Below Average
#1016 of 1,280 schools in IA
Hillside Elementary School
Elementary School · West Des Moines Comm School District · West Des Moines, IA
A West Des Moines Comm School District elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 6th.
713 8th St, West Des Moines, IA 50265
- Math 71% vs IA 74% (2025)
- Reading 64% vs IA 73% (2025)
- 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Hillside Elementary School score 67% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 70%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 8 points since 2020, reaching 67% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 72% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 67% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 37 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
46.1%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 Hillside Elementary 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 55Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 52Bikeable
- 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
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airazi AcademyPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–3 | 0.5 mi | 23 | Compare → |
| Sacred Heart SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.2private | K–8 | 0.7 mi | 481 | Compare → |
| Hanawalt ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 4.6 | K–5 | 1.0 mi | 317 | Compare → |
| Fairmeadows Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.5 | PK–6 | 1.2 mi | 545 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
West Des Moines Comm School District
- Schools in district
- 14
- Rank in district
- #9 of 13
- District spending per student
- $14,074NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 9.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Hillside Elementary School is listed in West Des Moines Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Hillside Elementary School
Hillside Elementary School is a public elementary school in West Des Moines, IA, part of West Des Moines Comm School District, serving approximately 581 students in grades Pre-K-6th with a 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.9 out of 10 and ranks #1,016 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 67% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Hillside Elementary School
What grades does Hillside Elementary School serve?
Hillside Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Hillside Elementary School?
Hillside Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 581 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hillside Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Hillside Elementary School is 14.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Hillside Elementary School rank in IA?
Hillside Elementary School ranks #1,016 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Hillside Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Hillside Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.9 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 Hillside Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Hillside Elementary School has 72% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 67% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Hillside Elementary School a charter school?
No, Hillside Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Hillside Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Hillside Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Hillside Elementary School?
46.1% of students at Hillside Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 581
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 40
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Polk County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 22.0%
- Phone
- (515) 633-6200
- Area population (ZIP 50265)
- 33,061
- Area average commute
- 18.2 min
- Area median age
- 38.1
Official sources & links
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 Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- 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.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · 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 the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- 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.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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