The top reported proficiency rate is 89% in Math. The lowest is 78% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Desoto Intermediate School
DeSoto Intermediate School serves fifth and sixth graders as part of the Adel DeSoto Minburn Community School District, a rapidly growing district in Dallas County that has added a new elementary school to keep pace with enrollment. The school itself is a regular public school offering no specialized magnet or charter designation, and it draws from the small, predominantly residential town of De Soto, a commuter community situated along Interstate 80 within the Des Moines metropolitan area.
Academically, DeSoto Intermediate posts notably strong results on the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress. Proficiency rates in both math and English language arts are high, and science proficiency is solid, though slightly lower. When placed against other district schools across Dallas County, the school’s overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint, a meaningful marker given that the county includes several growing, well-regarded districts. The school’s testing participation rates are near universal, lending confidence to the results. Because the school serves only two middle-grade levels, there is no graduation rate to report and no high school course access data; those outcomes belong to ADM High School, which the district notes consistently ranks among the top high schools in Iowa.
The student body is modest in size for a grade 5–6 building. The population is predominantly White, with a small Hispanic representation and a similarly small share of students who identify as two or more races. Just over one-fifth of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that places the school in a lower-poverty category relative to many Iowa public schools. Data on special education identification and English learner status was not provided, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the availability of support services.
The school is part of the Adel DeSoto Minburn district, which has experienced sustained enrollment growth over the past several years. The district opened Meadow View Elementary in Adel to add capacity, reflecting the broader trend of families moving into the area. De Soto itself remains a small town, with most residents commuting to the Des Moines metro for work. The town has a city hall, library, and public works as civic anchors, but the district’s administrative offices and the newer elementary school are located in neighboring Adel rather than in De Soto itself.
Housing in the De Soto area reflects the broader Dallas County market, where home values have risen over time and the area is generally more affordable than national benchmarks. The town is auto-dependent, with no public transit mentioned in available sources, and the average commute is long enough to suggest that many households rely on cars for school drop-off and daily errands.
No information was reported on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, or course access, which is common for intermediate schools that do not yet offer elective pathways or high school credit options. Parents considering the school should expect a straightforward academic program focused on core subjects in a setting where the majority of students meet state proficiency benchmarks. The school’s size and grade configuration offer a contained transition from elementary to middle school, and the district as a whole has invested in facilities to accommodate its growth. The town’s family-oriented character and the district’s high school reputation are likely to matter most to families weighing long-term plans.
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