McCombs Middle School Des Moines (2026 List)

About McCombs Middle School

McCombs Middle School is on County Line Road in Des Moines, Iowa, and serves students in grades 6–8. The school has 585 students and a student-teacher ratio of 17:1 The school is meant to be a safe and supportive place for students who are moving from middle school to high school. Staff members are committed to building a sense of shared responsibility and respect among everyone at the school. There are 48% female and 52% male in the school, and 44% of them are good at math and 47% are good at reading. Students in 2026 can take part in a wide range of extracurricular activities, such as an on-site Boys & Girls Club that offers tutoring, STEM projects, and arts classes after school. The school also has a strong athletics program with sports like cross country, wrestling, volleyball, and eSports to get students involved and keep them healthy. Most of the time, homes in the area are worth between $190,000 and $330,000. Parents often talk about how high the school's standards are and how much help it gives students. McCombs Middle School wants to be one of the best middle schools in Iowa.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 44%

Reading 47%

State average proficiency is 44% in Math and 47% in Reading.

40

Full-time Teachers

16 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

644

Total Students

$40997

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 26.71%

Asian 9.16%

Hispanic 37.11%

Black 19.41%

Two+ Races 7.3%

Native Am. 0.31%

White

26.71%

Asian

9.16%

Hispanic

37.11%

Black

19.41%

Two+ Races

7.3%

Native Am.

0.31%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 644

51.4%

331 Female

48.6%

313 Male

Student Population

644 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 16 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

322 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

McCombs Middle School Contact Information

Address

201 SW County Line Rd, Des Moines, IA, 50320

View on Map

Phone

(515) 242-8447

Call Now

Website

dmschools.org

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 8:30 AM – 3:25 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 8:15 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

McCombs is recognized in 2026 for its effective student discipline policies, maintaining a high-focus learning environment. The school is leading a district initiative on "Environmental Stewardship" with the opening of a student-led green space. It continues to rank as a top Des Moines middle school for counselor-to-student support and diversity.

FAQ

Q1. Is there a competitive robotics team at McCombs Middle School for the 2026 season?

Ans. Yes, the "McCombs Micro-bots" compete in regional FIRST Lego League events, where they build and program robots to solve seasonal problems.

Q2. What are the rules for checking out books at McCombs Middle School's library and media center?

Ans. Students can check out up to three books at a time for two weeks. The center also has digital e-books that can be read on the district's Sora app.

Q3. Do families of new sixth graders at McCombs Middle School have an orientation?

Ans. Every August, McCombs has a "McCombs Move-In" night where families can see the building, meet the teachers, and get their class schedules.

Q4. Is there a creative writing or journalism elective at McCombs Middle School?

Ans. Yes, students can join the "McCombs News" elective or club. This group makes student-led publications and digital broadcasts for the school community.

Q5. How does McCombs Middle School make sure that students get enough physical activity?

Ans. Every other day, all students must take part in PE. The curriculum focuses on both individual fitness and traditional team sports.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

Local kids are transforming ideas into real-world.

See the projects happening right in your neighborhood

What Parents Say