Lincoln High School
Des Moines, IA 50315
Phone: (515) 242-7500
Fax: (515) 242-7517
District: Des Moines Independent Community School District
GreatSchools Rating
public • Grades 9,10,11,12 • 2218 students
Lincoln High School, a public school located in Des Moines, IA, serves grades 9-12 in the Des Moines Independent Community School District.It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 2 out of 10, based on a variety of school quality measures.
Lincoln High School is a public school located in Des Moines, IA. 2218 students attend Lincoln High School.
School Ratings
| Category | Rating | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Test Scores | 1/10 | The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 Iowa Assessment data from Iowa Department of Education. |
| College Readiness | 1/10 | The College Readiness Rating uses this high school's graduation rates, college entrance exam participation and performance, or AP, IB, or Dual Enrollment participation to determine how well schools are preparing students for success in college and beyond. The College Readiness Rating was created using the following data from the 2021 Civil Rights Data Collection: percentage of students enrolled in IB, AP or Dual Enrollment classes in grades 9-12, using 2024 4-year high school graduation rate data from Iowa Department of Education, using 2025 Average ACT score data from Iowa Department of Education, and using 2026 demographic data from Iowa Department of Education. |
| Student Growth | 4/10 | The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from Iowa Department of Education. |
Posted: October 30, 2025
Posted: October 30, 2025
Posted: October 30, 2025
Posted: October 30, 2025
Posted: October 30, 2025
Posted: October 30, 2025
Great school, and staff who cares. Highschool is a step into adulthood, you get what you put into it. If you fail to go to class, do your work and actively learn then no, your not going succeed. Teachers always help when asked if you dont understand something or need extra help. Your social life here is what you put into it, there are tons of clubs and extra clubs or sports you can participate in. My councilors helped with college apps and helped me get a number of scholarships.
Posted: October 30, 2025
Posted: October 30, 2025
Posted: August 18, 2024
Posted: August 18, 2024
Posted: August 18, 2024
Posted: August 18, 2024
Posted: August 18, 2024
Posted: August 18, 2024
I'm a recent Lincoln graduate, I have an older sibling whose graduated, and a younger sibling who is (unfortunately) still attending this school. Lincoln is a good school... if you want to lower your kids self esteem and overall academic experience and confidence. I had multiple meetings with the principal regarding bullying and harassment from other students, as well and misconduct in treatment from faculty, yet no changes were made and those concerns were never addressed. There is a faculty member in the English department who physically touches her students, (ex. poking their sides during tests, grabbing their shoulders, etc.) and the principal did nothing about it. Another teacher in an elective course lets his students vape in his class without reporting them. This is all stuff that's been brought to the faculties attention and multiple points in time, as well as the fact its on social media under multiple accounts, yet nothing has been done to change this. Do better for your students.
Posted: August 18, 2024
Posted: August 18, 2024
Posted: March 6, 2024
Posted: March 6, 2024
Posted: March 6, 2024
Posted: March 6, 2024
Posted: March 6, 2024
Posted: March 6, 2024
Alumni 2017 ,
Mediocrity isn't just excepted it begins to feel like the norm. Some teachers try but the ones who cared seemed to have left, probably due to management. Never spoke to my principal in 4 years while doing extra curriculars, shameful.
Wouldn't recommend and wouldn't put my child in the entire DMPS.
Posted: March 6, 2024
Posted: March 6, 2024
Posted: September 5, 2023
Posted: September 5, 2023
Posted: September 5, 2023
Posted: September 5, 2023
Posted: September 5, 2023
The teachers try their best with what they have. Problems in the school are purely from lack of funding. With our governor not caring about public schools in any way, Lincoln is doing best they can.
Posted: September 5, 2023
Posted: September 5, 2023
Posted: September 5, 2023
Posted: March 19, 2023
Posted: March 19, 2023
Posted: March 19, 2023
Posted: March 19, 2023
Posted: March 19, 2023
This schools teachers are very unprofessional and the majority just seem there to get the pay check never will I let any of my kids get into this sad and joke of a "school".
Posted: March 19, 2023
Posted: March 19, 2023
Posted: March 19, 2023
Posted: February 25, 2021
As a former student, I had a pretty good time here. For the most part, the teachers were pretty good and did their best to help and educate students. The after-school programs were always present if not a little underfunded at times. Overall it was a pretty nice place.
Posted: February 25, 2021
Posted: February 25, 2021
Posted: February 25, 2021
Posted: February 25, 2021
Posted: February 25, 2021
Posted: February 25, 2021
Posted: February 25, 2021
Posted: October 11, 2016
all high schools in des moines have a greatschool rating of 1 im not sure what the problem is but its not parenting. Its not Iowa as looking on line or here its not hard to find schools in large and small towns with above 5 ratings. des moines is among the worst.
Posted: August 12, 2014
Children can easily not go to school and jip classes and there will be no call to parents. Students are allowed to graduate with all F's. My sister graduated in 2010 with all F's. She never went to gym class and skipped school all the time and her mother never knew as there were no calls from the administration. She can read and write but only at a 7th grade level. Her brother, who can only read at a 5th grade level was pulled out and put into SEP so he could get the help he needs. My step-sister is about to graduate with F's as she is more worried about utilizing Lincoln's daycare (which only serves to encourage teens to get pregnant young.) There are lots of fights at this school and the school police are called constantly.
Posted: August 22, 2013
My granddaughter just started at Lincoln. I have heard wonderful comments about Lincoln. I hope they are all true. Time will tell.
Posted: May 5, 2013
All six of my children went to school there. Three daughters went on to higher education and graduating from UNI, Iowa and Drake. My son who will graduated this year will go on to Drake. The education and staff at Lincoln are excellent. When I read the reviews about kids not being able to read or graduate; uh maybe it's the parenting!
Reviews provided by GreatSchools™
| # | Name | Type | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Copper Creek | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Pleasant Hill | IA | 6.6 mi |
| # | Name | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|
| Base | Distance |
|---|---|
| Camp Dodge | 10 mi. |
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