Needs Improvement
#1170 of 1,280 schools in IA
Western Hills Elementary School
Elementary School · West Des Moines Comm School District · West Des Moines, IA
A West Des Moines Comm School District elementary school where students score 14 points below what's typical for similar communities.
600 39th St, West Des Moines, IA 50265
- Math 67% vs IA 74% (2025)
- Reading 65% vs IA 73% (2025)
- 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Western Hills Elementary School score 66% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 80%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 7 points since 2020, reaching 66% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 74% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 71% (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 37 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
26.4%
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 Western Hills Elementary School 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 32Car-Dependent
- Bike 32Somewhat 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shepherds Flock Early Learning CenterPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–K | 0.4 mi | 21 | Compare → |
| Learning Resource CenterEnrollment path unverified | Not rated | PK | 0.8 mi | 23 | Compare → |
| Crossroads Park Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.5 | K–6 | 1.0 mi | 539 | Compare → |
| Montessori Children's HousePrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–2 | 1.1 mi | 25 | 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.
West Des Moines Comm School District
- Schools in district
- 14
- Rank in district
- #13 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
Western Hills Elementary School is listed in West Des Moines Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Western Hills Elementary School
Western Hills Elementary School is a public elementary school in West Des Moines, IA, part of West Des Moines Comm School District, serving approximately 560 students in grades Pre-K-6th with a 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.7 out of 10 and ranks #1,170 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Western Hills Elementary School
What grades does Western Hills Elementary School serve?
Western Hills Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Western Hills Elementary School?
Western Hills Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 560 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Western Hills Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Western Hills Elementary School is 14.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Western Hills Elementary School rank in IA?
Western Hills Elementary School ranks #1,170 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Western Hills Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Western Hills Elementary School 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 Western Hills Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Western Hills Elementary School has 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Western Hills Elementary School a charter school?
No, Western Hills Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Western Hills Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Western Hills Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Western Hills Elementary School?
26.4% of students at Western 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 560
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 38
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Polk County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 19.3%
- Phone
- (515) 633-5900
- 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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