Simpson College in West Des Moines is a branch campus of Simpson College of Indianola, Iowa, founded in 1860 by the Iowa United Methodist Church. The campus in West Des Moines is located just off of I-80/I-235 in an office building. Simpson WDM is primarily a two-year adult education center offering accelerated evening courses at affordable prices. Simpson has eight degree programs, its most popular courses of study being teaching and criminal justice. Online courses are also available.
Ames Christian School is a full preschool and elementary school housed in one clean, modern building. The preschool is open to children 2 to 4 years of age and the preschool was voted best in Storey County in 2007. The elementary school teaches children from kindergarten through 6th grad and offers a library, lunchroom, classrooms, a computer lab, a science lab and a chapel.