By type & community
Catholic Schools in West Des Moines
3 catholic schools in West Des Moines; 3 are on the state's accredited list for the $8,148 ESA. A city split between Polk and Dallas counties, with the metro's Catholic high school, parish K-8s, a classical academy and an Islamic school.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dowling Catholic High School 1400 Buffalo Rd, West Des Moines 50265 | Catholic Schools | West Des Moines | 9-12 | ✓ Accredited | State of Iowa | 1,354 |
| Sacred Heart School 1601 Grand Ave., West Des Moines 50265 | Catholic Schools | West Des Moines | PK-8 | ✓ Accredited | State of Iowa | 497 |
| St. Francis of Assisi School 7075 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines 50266 | Catholic Schools | West Des Moines | PK-8 | ✓ Accredited | State of Iowa | 680 |
All private schools in West Des Moines All catholic schools in the metro
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