Average
#574 of 1,280 schools in IA
Top 45% in state
Walnut Hills Elementary School
Elementary School · Waukee Comm School District
4240 156th St, Urbandale, IA 50323
Enrollment
590
Student-Teacher
16.4:1
Score
6.6
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
590
Student-Teacher
16.4:1
Score
6.6
Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Urbandale
#5 of 7
public schools
Iowa elementary schools
#339 of 662
In district
#3 of 17
Waukee Comm School District
Equity
9.1 / 10
Exceptional
About Walnut Hills Elementary School
Walnut Hills Elementary School serves 590 students in kindergarten through fifth grade in Urbandale, Iowa's affluent 50323 zip code. With a student-teacher ratio of 16.4:1 and 36 full-time equivalent teachers, the school provides strong individualized attention for its elementary learners. The school demonstrates exceptional academic performance, earning a 7.7 out of 10 MySchoolScout rating and ranking #115 out of 1,288 Iowa elementary schools, placing it in the 91st percentile statewide.
Students consistently excel in core subjects, with 91% achieving proficiency or above in mathematics and 86% meeting or exceeding standards in English Language Arts and reading across all grade levels. This outstanding achievement reflects both the school's effective instruction and the strong educational foundation provided by the surrounding community. Located at 4240 156th Street, Walnut Hills Elementary sits in a highly educated and economically stable neighborhood where 70% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher and the median household income reaches $168,329.
The area maintains a remarkably low poverty rate of just 2.9%, with median home values of $398,900. This large suburban setting in Dallas County provides families with an established, family-oriented community that strongly values educational excellence.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Walnut Hills Elementary School — Students at Walnut Hills Elementary School score 88% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 87%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
6.9%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)
Based on 13 test records from IA state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.6/10.
How Walnut Hills Elementary School Compares
See how Walnut Hills Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 92% (2019) to 91% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 89% (2019) to 86% (2022).
Location
4240 156th St, Urbandale, IA 50323
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Walnut Hills Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Webster Elementary School (rated 6.9/10, 2.0 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Maple Grove Elementary School (rated 6.4/10, 3.3 miles away, in nearby West Des Moines), with a very similar rating. Additionally, South Prairie Elementary (rated 6.4/10, 3.8 miles away, in nearby Grimes), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Urbandale, see our Urbandale schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 5.0 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Shuler Elementary School Clive | 0.9 mi | 5.9 |
| Radiant Elementary School Urbandale | 1.4 mi | 5.7 |
| Grant Ragan Elementary School Waukee | 1.7 mi | 4.9 |
| Eason Elementary School Waukee | 2.2 mi | 4.5 |
| Webster Elementary School Urbandale | 2.0 mi | 6.9 |
| Prairieview School Waukee | 2.8 mi | 5.5 |
| DC-G Oak View Grimes | 2.9 mi | 5.7 |
| Waukee High School Waukee | 2.9 mi | 5.5 |
| Waukee Middle School Waukee | 2.9 mi | 7.1 |
| Maple Grove Elementary School West Des Moines | 3.3 mi | 6.4 |
| Northwest High School Waukee | 2.8 mi | 7.2 |
| Dallas Center-Grimes High School Grimes | 3.7 mi | 5.4 |
| Vince Meyer Early Learning Center Waukee | 3.1 mi | 6.0 |
| South Middle School Waukee | 3.8 mi | 4.7 |
| South Prairie Elementary Grimes | 3.8 mi | 6.4 |
| Waukee Elementary School Waukee | 3.5 mi | 6.2 |
| ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI SCHOOL West Des Moines | 4.1 mi | 4.3 |
| Timberline School Waukee | 4.1 mi | 6.3 |
| Brookview Elementary School West Des Moines | 4.6 mi | 6.0 |
| Heritage Elementary Grimes | 5.0 mi | 3.6 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 50323 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$173,659
Median Home Value
$456,600
Median Rent
$1,479/mo
Population
17,065
College Educated
67.1%
Homeownership
88.3%
Avg Commute
19.6 min
Poverty Rate
2.7%
Median Age
36.5
Community Profile
The community surrounding Walnut Hills Elementary School has a median household income of $173,659. It is a well-educated community where 67% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $456,600, with a median rent of $1,479/month. The local poverty rate of 2.7% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| Carver Elementary Des Moines, IA | 6.6 |
| Cunningham School Waterloo, IA | 6.6 |
| Orchard Hill Elementary School Cedar Falls, IA | 6.6 |
| Woodland Hills Elementary School West Des Moines, IA | 6.6 |
| Alburnett Elementary School Alburnett, IA | 6.5 |
| Anderson Elementary School Bondurant, IA | 6.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Walnut Hills Elementary School
What grades does Walnut Hills Elementary School serve?
Walnut Hills Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Walnut Hills Elementary School?
Walnut Hills Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 590 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Walnut Hills Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Walnut Hills Elementary School is 16.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Walnut Hills Elementary School rank in IA?
Walnut Hills Elementary School is ranked #574 out of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Walnut Hills Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Walnut Hills Elementary School has a composite rating of 6.6 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Walnut Hills Elementary School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Walnut Hills Elementary School has 93.2% math proficiency and 88.8% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Walnut Hills Elementary School a charter school?
No, Walnut Hills Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Walnut Hills Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Walnut Hills Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Walnut Hills Elementary School?
6.9% of students at Walnut Hills 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.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- Elevated (726/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Urbandale). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 590
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 36
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 6.9%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Dallas County
- Phone
- (515) 987-3585
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Waukee Comm School District- District Enrollment
- 13,600
- Schools in District
- 18
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $11,927
- District Rank
- #3 of 17
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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