If you're eyeing a move to Windsor Heights, schools are probably near the top of your list — and here there's a wrinkle you have to understand before you fall for a house. Windsor Heights is a tiny, central city, but it's split between two school districts. I'm a Central Iowa REALTOR® who works this market every day, and I've walked plenty of families through exactly this. Here's my honest, plain-English read.
Windsor Heights is served by two districts, divided at 70th Street. Addresses west of 70th Street fall in the West Des Moines Community School District (WDMCS). Addresses east of 70th Street fall in Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS). That means two homes on nearby blocks can be assigned to entirely different districts — which is why verifying the exact address matters more here than almost anywhere in the metro. For the hard numbers on either district, the Iowa Department of Education's School Performance Profiles tool is the objective place to look.
West Des Moines Community School District — One of the largest districts in the metro, WDMCS serves the western portion of Windsor Heights. Clive Learning Academy, located inside Windsor Heights, is a WDMCS school. The district's comprehensive high school is Valley High School in West Des Moines. Elementary and middle assignments depend on the exact address, so confirm the feeder pattern for the home you're considering.
Des Moines Public Schools — The state's largest district serves the eastern portion of Windsor Heights. Cowles Montessori School, a DMPS magnet located inside Windsor Heights, is one option families here often ask about. DMPS assigns neighborhood schools by address and also offers magnet and choice options, so the school your address feeds into should be confirmed directly with the district.
Here's something a lot of buyers miss: in most suburbs you can assume the district from the city name. In Windsor Heights you cannot. Before you write an offer, let's confirm the district and the specific school assignment for that exact address — I'd rather you know up front than be surprised after closing.
Wherever you land, I'm happy to help you weigh the two districts and the trade-offs that come with each — no pressure, no sales pitch. A quick 15-minute conversation is often all it takes to point you in the right direction:
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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