| Index | Merle Hay | Des Moines | Iowa |
| Average Test Scores | 50% | 48% | 69% |
| Student/Teacher ratio | n/a | 13:1 | 13:1 |
| Total public schools | n/a | 69 | 1,101 |
| Total private schools | n/a | 13 | 208 |
| Total post-secondary schools | n/a | 10 | 96 |
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| Index | Merle Hay | Des Moines | Iowa |
| Completed 8th grade | 87.3% | 82.6% | 89.2% |
| Completed high school | 86.9% | 81.4% | 87.7% |
| Completed some college | 64.7% | 56.8% | 59.8% |
| Completed associate degree | 44.0% | 34.8% | 38.4% |
| Completed bachelors | 33.2% | 25.2% | 27.2% |
| Completed masters | 7.5% | 7.5% | 8.7% |
| Completed professional degree | 1.4% | 2.5% | 2.7% |
| Completed doctorate | 0.7% | 0.8% | 1.1% |
| City | Population | Avg. Test Scores | National Avg. |
| Granger, IA | 1,890 | 87% | 81.3% |
| Van Meter, IA | 1,386 | 86% | 79.9% |
| Alleman, IA | 438 | 85% | 77.8% |
| Waukee, IA | 22,598 | 85% | 76.3% |
| Polk City, IA | 4,797 | 85% | 76.0% |
| Des Moines, IA | 215,408 | 48% | 0.3% |
| City | Population | Avg. Test Scores | National Avg. |
| Tacoma, WA | 215,766 | 48% | 0.0% |
| Modesto, CA | 214,485 | 36% | 25.6% |
| San Bernardino, CA | 216,784 | 32% | 34.1% |
| Fontana, CA | 212,704 | 36% | 25.7% |
| Santa Clarita, CA | 212,519 | 56% | 16.4% |
| Des Moines, IA | 215,408 | 48% | 0.3% |
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