Track Every Dollar · Iowa

Des Moines Independent Community School District

Every dollar this school system reported for the 2023-24 school year: where it came from and where it went.

Where the money comes from

Select federal, state or local to see every line.

Federal $77.6 million13.5%
  • All other federal money$29.8 million38.4%
  • School meals$21.2 million27.4%
  • Title I: schools with many low-income families$20.0 million25.8%
  • Special education (IDEA)$1.7 million2.2%
  • Student support and enrichment (Title IV-A)$1.3 million1.7%
  • English learners (Title III)$1.2 million1.5%
  • After-school programs (21st Century)$1.1 million1.5%
  • Teacher and principal training (Title II)$670,0000.9%
  • Career and technical education$535,0000.7%

Inside the federal total: $16.8 million of pandemic relief (ESSER and related funds), which ended in 2024.

State $324 million56.4%
  • General formula aid$239 million73.9%
  • Buildings and debt payments$40.5 million12.5%
  • Staff improvement$34.9 million10.8%
  • All other state money$6.5 million2.0%
  • Compensatory and basic skills programs$2.1 million0.6%
  • Transportation$361,0000.1%
  • School meals$158,000under 0.1%
  • Special education$146,000under 0.1%
  • Career and technical education$38,000under 0.1%
Local $173 million30.1%
  • Property taxes$132 million76.4%
  • Interest, rents, donations and other$23.7 million13.7%
  • From other school districts$7.8 million4.5%
  • Tuition, fees, meals and other charges$6.2 million3.6%
  • Other local taxes (sales, utility, income)$3.0 million1.8%
  • From cities and counties$89,000under 0.1%

Where it goes

  • Teaching (instruction)$262 million46.9%
  • Support services Details$201 million35.9%
    • Running and maintaining buildings$47.9 million23.8%
    • Student support: attendance, guidance, health and psychological services$39.6 million19.7%
    • Teacher support: curriculum, training, libraries$34.7 million17.3%
    • School administration: principals' offices$33.9 million16.9%
    • Business office and central services$23.3 million11.6%
    • Student transportation$12.8 million6.4%
    • District administration: the board and superintendent's office$8.7 million4.3%
  • Buildings and equipment Details$43.0 million7.7%

    Of this, construction: $34.8 million.

  • Food service and other$21.3 million3.8%
  • Interest on debt$4.9 million0.9%
  • Community services and adult education$7.9 million1.4%
  • Payments to other school districts$19.2 million3.4%

Inside these totals: $289 million in salaries and wages, $128 million in employee benefits. Long-term debt at year end: $99.2 million.

The record

Day-to-day spending per student is current spending (teaching, support and food service) divided by fall enrollment (30,277). Amounts are reported by the school system to the U.S. Census Bureau. Census ID 116563, NCES ID 1908970.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finances: Fiscal Year 2024. School year 2023-24. census.gov the data file

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