Roosevelt High School

Des Moines Independent Comm School District

1,986 Students

High School 9th - 12th

School Overview

Roosevelt High School, located at 4419 Center St in Des Moines, Iowa, is one of the most historic and prominent secondary institutions in the Des Moines Public Schools district. Established in 1922, the school is well-regarded for its architectural significance—notably its iconic red-brick structure—and its long-standing tradition of academic and extracurricular excellence. Serving a diverse student body, Roosevelt offers a wide range of rigorous programming, including Advanced Placement (AP) courses and a variety of career-technical pathways, aimed at preparing students for post-secondary success.

Beyond its academic curriculum, the school is deeply rooted in the local community and maintains a strong spirit of school pride, often referred to as "Rider Pride." Students at Roosevelt have access to an extensive array of athletic programs, performing arts opportunities, and student-led organizations, which help foster a well-rounded educational experience. As a cornerstone of the Des Moines community, the school remains committed to equity and preparing its graduates to be engaged, informed citizens in an evolving global society.

1,986

Total Students

66.3

Full-Time Teachers

30.0

Student/Teacher Ratio

57.0%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Roosevelt High School
Demographic	Student Count
White	926
Hispanic	337
Black	483
Asian	60
Two or More	165
American Indian	6
Pacific Islander	6

White
926 (46.7 %)
Black
483 (24.4 %)
Hispanic
337 (17.0 %)
Two or More
165 (8.3 %)
Asian
60 (3.0 %)
American Indian
6 (0.3 %)
Pacific Islander
6 (0.3 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	Supplemental Virtual
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Des Moines Independent Comm School District
Phone:	(515)242-7272
Grade Range:	9th - 12th
Total Students:	1,986
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	66.3
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	30.0
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	983
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	150

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 9 469

Grade 10 539

Grade 11 450

Grade 12 528