Very Good
#203 of 1,280 schools in IA
Top 16% in state
West Senior High School
High School · Iowa City Comm School District
2901 Melrose Ave, Iowa City, IA 52246
Enrollment
1,472
Student-Teacher
15.7:1
Score
7.7
Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,472
Student-Teacher
15.7:1
Score
7.7
Grades
9th – 12th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Iowa City
#2 of 16
public schools
Iowa high schools
#27 of 334
In district
#4 of 29
Iowa City Comm School District
Academic performance
7.4 / 10
Strong
About West Senior High School
West Senior High School serves 1,472 students in grades 9-12 in Iowa City, with a student-teacher ratio of 15.7:1 across 94 full-time equivalent teachers. The school ranks 576th out of 1,288 high schools statewide, placing it in the 55th percentile among Iowa schools with a MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 out of 10. Academically, West Senior High demonstrates solid performance with 74% of students achieving proficiency or above in English Language Arts and 71% meeting or exceeding standards in mathematics.
These results reflect the school's commitment to student development as it works to strengthen academic outcomes across all grade levels. The school is situated in a diverse community where 65% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, creating an education-focused environment despite economic challenges reflected in the area's 28% poverty rate. The neighborhood shows a wide range of family backgrounds, with median household incomes of $51,627 and median home values of $305,400.
Located at 2901 Melrose Avenue, West Senior High School operates in Iowa City's small city setting, serving a ZIP code population of over 22,000 residents. The school benefits from being part of a college town atmosphere that values educational achievement and community engagement.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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West Senior High School — Students at West Senior High School score 72% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 70%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
38%
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 West Senior High School Compares
See how West Senior High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has remained stable from 73% (2019) to 71% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 71% (2019) to 74% (2022).
Location
2901 Melrose Ave, Iowa City, IA 52246
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering West Senior High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Horace Mann Elementary School (rated 8.3/10, 3.0 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Another option is MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF IOWA CITY (rated 7.4/10, 2.8 miles away, in nearby Coralville), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Wickham Elementary (rated 7.3/10, 3.6 miles away, in nearby Coralville), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Iowa City, see our Iowa City schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 3.9 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Weber Elementary Iowa City | 1.0 mi | 4.6 |
| Ernest Horn Elementary School Iowa City | 1.0 mi | 6.7 |
| Central Elementary School Coralville | 1.6 mi | 6.1 |
| Norman Borlaug Elementary School Coralville | 1.5 mi | 5.5 |
| Northwest Junior High School Coralville | 2.0 mi | 5.6 |
| Lincoln Elementary School Iowa City | 1.7 mi | 4.7 |
| Kirkwood Elementary School Coralville | 2.2 mi | 6.6 |
| HILLSIDE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Coralville | 2.5 mi | — |
| MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF IOWA CITY Coralville | 2.8 mi | 7.4 |
| PURPLE BLOOM SCHOOL LLC Coralville | 3.5 mi | — |
| Wickham Elementary Coralville | 3.6 mi | 7.3 |
| Horace Mann Elementary School Iowa City | 3.0 mi | 8.3 |
| Bohumil Shimek Elementary School Iowa City | 3.3 mi | 5.9 |
| FAITH ACADEMY Iowa City | 3.3 mi | 7.2 |
| Longfellow Elementary School Iowa City | 3.2 mi | 4.6 |
| Mark Twain Elementary Iowa City | 3.5 mi | 7.2 |
| North Central Junior High School North Liberty | 4.9 mi | 6.9 |
| James Van Allen Elementary School North Liberty | 5.1 mi | 4.5 |
| Alexander Elementary Iowa City | 4.2 mi | 7.0 |
| Iowa City High School Iowa City | 3.9 mi | 6.7 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 52246 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$55,088
Median Home Value
$327,100
Median Rent
$1,049/mo
Population
21,944
College Educated
66.7%
Homeownership
43.2%
Avg Commute
19.9 min
Poverty Rate
25.8%
Median Age
28.7
Community Profile
The community surrounding West Senior High School has a median household income of $55,088. 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 $327,100, with a median rent of $1,049/month. The area has a poverty rate of 25.8%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. 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 |
|---|---|
| Liberty High School North Liberty, IA | 7.8 |
| Cedar Falls High School Cedar Falls, IA | 7.2 |
| Northwest High School Waukee, IA | 7.2 |
| Urbandale High School Urbandale, IA | 7.2 |
| West High School Waterloo, IA | 7.0 |
| Ankeny Centennial High School Ankeny, IA | 6.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about West Senior High School
What grades does West Senior High School serve?
West Senior High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend West Senior High School?
West Senior High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,472 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Senior High School?
The student-teacher ratio at West Senior High School is 15.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does West Senior High School rank in IA?
West Senior High School is ranked #203 out of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is West Senior High School's MySchoolScout rating?
West Senior High School has a composite rating of 7.7 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 West Senior High School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, West Senior High School has 72.9% math proficiency and 76.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is West Senior High School a charter school?
No, West Senior High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is West Senior High School a Title I school?
No, West Senior High School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for West Senior High School?
38.0% of students at West Senior High 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.
Neighborhood Context
- Walk Score
- 16 Car-Dependent
- Transit Score
- 32 Some Transit
- Bike Score
- 48 Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety
- High (2,000/100K)
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Iowa City). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 1,472
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 94
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 38.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Johnson County
- Phone
- (319) 688-1050
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
Iowa City Comm School District- District Enrollment
- 14,776
- Schools in District
- 29
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $14,391
- District Rank
- #4 of 29
Other Schools in This District
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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