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Online School for Des Moines Families | Forest Trail Academy
Your family is at the heart of a city that runs on ambition, from the towers of Nationwide and Principal Financial to the tight-knit neighborhoods where Burmese, Latino, and African families are building futures rooted in strong English-language credentials. Whether you’re a professional parent juggling a demanding insurance-industry schedule or a newcomer family determined to give your kids the best possible American education, you deserve a school that fits your life. Forest Trail Academy was built for families exactly like yours.
Why Des Moines Families Choose FTA
Des Moines is a city of strivers. Parents here work long hours at firms like EMC Insurance, Wells Fargo’s regional offices, and the dozens of financial services companies that anchor the local economy, and they need a school that works around real schedules, not the other way around. FTA’s fully self-paced, online K-12 program means your student can hit their coursework after dinner, on a Saturday morning, or during a quiet stretch between activities. There’s no bell schedule to fight, no carpool chaos, and no falling behind because life got in the way.
Des Moines also has one of the fastest-growing immigrant communities in the Midwest. Families who’ve come from Myanmar, Mexico, Guatemala, and across sub-Saharan Africa often tell us that finding a school with rigorous English-language academics, and the flexibility to support kids at different starting points, is the hardest part of settling in Iowa. FTA’s open enrollment means you don’t have to wait for August to get started, and our personalized learning approach means every student gets instruction at their own level. Iowa caucus culture has taught this city to take civic engagement seriously; we think education deserves that same serious investment.
What You Get
- Cognia Accreditation: Your FTA diploma is accepted by all universities near Des Moines and nationwide.
- No Fixed Class Times: Study before training, after your shift, on weekends.
- Open Enrollment: Start any week, no waiting for September.
- Same School Through Every Change: Military PCS, relocations, and life changes don’t interrupt enrollment.
Getting Started from Des Moines
- Call 800-890-6269 or submit an inquiry online
- Submit transcripts from your Des Moines-area school
- Start coursework within days, no waiting
Questions?
Is FTA’s diploma recognized near Des Moines?
Yes, our Cognia-accredited diploma is accepted by all Iowa universities and 1,000+ colleges nationally.
Can we enroll mid-year from Des Moines?
Yes, open enrollment, start any week.
Part of the Iowa FTA Community
Des Moines families are part of FTA’s larger Iowa community. Learn more about FTA for all Iowa students →
Online High School in Des Moines, Grades 9 to 12
Most Des Moines families who search for online school are looking for high school. Forest Trail Academy’s online high school program for grades 9 through 12 carries the full graduation-requirement sequence, Advanced Placement courses, and NCAA-approved core courses for student athletes. Enrollment is open year-round, so a student can start any week rather than waiting for a semester.
Students in Des Moines who are behind on credits can use online credit recovery to make up individual courses without repeating a year. Families moving mid-year can follow the sequence on our switch schools mid-year page. Tuition runs $3,069 to $4,269 per year depending on grade level, with monthly payment plans from $236 for elementary, $286 for middle school, and $336 for high school, plus a one-time $225 registration fee. See the tuition page for the full breakdown.
Programs Available to Des Moines Families
All Forest Trail Academy programs are fully online, self-paced, and open for enrollment year-round.
