32 Private Schools in Polk County, IA, 30 on ESA List

More filters

On the official list

School	City	Grades	Students	Per teacher	Affiliation
Ankeny Christian Academy ✓	Ankeny	PreK-12	510	14.7	Christian (nondenominational)
St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic School ✓	Ankeny	K-8	336	16.9	Roman Catholic
The Conservatory of Worship Arts ✓	Ankeny	On the state list; not in the federal survey
Apiary Leadership Academy ✓	Des Moines	On the state list; not in the federal survey
Bergman Academy ✓	Des Moines	PreK-8	281	10.8	Nonsectarian
Christ the King School ✓	Des Moines	On the state list; not in the federal survey
Des Moines Adventist School ✓	Des Moines	PreK-8	45	15	Seventh-Day Adventist
Empigo Academy ✓	Des Moines	On the state list; not in the federal survey
Gospel Assembly Christian Academy ✓	Des Moines	K-11	13	3.2	Christian (nondenominational)
Grand View Christian School ✓	Des Moines	PreK-5	458	19.2	Christian (nondenominational)
Holy Family School ✓	Des Moines	On the state list; not in the federal survey
Holy Trinity ✓	Des Moines	PreK-8	358	12.6	Roman Catholic
J. W. Reed Christian Academy ✓	Des Moines	K-12	74	8.9	Other religious
Joshua Christian Academy ✓	Des Moines	K-12	199	8.3	Christian (nondenominational)
Joshua Christian Academy (South) ✓	Des Moines	On the state list; not in the federal survey
Joshua Christian Academy (West) ✓	Des Moines	On the state list; not in the federal survey
Mt Olive Lutheran School ✓	Des Moines	PreK-8	191	13.5	Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod)
One School Global Des Moines Campus ✓	Des Moines	3-12	23	3.3	Nonsectarian
St. Anthony Elementary School ✓	Des Moines	PreK-8	345	13.9	Roman Catholic
St. Augustin School ✓	Des Moines	On the state list; not in the federal survey
St. Joseph Elementary School ✓	Des Moines	PreK-8	201	13	Roman Catholic
St. Theresa Catholic School ✓	Des Moines	PreK-8	221	13.3	Roman Catholic
Two Rivers Classical Academy (DSM) ✓	Des Moines	On the state list; not in the federal survey
Des Moines Christian Elementary School ✓	Urbandale	On the state list; not in the federal survey
Des Moines Christian Secondary School ✓	Urbandale	On the state list; not in the federal survey
St. Pius X Catholic School ✓	Urbandale	On the state list; not in the federal survey
Airazi Academy ✓	West Des Moines	PreK-5	58	7.4	Islamic
Dowling Catholic High School ✓	West Des Moines	9-12	1,354	14.6	Roman Catholic
Sacred Heart School ✓	West Des Moines	PreK-8	497	15.7	Roman Catholic
Two Rivers Classical Academy (WDM) ✓	West Des Moines	On the state list; not in the federal survey
Cottontail Creek Montessori School	Ankeny	PreK-Transitional K	5	not reported	Nonsectarian
Montessori Children's House	West Des Moines	PreK-2	13	6.5	Nonsectarian

Polk County private schools at a glance

Towns: 4; the most in Des Moines (20), West Des Moines (5) and Ankeny (4)
Among Iowa counties: 1st most private schools of 67; 12% of the state’s 274
Typical school: 221 students (18 reporting)
Smallest and largest: Gospel Assembly Christian Academy, 13 students; Dowling Catholic High School, 1,354 students
Students per teacher: 13.3 typical, 3.2 to 19.2 across 18 schools
Programs: 2 Montessori
Association members: 8, most often the National Catholic Educational Association
To a 4-year college: 47% of graduates at the typical high school (4 reporting)
State program: Education savings account, $8,148 per student for 2026-27
How Students First ESA works
Public charter schools: 3 in the county, tuition-free and not counted here
Charter schools in Iowa

Affiliation, 32 schools

Catholic7
Christian, not Catholic6
Islamic1
Other faiths1
Nonsectarian4
Not in federal survey13

Grade levels (overlapping), 32 schools

Pre-K (and up)12
Elementary (K to 5)18
Middle (6 to 8)14
High school (9 to 12)6
K to 12, one school3

School size, 18 reporting

Under 504
50 to 1492
150 to 2995
300 to 5996
600 or more1

On the Students First ESA list: 30 of 32

Polk County94%
All of Iowa89%

Lowest published tuition, 6 schools

Lowest$8,075Middle$8,425Highest$16,950

Where these facts come from

Grades, size, affiliation, co-ed, membership, college-going: NCES Private School Universe Survey 2023-24, downloaded September 20, 2026.
Program list: Iowa Students First Education Savings Account schools, list read October 26, 2026, checked November 4, 2026.
Award and rules: Iowa Students First Education Savings Account, official page, read October 11, 2026.
Tuition for 6 schools: each school’s own website, last read October 11, 2026.
Public charter schools: NCES Common Core of Data, public school directory 2025-26 (preliminary), loaded October 8, 2026.

Cities in and around Polk County

Neighboring counties

Put the next Students First ESA window in your calendar

Open now, until November 15, 2026 Iowa Students First ESA: 2026-27 half-year ESA application window.

Add to Google Calendar Official source

Every program's dates in one calendar that updates when we confirm new dates: subscribe in Google Calendar · subscribe in Apple Calendar or Outlook · all deadlines

Free. Nothing to sign up for: the calendar file is made in your browser and nothing is sent to us. Dates can change, so confirm on the official site.