Needs Improvement
#1274 of 1,280 schools in IA
Virtual Campus
High School · Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Des Moines, IA
A Des Moines Independent Comm School District high school where students score 22 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1800 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309
- Math 26% vs IA 67% (2025)
- Reading 50% vs IA 74% (2025)
- 52.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Virtual Campus score 38% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 60%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 22 points since 2020, to 38% in 2025, across a 6-year record (2020–2025).
Show all 4 years by subject
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 34% (multi-year average, 2020-2025) · reading/ELA 60% (multi-year average, 2020-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 13 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
64.1%
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 Virtual Campus 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 72Very Walkable
- Transit 49Some Transit
- Bike 55Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,846/100K
Powered by
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
$57,974
Median home value
$286,900
Median rent
$1,166/mo
College educated
66.8%
Homeownership
11.7%
Poverty rate
17.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 50309; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruby Van MeterEnrollment path unverified | 2.5 | K–12 | 0.8 mi | 112 | Compare → |
| Lincoln High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 2.5 | 9–12 | 1.7 mi | 2,441 | Compare → |
| Roosevelt High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.1 | 9–12 | 2.0 mi | 2,039 | Compare → |
| East High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 2.4 | 9–12 | 2.3 mi | 2,014 | 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.
Des Moines Independent Comm School District
- Schools in district
- 59
- Rank in district
- #59 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
Virtual Campus is listed in Des Moines Independent Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Virtual Campus
Virtual Campus is a public high school in Des Moines, IA, part of Des Moines Independent Comm School District, serving approximately 387 students in grades 9th-12th with a 19.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 2.1 out of 10 and ranks #1,274 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 34% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2020-2025) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2020-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Virtual Campus
What grades does Virtual Campus serve?
Virtual Campus serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Virtual Campus?
Virtual Campus has an enrollment of approximately 387 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Virtual Campus?
The student-teacher ratio at Virtual Campus is 19.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Virtual Campus rank in IA?
Virtual Campus ranks #1,274 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Virtual Campus's MySchoolScout rating?
Virtual Campus has a current MySchoolScout rating of 2.1 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 Virtual Campus?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Virtual Campus has 34% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2020-2025) and 60% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2020-2025).
Is Virtual Campus a charter school?
No, Virtual Campus is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Virtual Campus a Title I school?
No, Virtual Campus is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Virtual Campus?
64.1% of students at Virtual Campus 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
- 387
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 19.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 20
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Polk County
- Phone
- (515) 242-8502
- 4-Year Graduation
- 52.0%
- Area population (ZIP 50309)
- 9,199
- Area median age
- 28.9
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 50309; 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; directory SY 2023–24
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