Des Moines Begins Demolition of Moulton Elementary
The district is clearing the historic site to make way for the new $42 million Moulton Arts Academy campus.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Primary Education
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Des Moines Public Schools has officially begun the demolition of the former Moulton Elementary building at Eighth Street and College Avenue. This process clears the site for the construction of a new Moulton Arts Academy.
Why it matters
The district is replacing the aging structure due to its poor condition and rising repair costs, utilizing funds from a 2025 voter-approved bond. The new academy will eventually serve approximately 800 students from pre-K through eighth grade.
The new facility is budgeted at $42 million and will accommodate 800 students, supported by a broader $265 million bond approved in 2025. Construction crews also recovered a time capsule estimated to be 112 years old from the original cornerstone.
The players
Des Moines Public Schools
This is the primary educational institution serving the city of Des Moines, Iowa, managing the local district's building inventory and enrollment lotteries.
Moulton Arts Academy
This is the upcoming signature school facility that will serve pre-K through eighth-grade students with an emphasis on arts programming.
The details
The site, originally opened as North High School in 1895, saw multiple expansions before becoming an elementary school in 1962. The district uses a lottery-based enrollment process for its Signature Schools, which includes the arts-focused program the school joined in 2018.
Timeline
1895: The original school building was constructed as North High School.
1914: Workers placed the cornerstone for a major building expansion.
2025: Voters approved a $265 million bond to modernize school district facilities.
Oct. 19, 2026: Demolition of the former Moulton Elementary building began.
2028-29 school year: The new Moulton Arts Academy is scheduled to open to students.
Culture Shift
The project reflects a broader trend of districts prioritizing the modernization of aging historical assets over costly, outdated renovations. By investing in specialized signature campuses, the district aims to better align physical infrastructure with evolving educational programming needs.
Families in the area should monitor the district website for updates on the lottery-based enrollment process as the school nears its opening in the 2028-29 academic year. The project marks a significant change for local residents near Eighth Street and College Avenue as the site transforms into a modern arts-focused campus.
The takeaway
The demolition of the 1895 structure marks the end of a long historical chapter for the school site. Families looking to enroll should begin tracking the development of the new arts-focused curriculum to understand the future opportunities available at the campus.
Further reading
For more updates on local school facilities, visit the Primary Education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Business Record.
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