Average
#131 of 157 private schools in IA
Dowling Catholic High School
High School · West Des Moines, IA
A private high school in West Des Moines, IA serving grades 9th – 12th.
1400 BUFFALO RD, West Des Moines, IA 50265
- Math 80% vs IA 67% (2025)
- Reading 87% vs IA 74% (2025)
- 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
PreliminaryWhat this rating measures
This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in IA.
Data not available
View data sources
Score basis: Private school model
Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data
Components scored: 4 of 5
Ranking pool: Private schools in IA
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Dowling Catholic High School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 54Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 62Bikeable
- City Safety: High1,882/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (West Des Moines), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$84,588
Median home value
$267,600
Median rent
$1,065/mo
College educated
48.5%
Homeownership
66%
Poverty rate
7.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 50265; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Student demographicsNCES Private School Universe Survey (PSS) (SY 2021–22)
Source: NCES Private School Universe Survey (PSS)
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walnut Creek CampusEnrollment path unverified | 3.7 | 9–12 | 0.8 mi | 165 | Compare → |
| Valley High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.5 | 10–12 | 1.7 mi | 2,111 | Compare → |
| Roosevelt High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.1 | 9–12 | 2.3 mi | 2,039 | Compare → |
| Urbandale High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.8 | 9–12 | 2.9 mi | 1,311 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Dowling Catholic High School is listed in West Des Moines, IA; verify the current enrollment path directly.
About Dowling Catholic High School
Dowling Catholic High School is a private high school in West Des Moines, IA, serving approximately 1,389 students in grades 9th-12th with a 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.2 out of 10 and ranks #131 of 157 private schools in IA. State assessment records show 80% math proficiency (2025 ISASP) and 87% reading/ELA proficiency (2025 ISASP).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Dowling Catholic High School
What grades does Dowling Catholic High School serve?
Dowling Catholic High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Dowling Catholic High School?
Dowling Catholic High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,389 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Dowling Catholic High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Dowling Catholic High School is 15.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.
How does Dowling Catholic High School rank in IA?
Dowling Catholic High School ranks #131 of 157 private schools in IA.
What is Dowling Catholic High School's MySchoolScout rating?
Dowling Catholic High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.2 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Dowling Catholic High School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Dowling Catholic High School has 80% math proficiency (2025 ISASP) and 87% reading/ELA proficiency (2025 ISASP).
Is Dowling Catholic High School a private school?
Yes, Dowling Catholic High School is a private coeducational school with a Roman Catholic affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.
Is Dowling Catholic High School a religious school?
Dowling Catholic High School has a Roman Catholic religious affiliation.
School factsNCES Private School Universe Survey (PSS) (SY 2021–22)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 1,389
- Gender Split
- 52% M / 48% F
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 90
- Type
- private
- Coed Status
- coed
- Affiliation
- Roman Catholic
- School Day
- 7 hours
- Days Per Year
- 180 days
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Polk County
- Phone
- (515) 222-1015
- Area population (ZIP 50265)
- 33,061
- Area average commute
- 18.2 min
- Area median age
- 38.1
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Private School Universe Survey (PSS) · SY 2021–22 · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 50265; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments 2025 ISASP; directory SY 2021–22
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