The top reported proficiency rate is 49% in English language arts. The lowest is 39% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Weeks Middle School
Weeks Middle School serves sixth through eighth grade in the Des Moines Independent Community School District, the public school system of Iowa’s capital and most populous city. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. The school sits on the near east side of Des Moines, in a zip code where home values are lower than the state average and rents are modest. Housing affordability in the area is relatively favorable compared to national benchmarks, which may matter to families deciding where to live within the district’s attendance boundaries.
The student body is diverse and predominantly low-income. Hispanic students make up the largest group, followed by White, Black, Asian, and multiracial students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so a parent should ask the school directly about those supports. The school enrolls about the number of students typical for a Des Moines middle school, with grades six through eight each roughly the same size.
On state assessments administered through the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress, Weeks Middle School’s overall proficiency across tested subjects was in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Polk County. This is a cluster of sixteen districts that includes both urban and suburban systems, so the comparison set is a wide one. In English language arts, about half of students scored proficient or above. In math, roughly two out of five students met the bar. In science, the share of students reaching proficiency fell between those two subjects. Participation rates on testing were strong, so the results reflect most of the enrolled students. These figures represent a single year of data, with no earlier year available for comparison, so it is not possible to say whether performance is trending up or down. A parent evaluating academic preparation should consider that the school’s proficiency numbers are lower than many other middle schools in Polk County and may want to follow up with the school about its curriculum and intervention strategies.
Des Moines itself is a city of considerable scale and economic activity. It is a major insurance and financial services hub, home to Principal Financial Group and Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, with large operations from Wells Fargo, Nationwide, Voya, and others. The metro area has grown in recent years, and technology companies such as Microsoft and Facebook have built data centers in the region. The city operates a council-manager government and maintains an extensive network of parks and trails. Civic landmarks include the Iowa State Capitol, the Des Moines Art Center, and the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates. For a family considering the school, the broader Des Moines context offers a stable job market and cultural amenities, though the school itself sits in a part of the city where housing costs are below the metro average.
The district did not provide program offerings, course access data, or staffing information for Weeks Middle School. There is no public record of discipline rates or chronic absenteeism for this school. Because these details are missing, a parent cannot evaluate from this data what elective, extracurricular, or support programs are available. This is a gap worth asking about directly, especially for a middle school where enrichment and student support can shape the experience heavily. The school’s website, listed in the directory, would be the next step for that information.
Overall, Weeks Middle School is a high-poverty, urban middle school serving a diverse student population in Iowa’s capital city. Its academic results on state tests trail most other Polk County districts, and the absence of data on special populations, staffing, and programs limits what can be known from this profile. The school operates within a district that supports the full public school system of Des Moines, and the city itself is a growing, economically diverse state capital. A family considering this school would benefit from visiting, speaking with staff about academic supports and enrichment, and understanding how the school addresses the needs of its student body.
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