AVENUE SCHOLARS DES MOINES
WE BELIEVE IN YOUR FUTURE.
WHO WE ARE
We believe that the future of our community starts with our students. It starts by believing in them, advocating for them, and relentlessly supporting them as they carve out their career path. That's why we've created an organization that's bridging the gap between education and business, guaranteeing careers for our youth of hope and need through supportive relationships, individualized coaching, education, and training.
What We Do
Avenue Scholars provides comprehensive, individualized support services to help eligible students in Des Moines area high schools identify, prepare for, and ultimately enter financially sustaining, high-demand careers requiring an associate degree or less. Programming begins in the student’s junior year of high school and continues uninterrupted through postsecondary training and for six months following career entry. We take a holistic approach to career preparation to ensure our students are set up for success.
To maximize student employment opportunities and address area workforce needs, the program supports students pursuing careers in five high-demand industry sectors:
Skilled Trades
& Manufacturing
Information Technology
Health Sciences
Business
Automotive & Transportation
Our Schools
Beginning with the 2022–2023 school year, Avenue Scholars launched its comprehensive program in Central Iowa, starting with East and Roosevelt High Schools in the Des Moines Public Schools district. The program expanded to all five Des Moines high schools in 2024.
East High School
North High School
Hoover High School
Roosevelt High School
Lincoln High School
Central Campus
Scholars at a Glance
2024 - 2025 Avenue Scholars Student Enrollment
Meet Our Scholars
Biye B.
"I would not be the person I am today without the help of Avenue Scholars. Not only did the program help me find a career that I'm passionate about, but they've also helped me learn how to be a better person academically and personally."
Mick
"Avenue Scholars has provided a greater door to opportunity. I'm enrolled in the Construction Management program at Iowa Western and with the support of my Avenue Scholars coach, I am enjoying it, and doing well in my classes."
Ayoko D.
"Avenue Scholars guided me in the right direction and made sure that I was on the right path. To me, Avenue Scholars is a "home for the lost." A place where it's okay to be lost, cry, or to be feeling confused. However, giving up and feeling hopeless and defeated are not in the Avenue Scholars dictionary. They are hope, way makers and providers."
