Top Rankings
West Des Moines Comm School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Iowa for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 8 public preschools serving 4,165 students in West Des Moines Comm School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in Iowa.
Public Preschools in West Des Moines Comm School District have an average math proficiency score of 73% (versus the Iowa public pre school average of 73%), and reading proficiency score of 67% (versus the 69% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 49% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Iowa public preschool average of 28% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (IA)
# Schools
14 Schools
484 Schools
# Students
9,009 Students
151,361 Students
# Teachers
615 Teachers
11,213 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
West Des Moines Comm School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 325 school districts in Iowa (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 89% has decreased from 93% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#193 out of 327 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
70%
68%
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
71%
70%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
61%
63%
Graduation Rate
89%
87.5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)24.3%
24.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.66
0.46
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
6%
2%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
22%
13%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
12%
7%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% White
53%
72%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
% Two or more races
7%
5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $18,803 is higher than the state median of $18,179. The school district revenue/student has grown by 6% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $21,741 is higher than the state median of $18,122. The school district spending/student has grown by 19% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$169 MM
$9,049 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$196 MM
$9,021 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$18,803
$18,179
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$21,741
$18,122
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best West Des Moines Comm School District Public Preschools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Westridge Elementary School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
5500 E P True Parkway
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 633-5400
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 633-5400
Gr: PK-6 | 744 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #22.
Jordan Creek Elementary School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4105 Fuller Rd
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-5200
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-5200
Gr: PK-6 | 652 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #33.
Fairmeadows Elementary School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
807 23rd St
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-6500
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-6500
Gr: PK-6 | 542 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #44.
Clive Learning Academy
(Math: 69% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1600 73rd Street
Windsor Heights, IA 50324
(515) 633-5800
Windsor Heights, IA 50324
(515) 633-5800
Gr: PK-6 | 551 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #55.
Western Hills Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
600 39th St
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-5900
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-5900
Gr: PK-6 | 570 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #66.
Hillside Elementary School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
713 8th St
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-6200
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-6200
Gr: PK-6 | 548 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #77.
Crestview School Of Inquiry
(Math: 56% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
8355 Franklin Avenue
Clive, IA 50325
(515) 633-5700
Clive, IA 50325
(515) 633-5700
Gr: PK-6 | 558 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: n/an/a
3350 Mills Civic Parkway
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-5071
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-5071
Gr: PK
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