Des Moines Public Schools

08/31/2026

School meal menus at DMPS may change this week as DMPS Central Nutrition Center staff work around a fire sprinkler break and subsequent flooding at the building.

The most important things to remember:

✅ Breakfast and lunch will continue to be provided to all students at no cost to families.

✅ Check Nutrislice for menu updates: https://dmschools.nutrislice.com/menus-eula

✅State and local health officials are providing guidance regarding cleanup and food safety.

✅The district will share additional information with families and staff if there are significant changes to school meal service.

Read more at the link below: https://www.dmschools.org/news_release/free-meals-continue-despite-water-line-break-at-cnc/

08/30/2026

The North High School Polar Bears welcomed the East High School Scarlets to Mediacom Stadium for a crosstown varsity football showdown. After back-to-back touchdowns, the Scarlets pulled away to secure the win.

The North High Polar Bears welcomed the East High Scarlets to Mediacom Stadium last night for a crosstown varsity football showdown. After a competitive start, the Scarlets found the end zone on back-to-back drives and pulled away for the win. (Jon Lemons / Des Moines Public Schools)

08/30/2026

The Abraham Lincoln High School Railsplitters hosted the Roosevelt High School Roughriders at Mediacom Stadium for a back-and-forth Friday night matchup. The Roughriders came away with a 19-6 victory.

Friday Night Lights were back at Mediacom Stadium as the Lincoln Railsplitters hosted the Roosevelt Roughriders last night. After a back-and-forth battle, the Roughriders pulled away for a 19-6 victory. The night also included a special tribute to Roberta Nigro, honoring her coaching legacy on Des M...

08/30/2026

08/29/2026

The Oak Park Elementary School Pandas had a great first week. We can’t wait to start week two with you. See you on Monday, DMPS!

ONE WEEK DOWN, PANDAS! 🐼

And what a week it has been! We may be a little late getting our staff picture posted, but we couldn’t let the first week of school come and go without celebrating the incredible Oak Park CREW behind the magic. ✨

From welcoming our pandas through the doors, to learning new routines, solving problems, sharing lots of smiles, and giving our students the love and support they need, we are SO proud of this crew!

Here’s to an amazing school year! We are so lucky to do this work together, and even luckier to serve our Oak Park pandas! 🐼

Week 1 ✔️
So many more memories to make!

08/29/2026

Are you ready? Mitchell Early Learning Center is ready!

Preschool starts Wednesday, September 2.

There’s still time to sign up for FREE preschool at DMPS, with free transportation available for students who qualify.

Visit preschool.dmschools.org for more information about Mitchell and our other early learning locations.

08/29/2026

High school at Des Moines Public Schools is more exciting than ever with access to the most and best Career and Technical Education programs around! Visit centralcampus.dmschools.org or visit with your counselor about the options available to all DMPS students!

Some schools spend the first week going over syllabi. Ours spends it in the hangar. 🛠️

Mr. Sikes and Mr. Hall's students were in early this morning prepping the space for a year's worth of project work. Real tools, real aircraft, real work — from day one.


Des Moines Public Schools
AOPA: your freedom to fly
King Aerospace

08/28/2026

As we wrap up the first week of school, we’re looking back at where it all began.

Follow Interim Superintendent Matt Smith through the first morning of the 2026–27 school year, from visiting our transportation team before the school day began, to talking with KCCI at Central Campus, welcoming students in the rain and even scootering through the halls.

It was a busy start to what promises to be a big year at DMPS. Thanks to our students, families and employees for making Week One a memorable one. Watch on demand: https://youtu.be/f_RtC8gUF3c

We follow DMPS Interim Superintendent Matt Smith the morning of the...

08/28/2026

THREE DAYS LEFT TO WEIGH IN!

DMPS Boundary Committee recommendations are now available for review, and we want to hear from you.

Take a few minutes to see what’s being recommended and share your feedback. Your input will help inform the next steps for school boundaries and enrollment across DMPS.

The survey closes Sunday, August 30.

Review the recommendations. Take the survey. Make your voice heard.
https://reimagine.dmschools.org/public-input/

08/27/2026

Central Campus is making waves again, this time in partnership with Central Decatur.

The Marine Biology students have now launched two research floats - the CC Nautilus off the west coast of Africa and Iowa's Aristotle, co-launched with Central Decatur, currently in the Pacific off the Mexican coast.

Congratulations! We look forward to hearing about the data you gather for your studies.

🌊 Two floats. Two oceans. One Iowa classroom.

Our Marine Biology students launched their first research float last year — the CC Nautilus — and it's now drifting off the west coast of Africa. This summer, a second float went out: Iowa's Aristotle, co-launched with Central Decatur, currently in the Pacific off the Mexican coast.

These aren't models or simulations. They're real biogeochemical floats collecting water quality data for scientists around the world — and every reading is open access, which means our students can pull live ocean data into what they're studying that same day.

Central Decatur students visited our lab twice last year to work alongside ours, and went home and built tanks in their own school.

Landlocked doesn't mean limited. 🐙
Des Moines Public Schools
Central Decatur Community School

Learn more about Adopt-a-Float: