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Excellent

#177 of 1,280 schools in IA

Top 14% 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

8.2

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Iowa schools

#177 of 1,280

In Urbandale

#2 of 7

public schools

In district

#3 of 17

Waukee Comm School District

Equity

9.4 / 10

Excellent

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Walnut Hills Elementary School

8.2/10

Elementary School in Urbandale · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Shuler Elementary School

7.8/10

0.9 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Radiant Elementary School

7.8/10

1.4 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Walnut Hills Elementary School

Walnut Hills Elementary School is a public elementary school in Urbandale, IA, part of Waukee Comm School District. Walnut Hills Elementary School serves approximately 590 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio. Walnut Hills Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 out of 10 and ranks #177 of 1,280 schools in IA.

Structured state assessment records for Walnut Hills Elementary School show 92% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 88% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.1 pts above district
  • This school 8.2 · Excellent
  • District avg 7.1
  • IA avg 6.5

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.9Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.01 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics8.9Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency95% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency92.3% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg+18.3 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+23.2 pts
Overall Proficiency94% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)91% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected+2.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile83th
Resources & Environment5.5Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio16.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,927
Chronic Absenteeism7.3%

Walnut Hills Elementary School — Students at Walnut Hills Elementary School score 94% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 91%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

6.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 91.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
74.6% (2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency 88.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
72.3% (2025 ISASP)

Based on 35 test records from IA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
91%
ELA
89%
2010
Math
93%
ELA
94%
2011
Math
91%
ELA
88%
2012
Math
91%
ELA
87%
2013
Math
94%
ELA
87%
2014
Math
90%
ELA
88%
2015
Math
88%
ELA
86%
2016
Math
90%
ELA
88%
2017
Math
91%
ELA
89%
2018
Math
92%
ELA
89%
2019
Math
92%
ELA
89%
2020*
Math
91%
ELA
81%
2021*
Math
91%
ELA
81%
2022
Math
91%
ELA
86%
2025
Math
95%
ELA
92.3%

* 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: 8.9/10.

How Walnut Hills Elementary School Compares

See how Walnut Hills Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.2/10
86th percentile in IA
Academic
8.9/10
Excellent
Growth
8.9/10
Excellent
Environment
5.5/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
7%
Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
36 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
7.3%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

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. Waukee Elementary School (rated 8.4/10, 3.5 miles away, in nearby Waukee), with a very similar rating. Another option is South Prairie Elementary (rated 8.2/10, 3.8 miles away, in nearby Grimes), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Shuler Elementary School (rated 7.8/10, 0.9 miles away, in nearby Clive), with a comparable 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 7.8
Radiant Elementary School Urbandale 1.4 mi 7.8
Grant Ragan Elementary School Waukee 1.7 mi 4.9
Eason Elementary School Waukee 2.2 mi 5.8
Webster Elementary School Urbandale 2.0 mi 7.4
Prairieview School Waukee 2.8 mi 4.9
DC-G Oak View Grimes 2.9 mi 7.6
Waukee High School Waukee 2.9 mi 4.6
Waukee Middle School Waukee 2.9 mi 8.5
Maple Grove Elementary School West Des Moines 3.3 mi 7.5
Northwest High School Waukee 2.8 mi 5.5
Dallas Center-Grimes High School Grimes 3.7 mi 5.2
Vince Meyer Early Learning Center Waukee 3.1 mi 3.4
South Middle School Waukee 3.8 mi 6.1
South Prairie Elementary Grimes 3.8 mi 8.2
Waukee Elementary School Waukee 3.5 mi 8.4
ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI SCHOOL West Des Moines 4.1 mi 4.3
Timberline School Waukee 4.1 mi 4.3
Brookview Elementary School West Des Moines 4.6 mi 7.4
Heritage Elementary Grimes 5.0 mi 3.3

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

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Ballard West Elementary Slater, IA 8.2
Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Elementary School Garner, IA 8.2
Gilbert Elementary School Gilbert, IA 8.2
Herbert Hoover Elementary School Iowa City, IA 8.2
North Polk West Elementary School Polk City, IA 8.2
Roundy Elementary School Columbus Junction, IA 8.2

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 ranks #177 of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is Walnut Hills Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Walnut Hills Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 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 Walnut Hills Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Walnut Hills Elementary School has 92% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 88% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
8 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
33 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

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
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
7.3%

District

Waukee Comm School District
District Enrollment
13,600
Schools in District
18
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,927
District Rank
#3 of 17

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