Academics

Our Approach

At Des Moines Prep, we’re doing more than just providing an education. We’re creating tomorrow’s leaders.

Students completing core learning requirements is a given. We go well beyond that by helping students develop the critical habits and skills that will allow them to succeed in high school and beyond. Every one of our students learns how to communicate effectively, practice curiosity, and navigate challenges. They bring those skills directly to their communities through volunteering and internship opportunities.

Creating Safe and Collaborative Spaces for Learning and Growth

It is crucial that students feel safe at school in order to learn and grow. Des Moines Prep provides a structured and supportive learning environment rooted in high expectations because we know that’s how students thrive.

Being part of a community helps students feel like they belong. We work with students through advisory sessions to help them find their community within the school, based on interests and skills. We require uniforms as a daily reminder that students are part of our broader school community working towards common goals. Uniforms also serve as an equalizer, and keep students focused on what matters most.

As a member of our school, we expect students to meet attendance, engagement, and achievement goals and we monitor their progress weekly. These behaviors are reinforced through “shout outs” communicated to students and families to show their achievements are noticed and appreciated. We also track progress towards graduation outcomes, community service hours, and portfolio completion on a quarterly basis.

Physical safety is also a top priority at Des Moines Prep. We offer mandatory training for all faculty and staff on safety and security protocols and crisis prevention intervention (CPI). Additional safety practices include secure exterior doors, a monitored entranceway, strong hallway supervision, exterior cameras, and regular fire and tornado drills.

Achieving Academic Excellence

Des Moines Prep offers rigorous and robust academic programming with a focus on active engagement and postsecondary readiness. Engagement is more than mere participation—it’s about ownership, investment, and taking the lead in the learning process.

We have high expectations for our learners and tirelessly support our students to ensure they can meet the expectations we set. Frequent, growth-oriented feedback is central to our approach, helping students reflect on their progress, refine their skills, and take greater ownership of their learning journey.

Daily advisory sessions provide structured time for students to monitor their academic progress, set meaningful goals, and stay on track.
Extended instructional time in foundational subjects like English and math, ensure students have the depth of understanding necessary for success.
Targeted, data-driven intervention program identifies individual needs and delivers tailored support to help every student overcome challenges and achieve their full potential.
Dual-credit and advanced placement (AP) courses are available to all students by their junior and senior year. This allows students to dive deeper into their areas of interest, as they begin to carve a path towards their postsecondary goals.

Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders

We aspire for all of our students to demonstrate the skills, habits, and dispositions of a successful leader. Our programs are designed to teach, practice, and celebrate the following leadership traits:

Connect: Successful leaders communicate effectively, expressing themselves with clarity. They also listen deeply, creating inclusive environments where voices are valued and decisions are made with a commitment to everyone’s well-being.
Aspire: Successful leaders are constantly growing and improving. They set ambitious goals outside their comfort zone, unlock potential, and pursue impactful achievements. They aim high to improve outcomes through owning, investing, and driving their learning.
Persevere: Successful leaders have an unwavering belief in themselves and can “bounce back” from failure with renewed passion and purpose, knowing that the right mindset can transform any situation.
Achieve: Successful leaders prioritize achieving results over good intentions because they know impact matters. Leaders who focus on achievement understand that consistent results create momentum, build credibility, and drive meaningful progress.

Our students practice applying these skills through robust learning experiences, such as community service and job shadowing, to help them drive their own path towards postsecondary success. They document this process by creating a 4-year portfolio demonstrating how they embody these traits. This culminates in a senior capstone project where they demonstrate their leadership within their community.