Dec 15, 2025 - Education

Des Moines Public Schools works on Reimagining Education capital projects

Linh Ta

Illustration of a spacious, modern performing arts center with yellow floors, children running and sitting, people walking, vibrant art on walls, and blue acoustic panels on the ceiling. — A rendering of Moulton's future performing arts-focused school. Rendering: Courtesy of DMPS

Work is already underway for Des Moines Public Schools' Reimagining Education Plan, including new classroom designs and demolition plans.

Flashback: In November, Des Moines voters approved a $265 million bond referendum to pay for renovations in more than 120 classrooms, preschool expansions and new pathways for students to earn college credit.

Here's what's happening:

Moulton Elementary will be demolished at the end of this school year and work will begin to construct a performing and visual arts school for students in eighth grade and below.

It's expected to open in the 2028-29 school year, per DMPS.

At the middle school level, DMPS plans to start construction on new maker spaces at Brody, Goodrell and McCombs this summer.

Plans include building new 6,000-square-foot spaces that will include new lab classrooms that focus on the medical field, business and digital skills, like cybersecurity.

And design planning is underway to add more classroom space to Weeks Middle School. Construction is expected to start in the spring.

Architects have also been selected to help design more classroom space at Lovejoy and Studebaker elementaries.

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Des Moines Public Schools works on Reimagining Education capital projects

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