McCombs Middle School

Des Moines Independent Comm School District

201 SW County Line Rd
Des Moines, IA 50320

654 Students

Middle School 6th - 8th

School Overview

McCombs Middle School is a public school serving grades 6–8 within the Des Moines Public Schools district. Located on the south side of Des Moines, the school is situated in a residential area, providing a central educational hub for families in the surrounding neighborhoods. The school emphasizes a comprehensive middle school curriculum designed to bridge the gap between elementary education and high school readiness, focusing on core academic subjects while encouraging social and emotional development during these formative adolescent years.

In addition to its academic programming, McCombs Middle School fosters a diverse learning environment that reflects the broader Des Moines community. The school offers a variety of extracurricular activities, athletics, and clubs intended to help students explore their interests and build a sense of belonging. With a commitment to inclusivity and student success, the staff at McCombs strives to prepare its student body for the rigors of high school while promoting values of citizenship, responsibility, and lifelong learning.

654

Total Students

43.0

Full-Time Teachers

15.2

Student/Teacher Ratio

85.3%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for McCombs Middle School
Demographic	Student Count
White	213
Hispanic	223
Black	122
Asian	58
Two or More	38

Hispanic
223 (34.1 %)
White
213 (32.6 %)
Black
122 (18.7 %)
Asian
58 (8.9 %)
Two or More
38 (5.8 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle 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)242-8447
Grade Range:	6th - 8th
Total Students:	654
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	43.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	15.2
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	499
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	59

* 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 6 220

Grade 7 199

Grade 8 235