By type & community
Private Schools With Pre-K in Des Moines: Downtown, Beaverdale, Drake & Waterbury
5 private schools with pre-k in Des Moines: Downtown, Beaverdale, Drake & Waterbury; 5 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.
The ESA starts at kindergarten. For four-year-olds, ask whether the school partners with its public district on Statewide Voluntary Preschool and whether it takes Child Care Assistance.
| School | Type | Community | Grades | ESA (state accredited list) | Accreditor | Students (federal survey) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Holy Trinity School 2922 Beaver Ave, Des Moines 50310 | Catholic Schools | Des Moines: Downtown, Beaverdale, Drake & Waterbury | PK-8 | ✓ Accredited | State of Iowa | 358 |
| 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 |
| 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 private schools with pre-k in the metro
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