Taking Steps to Improve Agriscience at Central Campus
The letter below, from DMPS Superintendent Ian Roberts and Central Campus director Tascha Brown, was sent to Central Campus families about the future of the agriscience program at Central Campus. They note that interested students will have an opportunity to continue to participate in FFA; declining enrollment means the need to pause the curriculum for the 2025-26 school year so that agriscience can be reimagined and once again be a vibrant offering at Central; and invite people to participate on a steering committee to work on this opportunity.
Dear Central Campus families:
We are proud that Central Campus is one of the nation’s premier career and technical high schools. Its well-earned reputation is due not only to the excellent educational offerings but also to the simple fact that, over the years, it has adapted to the career interests of our students as well as the needs of our community.
For many years, even though we are an urban community, Central Campus has had a vibrant agricultural education program. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. In less than a decade, enrollment in the agriscience program at Central Campus has gone from more than 140 students to just 16 returning for the 2025-26 school year.
Something needs to change in order to once again make this a meaningful offering at Central Campus. This letter is to clarify what will and will not happen during the 2025-26 school year in order to accomplish this goal:
- Central Campus will maintain an FFA chapter during the upcoming 2025-26 school year. Students will enroll in independent study in order to work on projects, earn badges, and participate in FFA competitions and events.
- Central Campus will also maintain the school’s Greenhouse Manager position throughout next year to oversee that facility. This will enable students as well as the Greenhouse Manager the chance to continue existing and begin new projects.
- Central Campus is talking with potential partners, such as the Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens and the City of Des Moines, about additional uses for the greenhouse during the upcoming year and beyond.
- Agriscience classes will not be offered during 2025-26 in order to engage with students, families and the community to develop a program that will result in an increase in enrollment by better meeting the needs and interests of our students, community, and state.
- A steering committee will convene in June 2025 to work on the visioning, stakeholder engagement, and securing of resources for the agriscience program in order to Increase enrollment, improve facility utilization, and better meet community and industry needs. Click here for more information and to be considered for being a part of the committee.
More than 2,300 students are served at Central Campus, with some programs even having a waiting list for enrollment. The status quo cannot be an option when it comes to the school’s agriscience program. The above steps provide a fair, balanced approach to provide students with an interest in agriculture an outlet through FFA while taking the time to make much-needed changes to the agriscience educational offerings.
As an urban school district, Des Moines Public Schools and Central Campus is positioned to offer an agricultural program that is both vibrant and unique. These steps are a commitment to returning with an improved program that is both attractive to our students and a source of pride for our community.
All the best,
Dr. Ian Roberts
Superintendent
Des Moines Public Schools
Tascha Brown
Director
Central Campus