Needs Improvement
#1169 of 1,280 schools in IA
Walnut Creek Campus
High School · West Des Moines Comm School District · West Des Moines, IA
A West Des Moines Comm School District high school where students score 40 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1020 8th Street, West Des Moines, IA 50265
- Math 19% vs IA 67% (2025)
- Reading 33% vs IA 74% (2025)
- 54.5% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Walnut Creek Campus score 26% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 66%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 6 points since 2020, to 26% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 39% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 45% (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 scoreFree/reduced lunch
52.1%
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 Walnut Creek 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 59Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 49Somewhat 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
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dowling Catholic High SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.2private | 9–12 | 0.8 mi | 1,389 | Compare → |
| Roosevelt High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.1 | 9–12 | 1.9 mi | 2,039 | Compare → |
| Valley High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.5 | 10–12 | 2.1 mi | 2,111 | Compare → |
| Valley SouthwoodsEnrollment path unverified | 5.7 | 9 | 2.7 mi | 744 | 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
- #12 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
Walnut Creek Campus is listed in West Des Moines Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Walnut Creek Campus
Walnut Creek Campus is a public high school in West Des Moines, IA, part of West Des Moines Comm School District, serving approximately 165 students in grades 9th-12th with a 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.7 out of 10 and ranks #1,169 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Walnut Creek Campus
What grades does Walnut Creek Campus serve?
Walnut Creek Campus serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Walnut Creek Campus?
Walnut Creek Campus has an enrollment of approximately 165 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Walnut Creek Campus?
The student-teacher ratio at Walnut Creek Campus is 11.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Walnut Creek Campus rank in IA?
Walnut Creek Campus ranks #1,169 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Walnut Creek Campus's MySchoolScout rating?
Walnut Creek Campus has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.7 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 Walnut Creek Campus?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Walnut Creek Campus has 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Walnut Creek Campus a charter school?
No, Walnut Creek Campus is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Walnut Creek Campus a Title I school?
No, Walnut Creek Campus is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Walnut Creek Campus?
52.1% of students at Walnut Creek 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
- 165
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 14
- Type
- alternative
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Polk County
- Phone
- (515) 633-6480
- 4-Year Graduation
- 54.5%
- 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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