Winterset Christian Academy 60 East Green Street, Winterset 50273 | Christian Schools | Perry, Dallas Center & Winterset | K-8 | ✓ Accredited | Christian Schools International | — |
| Xceed Oakmoor Academy 7400 SW 22nd Street, Des Moines 50321 | Independent, Montessori & Specialty Schools | Des Moines: South Side | 6-12 | ✓ Accredited | Cognia | — |
See what your family can use this year
Two minutes, five questions. A School Funding Advisor calls back with your ESA, grant and credit options and the dates that apply.