Original Research by School Decision on Roosevelt High School
Roosevelt High School is a regular public high school serving Des Moines, Iowa's capital and largest city. Part of the Des Moines Independent Comm School District, Roosevelt sits at the high school level only, taking in students from ninth through twelfth grade. It is a sizable school, reflecting the city it serves. The student body is racially and economically diverse. White students make up the largest share, followed by Black and Hispanic students, with smaller groups of students who are Asian, two or more races, Native American, or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. Just under half of students qualify for free or reduced price lunch, a common indicator of household income. Data on the share of students with disabilities or those learning English was not available, so a reader who wants to understand special education and English learner services should ask the school directly.
The school sits in a city that is both a state capital and a hub for insurance, financial services, and publishing. Major employers include Principal Financial Group, Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Wells Fargo, and several other national firms. The metro area has seen new data-center construction from technology companies, and the city has been adding residents through annexation, so the region has an active economic and growth context. Des Moines offers a large park system and miles of trails. The downtown contains the Iowa State Capitol, the Des Moines Art Center, and the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates. For a family considering this part of Des Moines, the housing market shows a typical home value that is above the statewide average and somewhat below the national average, which may be relevant for relocation planning.
State assessment results are available from the most recent testing year. In English language arts, the proficiency rate was above the majority mark, with a substantial share of students meeting the state standard. In math, the proficiency rate was lower, though still above half of students. In science, students performed similarly to their math level, with a rate in the same general range. These results represent a single snapshot; because only one year of data is available, there is no trend to report. The school's performance relative to other high schools across Polk County was not calculable from the available data, so a county-level comparison cannot be drawn here.
Program offerings were not listed in the available information. For a school of this size in a capital-city district, families will want to confirm what is available in advanced coursework, career and technical education, arts, and extracurricular activities directly with the school or district.
Des Moines as a whole is growing, and a school of Roosevelt's size in a diverse urban setting presents a particular kind of high school experience. The student body is large enough to support a broad range of potential offerings, though the lack of detail on programs means a family should investigate what specific pathways exist. The academic results show a solid foundation in English and modestly lower performance in math and science, which may be a point of inquiry for families whose students are oriented toward STEM. The absence of discipline, attendance, and staffing data means a parent considering this school should raise those topics during a visit or with the school office. Roosevelt serves a major city's west side and draws from the surrounding neighborhoods of Des Moines, a place with a clear civic identity, a stable economy, and a mix of older and newer housing stock.
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