Average
#858 of 1,280 schools in IA
Valley Southwoods
School · West Des Moines Comm School District · West Des Moines, IA
A West Des Moines Comm School District school serving grades 9th – 9th.
625 S 35th St, West Des Moines, IA 50265
- Math 71% vs IA 67% (2025)
- Reading 80% vs IA 77% (2025)
- 1/5 advanced STEM subjects
Academics
Full Profile · 4/3 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Valley Southwoods score 76% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 78%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
↑ ImprovingProficiency has improved 7 points since 2020, reaching 76% in 2025, across a 14-year record (2012–2025).
Show all 6 years by subject
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 63% (multi-year average, 2020-2025) · reading/ELA 59% (multi-year average, 2012-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 10 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
31%
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 Valley Southwoods 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 10Car-Dependent
- Bike 26Somewhat Bikeable
- 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
2 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walnut Creek CampusEnrollment path unverified | 3.7 | 9–12 | 2.7 mi | 165 | Compare → |
| Dowling Catholic High SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.2private | 9–12 | 2.9 mi | 1,389 | 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.
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.
West Des Moines Comm School District
- Schools in district
- 14
- Rank in district
- #7 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
Valley Southwoods is listed in West Des Moines Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Valley Southwoods
Valley Southwoods is a public school in West Des Moines, IA, part of West Des Moines Comm School District, serving approximately 744 students in grades 9th-9th with a 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 out of 10 and ranks #858 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2020-2025) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Valley Southwoods
What grades does Valley Southwoods serve?
Valley Southwoods serves students in grades 9th through 9th.
How many students attend Valley Southwoods?
Valley Southwoods has an enrollment of approximately 744 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Valley Southwoods?
The student-teacher ratio at Valley Southwoods is 15.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Valley Southwoods rank in IA?
Valley Southwoods ranks #858 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Valley Southwoods's MySchoolScout rating?
Valley Southwoods has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 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 Valley Southwoods?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Valley Southwoods has 63% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2020-2025) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2025).
Is Valley Southwoods a charter school?
No, Valley Southwoods is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Valley Southwoods a Title I school?
No, Valley Southwoods is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Valley Southwoods?
31.0% of students at Valley Southwoods 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 – 9th
- Enrollment
- 744
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 48
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Polk County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 17.1%
- Phone
- (515) 633-4500
- 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, 2020-2025, multi-year average, 2012-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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