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Below Average

#1112 of 1,280 schools in IA

Hoover High School

High School · Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Des Moines, IA

A Des Moines Independent Comm School District high school where students score 10 points below what's typical for similar communities.

4800 Aurora Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310

  • Math 43% vs IA 67% (2025)
  • Reading 51% vs IA 74% (2025)
  • 78.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress5.4Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.92 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics2.5Needs Improvement25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency42.5% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency50.9% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg-24 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-26.2 pts
Overall Proficiency47% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)57% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected-10.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile8th
College Readiness6.2Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate78%
AP Participation9.4%
IB ProgramYes
Resources & Environment1.7Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio22.5:1
District spending per student$15,518
Chronic Absenteeism60.1%

Students at Hoover High School score 47% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 57%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 ISASP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.

Math Proficiency43%(2025 ISASP)
School
State
67%(2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency51%(2025 ISASP)
School
State
74%(2025 ISASP)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency is down 10 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 47% recently.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
55%
ELA
58%
2010
Math
50%
ELA
53%
2011
Math
62%
ELA
61%
2012
Math
56%
ELA
60%
2013
Math
61%
ELA
52%
2014
Math
66%
ELA
54%
2015
Math
63%
ELA
58%
2016
Math
56%
ELA
55%
2017
Math
57%
ELA
51%
2018
Math
39%
ELA
42%
2019
Math
39%
ELA
42%
2020*
Math
46%
ELA
55%
2021*
Math
46%
ELA
55%
2022
Math
42%
ELA
55%
2025
Math
43%
ELA
51%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 51% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 53% (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 35 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

69.7%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Hoover 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 36Car-Dependent
  • Transit 36Some Transit
  • Bike 38Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High3,846/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (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

$74,473

Median home value

$213,800

Median rent

$1,043/mo

College educated

36.4%

Homeownership

68.3%

Poverty rate

11.6%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 50310; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs2AP courses offeredIB Programme
9.4% participation·State avg: 1.7 AP courses·31 IB enrolled·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics19sports offered
10 boys'·9 girls'·19 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses4of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Urbandale High SchoolEnrollment path unverified5.89–121.6 mi1,311Compare →
Johnston Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified5.18–92.9 mi1,200Compare →
Roosevelt High SchoolEnrollment path unverified4.19–123.0 mi2,039Compare →
Dowling Catholic High SchoolPrivate · tuition5.2private9–123.4 mi1,389Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Des Moines Independent Comm School District

Schools in district
59
Rank in district
#27 of 59
District spending per student
$15,518NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
21.3%Census SAIPE · 2024

Hoover High School is listed in Des Moines Independent Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Hoover High School

Hoover High School is a public high school in Des Moines, IA, part of Des Moines Independent Comm School District, serving approximately 923 students in grades 9th-12th with a 22.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.2 out of 10 and ranks #1,112 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Hoover High School

What grades does Hoover High School serve?

Hoover High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Hoover High School?

Hoover High School has an enrollment of approximately 923 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Hoover High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Hoover High School is 22.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Hoover High School rank in IA?

Hoover High School ranks #1,112 of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is Hoover High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Hoover High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.2 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 Hoover High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Hoover High School has 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Hoover High School a charter school?

No, Hoover High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Hoover High School a Title I school?

No, Hoover High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Hoover High School?

69.7% of students at Hoover High 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
9th – 12th
Enrollment
923
Student-Teacher Ratio
22.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
41
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Polk County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
60.1%
4-Year Graduation
78.0%
Area population (ZIP 50310)
31,283
Area average commute
19.3 min
Area median age
37.6
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 50310; 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

About our data · How we calculate scores

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