2025 Compare Cities Education:
Plano, TX vs Des Moines, IA

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Highlights
- Des Moines spends 4.1% less per student than Plano.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 4.0% higher in Des Moines than in Plano. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Des Moines had 6.7% fewer residents who had graduated High School compared to Plano
 Plano, TXDes Moines, IAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$14,293$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$9,587  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$7,373$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio14.93  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock7994573
 Students per Counselor405  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock6.5%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.2.9%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock87.1%88.9%
 Some College Educ.16.2%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock9.2%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.58.1%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock6.2%9.3%
 Professional Degree3.0%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock0.8%1.5%
Reviews for Plano    42 Reviews

I had lived in Plano for over 30 years. It is where I bought my first home as a single woman, where I married, and where I raised my children. I was fortunate enough  More

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We have lived in Plano for 20 years. It has been consistently rated very highly in surveys of best places to live in the US. Pros are the parks system; which includes  More

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Over 4 years ago

I've lived here for a while now. It's wonderful here. There's a ton to do, great jobs, great parks, and pretty good school. It's the perfect  More

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Reviews for Des Moines    53 Reviews

Des Moines is a ok and pretty quiet place but as a teen it could be dramatic because Des Moines do have is fair or violents places to avoid in Des Moines would be the  More

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Dude · 
Over 5 years ago

This city is violent, there are too many gangs especially on the north  More

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Over 6 years ago

Good for the old that like slow pace and cheap buffets. Also good for non-descript mid-westerners that don't like a lot of action. No nightlife or mountains to hike  More

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