Merrill Middle School

Merrill Middle School is on 51st Street in the Waveland Park neighborhood of Des Moines. It serves grades 6–8. There are 651 students enrolled, and the student-teacher ratio is 17:1. The school is known for being very structured and academically tough, especially for students who do well. There are 50% female and 50% male in the student body. Merrill Middle School has a long history of strict rules for students and high academic standards. For example, 67% of students are good at math and 72% are good at reading. Merrill is an official International Baccalaureate (IB) World School that uses the Middle Years Programme (MYP) to promote global engagement and understanding between cultures. In 2026, students will be able to join a lot of different clubs and activities, such as cheerleading, cross country, wrestling, and jazz band. They will also be able to play competitive sports like volleyball, basketball, and soccer. Prices for homes in the area usually range from $290,000 to $575,000. Parents always say they are very happy with the level of academic rigor. People say that Merrill Middle School is one ofthe best middle schools in Iowa.

Merrill is piloting a new "Advanced Inquiry" program in 2026 to challenge high-achieving students in STEM fields. New building construction and equipment upgrades are underway this month to support expanding IB offerings. The school remains one of the top-performing middle schools in the state for academic growth and proficiency.

Q1. Is there a special program at Merrill Middle School for smart and gifted kids?

Ans. Yes, Merrill has a "PACT" (Program for Academic and Creative Talent) for certain students. This program gives them faster-paced classes and special projects to work on.

Q2. What world languages can high school students take at Merrill Middle School right now?

Ans. If students finish the full Spanish or French sequence at Merrill, they can often get high school credit and move up to level II when they start 9th grade.

Q3. How can students at Merrill Middle School join the "National Junior Honor Society"?

Ans. 7th and 8th graders with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher are invited to apply for NJHS membership based on their character, service, and leadership.

Q4. Is there a rule at Merrill Middle School for 2026 about using cell phones in school?

Ans. Merrill has a "locker-only" policy, which means that students must turn off all of their mobile devices and keep them in their lockers during the school day.

Q5. What does the "Mustang" mascot mean for events at Merrill Middle School?

Ans. The Mustang is the school's "Blue and White" pride, and it shows up at pep rallies and sports events to get people excited about school.