Dowling Catholic High School is a Catholic secondary school in West Des Moines, Iowa, within the Diocese of Des Moines.
As of the 2013–14 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,431 students and 94.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 15.1:1. The school's enrollment was 81.2% White, 4.1% Black, 10.2% Hispanic, 4.4% Asian and 0.1% American Indian / Alaska Native.
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History
It was created in 1972 by the merger of St. Joseph Academy for girls (established in 1884) and Dowling High School for boys (established in 1918 as the Des Moines College boarding school for boys). It was named after Austin Dowling, first bishop of the Diocese of Des Moines and second archbishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul.
Controversies
Sexual exploitation
A former teacher plead guilty to sexual exploitation of a student on school grounds.
Hiring and LGBTQ+ policies
Protests and student walkouts occurred after employment decisions tied to a candidate's sexual orientation did not align with diocesan teachings, drawing regional criticism and debate over inclusion. Student-led pushes for LGBTQ+ visibility and transgender rights sparked internal tension and prompted the Diocese of Des Moines to publicly re-emphasize traditional Catholic teachings on gender identity.
Academics
During the 2003–04 school year, Dowling Catholic High School was recognized with the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education, the highest award an American school can receive.
Tuition
Total tuition cost for 2018-2019 is $11,176 plus fees. Tuition for students belonging to a Catholic Parish is $7,986 plus fees. Tuition for international students is $12,076 plus fees.
Extracurricular activities
Baseball
The Maroons hold the record for most team home runs during a championship game with 5 in 2001.
Boys' basketball
Bobby Hansen who later played at the University of Iowa and nine years in the NBA, was on the 1979 state championship team.
Cross country
2007 Girls' Heartland Regional Champions
Debate
Dowling is the home of the Dowling Catholic Paradigm, one of the largest debate tournaments held by a school. In 2015, Dowling Catholic won 2 state titles for Congressional Debate, 1 for Public Forum debate, and 1 for Lincoln Douglas Debate.
Football
Home games are played at the 9,500 seat Valley Stadium in West Des Moines, Williams Stadium, or at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. In 2019, they became the first school in Iowa history to win seven straight Class 4A state championships.
Dowling made the playoffs 17 years in a row beginning in 1985 and ending in 2002 when Dowling missed the playoffs. The school won 36 consecutive games in the 1967 through 1971 graduating class seasons. Dowling won 64 consecutive Metro conference games, a streak lasting from 1968 to 1977. In addition to the 64 metro games Dowling also won 57 consecutive conference games lasting from 1993 to 2002. WDM, Valley is Dowling's primary rival since 1968 when the schools joined the Des Moines Metro Conference.
Swimming
The boys' swimming team won four championships, consecutively from 2001 to 2003.
The girls' swim team won their first state title during the 2019 season and second and third in 2024 and 2025
Wrestling
Dowling has won State Dual Wrestling Championships in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, and 1992
Dowling has won the State Traditional Wrestling Championship in 1975, 1978, 1984, 1988, 1990, and 1991
Dowling has the state record for most consecutive dual wins with 136 set from January 1986 to January 1992
Notable alumni
Gene Lalley (1940), NBA player
Jerry Groom (1947), NFL Pro Bowl offensive lineman
Fred L. Turner (1951), former CEO of McDonald's
Chuck Muelhaupt (1953), NFL offensive lineman
Bob Harlan (1954), former president of the Green Bay Packers
George Kinley (1955), Iowa state legislator
Tom Harkin (1957), United States Senator (Iowa)
Tony Bisignano (1970), member of the Iowa Senate
Bobby Hansen (1979), NBA player
Claire Celsi (1984), Iowa State Senator
Matt McCoy (1984), Iowa State Senator
Scott Pose (1985), MLB outfielder
Chris Broussard (1986 - transferred), sports analyst for FS1
Shawn Crahan (1987), Slipknot percussionist
Mike Mahoney (1990), MLB catcher
Ross Verba (1991), NFL offensive lineman
Jennie Baranczyk (2000), head women's basketball coach for the Oklahoma Sooners
Tyson Smith (2000), NFL linebacker
Matt Macri (2001), MLB third baseman