For the past four decades, Iowa has been the first stop on the road to the White House. And over the years, Des Moines Public Schools has been along for the ride. From providing students with a unique learning opportunity about the political process to providing dozens of precinct caucus sites throughout the community, schools … Read more »

Figures released today by the Iowa Department of Education (DE) show that Des Moines Public Schools had the largest increase in student enrollment in the state for the 2011-12 school year. The DE released the certified enrollment report, which is used in the formula that determines state funding for public school districts. Certified enrollment is … Read more »

When Vinh Nguyen took over the district’s English Language Learner (ELL) program a decade ago it had already grown from about 275 students at its inception in 1975 to more than 2,500. But according to School Board Vice-Chair Dick Murphy – a long-time educator who has worked closely with Iowa’s refugee community - it was in … Read more »

It may seem like a dollar doesn’t buy much anymore, but don’t tell that to the sixth graders at Merrill Middle School. They were each given one solitary buck by the school’s PTA and the assignment to pay it as far forward as they could within the community. It was all part of their “Dollar … Read more »

There must surely be some parents and grandparents of current East High students who attended there long enough ago to remember when a 15 minute film threaded onto a projector by someone from the audio-visual club was a welcome break from the classroom routine. Imagine what they’ll hear from their kids when they ask them … Read more »