By type & community
Catholic Schools in Des Moines: Downtown, Beaverdale, Drake & Waterbury
3 catholic schools in Des Moines: Downtown, Beaverdale, Drake & Waterbury; 3 are on the state's accredited list for the $8,148 ESA. The city's older west and north-side neighborhoods, from the East Village to Beaverdale and the Grand Avenue corridor.
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.
Every Catholic school here is state-accredited, so the full $8,148 Students First ESA can be applied, then a Catholic Tuition Organization grant if the family qualifies.
| School | Type | Community | Grades | ESA (state accredited list) | Accreditor | Students (federal survey) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Trinity School 2922 Beaver Ave, Des Moines 50310 | Catholic Schools | Des Moines: Downtown, Beaverdale, Drake & Waterbury | PK-8 | ✓ Accredited | State of Iowa | 358 |
| 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. Theresa School 5810 Cara Carpenter Ave, Des Moines 50311 | Catholic Schools | Des Moines: Downtown, Beaverdale, Drake & Waterbury | PK-8 | ✓ Accredited | State of Iowa | 221 |
All private schools in Des Moines: Downtown, Beaverdale, Drake & Waterbury All catholic schools in the metro
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.