Woodside Middle School

Woodside Middle School is on the northern edge of Des Moines at 5810 NE 14th Street. It serves students in grades 6–8. The school has 560 students and a student-teacher ratio of 16:1. It is a safe and academically focused place to learn. There are 49% female and 51% male in the student body. 60% of them are good at math and 53% are good at reading. The campus has a special Life Skills center with a small kitchen for teaching group cooking and a 1-to-1 laptop program to help students use technology in their daily studies. In 2026, students can take part in a wide range of extracurricular activities, from playing in the Band and Choir to competing in sports like basketball and soccer, as well as community events like the PTO Dodgeball Tournament. The campus is meant to help all local students think creatively and study in a disciplined way. Prices for homes in the area usually range from $200,000 to $345,000. Parents often talk about how good the technology is and how involved the students are. People say that Woodside Middle School is one of the best middle schools in Iowa.

Woodside is celebrating major academic growth milestones this month with its new "Achievement Celebration" series. The school's media center is being converted into a "Modern Innovation Lab" for student creators and digital projects. Ongoing 2026 investments are focusing on modernizing core classrooms to prepare students for high school rigor.

Q1. Are there any specific electives at Woodside Middle School for students who want to learn more about computers?

Ans. Yes, Woodside has a class called "Computer Science Discoveries" where students learn how to code, make websites, and solve problems online.

Q2. How do students get to be in the Woodside Middle School band or orchestra?

Ans. During registration, students can sign up for music classes. 6th graders can join even if they have never played before, but 7th and 8th graders need to have played before or pass an audition.

Q3. How does Woodside Middle School make sure that students are safe when they drop them off in the morning?

Ans. Woodside has a special one-way traffic loop for parents to drop off their kids, and staff members are outside to help students safely get into the building.

Q4. Does Woodside Middle School have a leadership club or student council for 2026?

Ans. The Woodside Student Council does plan school dances, community service drives, and spirit weeks for the 2025–2026 school year.

Q5. What do 8th graders at Woodside Middle School need to do to graduate or "promote" in 2026?

Ans. Students must meet all of their core academic requirements and attend a final 8th-grade promotion ceremony in late May or early June.