Key Item on the Agenda
Open Enrollment
The West Des Moines Community Schools Board is scheduled to consider open enrollment at its August 21 special board meeting. The administration recommends Board action to approve 4 open enrollment applications into the district: two for students who moved out of the district and wish to continue attending WDM Schools, and two for students who are new to WDM Schools.
The agenda states that 0 applications for WDM resident students to attend other districts are recommended for approval. Based on the agenda recommendation, the district estimates a total of 277 students open enrolled into WDM Schools and 114 students open enrolled out to other districts.
The updated supporting document contains a broader list of 2026–27 open enrollment applications and states that the listed applications are for review only and have been previously approved by the administration.
The updated document identifies incoming applications involving students from Des Moines Public Schools, Waukee, and Urbandale. Reasons listed for incoming applications include:
- Kindergarten
- Continuation
- Good Cause
- Untimely
- Rescinded
The document also identifies outgoing applications involving students seeking enrollment from WDM in Des Moines Public Schools, Waukee, and Granger. Reasons listed include Good Cause, Continuation, and Rescinded.
Because the supporting document describes these applications as previously handled administratively while the agenda separately recommends Board action on four incoming applications, the packet presents both administrative review information and a specific proposed Board action.
Meeting Administration
The agenda includes appointment of a Board Secretary Pro Tem, followed by roll call and agenda adoption. The administration recommends approval of the special board meeting agenda.
The meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on August 21, 2026, with the agenda listing the Learning Resource Center, Clive Room, Google Meet, and 3550 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa 50265 as location information.
What to Watch at the Meeting
The principal substantive action identified in the packet is the administration's recommendation concerning the four incoming open enrollment applications. The packet also provides the district's resulting estimated open-enrollment totals—277 students enrolled into WDM Schools and 114 enrolled out—giving context for the proposed action.
