Schools Guide

Grimes, Iowa Schools - Inside the Dallas Center-Grimes CSD

Dallas Center-Grimes is a two-town district, and the grade split follows the towns. Grimes holds the high school, DC-G Oak View for 7-8, and three K-4 elementaries; Dallas Center holds its own elementary and the 5-6 middle school. So most Grimes students spend a couple of years heading to Dallas Center. Worth planning for - here's every building and the grades it serves.

The Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District at a Glance

Dallas Center-Grimes serves about 3,500 students across two towns. Grimes holds the high school, the 7-8 Oak View building and three K-4 elementaries; Dallas Center holds its own elementary and the 5-6 middle school. The district has grown quickly enough that both the boundaries and the grade configuration have been redrawn more than once.

Public schools located in Grimes

Every public school building physically inside Grimes city limits, and the grades each one serves. Attendance is assigned by address, not by city line - verify the zone for the exact property before you write an offer.

SchoolGradesDistrict
High schools
Dallas Center-Grimes High School9-12Dallas Center-Grimes CSD
Middle and junior high schools
DC-G Oak View7-8Dallas Center-Grimes CSD
Elementary and intermediate schools
Heritage ElementaryPK-4Dallas Center-Grimes CSD
North Ridge ElementaryK-4Dallas Center-Grimes CSD
South Prairie ElementaryK-4Dallas Center-Grimes CSD

Source: Iowa Department of Education, 2026-27 public school building directory.

Also in Dallas Center-Grimes CSD, outside Grimes: Dallas Center Elementary (K-4) in Dallas Center · Dallas Center-Grimes Middle School (5-6) in Dallas Center. A Grimes address can feed any of these.

What actually decides which school you get

Mostly the drive. Grimes has three K-4 elementaries, and the address sets which one - but every DC-G student then heads to Dallas Center for the 5-6 middle school before returning to Grimes for Oak View and the high school. That two-year commute catches families by surprise. Ask the district for the current boundary map; DC-G has redrawn it repeatedly as Grimes has grown.

Comparing Grimes to Neighboring Districts

Grimes vs Waukee: Waukee is larger and growing fast; DCG is more concentrated with similar academic rigor.

Grimes vs Adel (ADM): Both Dallas County districts. DCG has stronger athletics; ADM has slightly different program emphasis.

Real Estate Tips for Grimes School-Zone Buyers

  1. Verify the elementary zone before you offer. Three K-4 buildings sit in Grimes, and DC-G has redrawn boundaries more than once as the city has grown.
  2. Newer subdivisions in west and south Grimes carry the premium. Be prepared to compete there.
  3. New construction runs west along the Beaver Creek corridor. Ask builders what the district has signaled about the next boundary review.
  4. Entry-level runs about $350K-$500K. Factor the 5-6 years in Dallas Center into your commute math before you commit to a location.

Where to check this yourself

5 of Dallas Center-Grimes CSD’s 7 buildings sit inside Grimes, and 2 sit in neighboring towns. Check any of it yourself:

Questions buyers ask about schools here

What school district serves Grimes, Iowa?

Grimes is served by the Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District. 5 of its 7 school buildings are located inside Grimes.

What schools are located in Grimes, Iowa?

5 public school buildings sit inside Grimes: Dallas Center-Grimes High School (grades 9-12), DC-G Oak View (grades 7-8), Heritage Elementary (grades PK-4), North Ridge Elementary (grades K-4), South Prairie Elementary (grades K-4). This list comes from the Iowa Department of Education 2026-27 building directory.

Which elementary school will my child attend in Grimes?

Grimes has 3 elementary buildings and the assignment is made by address: Heritage Elementary, North Ridge Elementary, South Prairie Elementary. Boundaries change as the district grows, so verify the zone for the exact property.

Schools in nearby cities

Buyers weighing Grimes usually have one or two other towns on the list. Each of these is the same guide for that city, built from the same state directory:

Ready to find a home in a Grimes school zone?

I'm happy to help you weigh the Grimes school zones and match them to the right neighborhood - no pressure, just a real conversation. Grab a free 15 minutes with me whenever it's useful:

Jackson Krile is a REALTOR® on the Flanders Team at RE/MAX Real Estate Center. Licensed in Iowa #S66867000. DMAAR + CIBR member.

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