Top Rankings
West Des Moines Comm School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Iowa for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 3 public high schools serving 3,020 students in West Des Moines Comm School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in Iowa.
Public High Schools in West Des Moines Comm School District have an average math proficiency score of 61% (versus the Iowa public high school average of 60%), and reading proficiency score of 73% (versus the 71% statewide average).
Public High School in West Des Moines Comm School District have a Graduation Rate of 93%, which is more than the Iowa average of 88%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Valley High School, with 96% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Iowa or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 43% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Iowa public high school average of 27% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (IA)
# Schools
14 Schools
365 Schools
# Students
9,047 Students
171,507 Students
# Teachers
619 Teachers
11,091 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
West Des Moines Comm School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 325 school districts in Iowa (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 93% has decreased from 94% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#184 out of 327 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
66%
64%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
71%
70%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
61%
63%
Graduation Rate
93%
90%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.64
0.45
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
6%
2%
% Hispanic
20%
13%
% Black
12%
6%
% White
55%
73%
% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
% Two or more races
7%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $16,892 is higher than the state median of $16,468. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $15,953 is less than the state median of $16,042. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$153 MM
$8,262 MM
Spending
$144 MM
$8,048 MM
Revenue / Student
$16,892
$16,468
Spending / Student
$15,953
$16,042
Best West Des Moines Comm School District Public High Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Valley High School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
3650 Woodland Ave
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 633-4000
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 633-4000
Grades: 10-12
| 2,111 students
Rank: #22.
Valley Southwoods
(Math: 57% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
625 S 35th St
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-4500
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-4500
Grades: 9
| 744 students
Rank: #33.
Walnut Creek Campus
Alternative School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1020 8th Street
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-6480
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-6480
Grades: 9-12
| 165 students
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