Waukee Comm School District, IA

Original Research by School Decision on Waukee Comm School District

The Waukee Community School District covers a swath of western suburbs and small towns in Dallas County, just west of Des Moines. It is one of the larger districts in the region, serving pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade across roughly eighteen schools. The district's growth has been rapid over the past decade, making it among the fastest-growing in Iowa, and that expansion continues to reshape where families live and which school their children attend.

Academically, the district posts solid results on the state's ISASP assessments. A large majority of students in grades three through eight meet or exceed proficiency standards in math and English language arts, and a substantial share do so in science. Compared to other districts in Dallas County, however, overall proficiency across tested subjects sits below the midpoint of the group. That means the district's scores are respectable on their own but not among the highest in the county. Chronic absenteeism, by contrast, is among the lowest in the county, a sign that student attendance is generally strong. Spending per pupil falls in the upper middle range among county districts, reflecting a commitment to resources that is neither the highest nor the leanest. The district's high school graduation rate was not available in the data we reviewed, so a parent may want to look into this further with the school.

The student body is predominantly white, with growing shares of Asian, Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students. The district is large enough that students experience a range of peer environments across its many elementary, middle, and high school campuses. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals, as well as counts of students with disabilities or English learner status, were not reported here.

The communities the district serves vary in character and cost. Waukee itself is a fast-growing suburb with home values around the upper end of the district's range, while nearby West Des Moines, Urbandale, and Clive also command relatively high prices. Smaller towns such as Adel and Dallas Center offer more moderate housing costs. Rents across the district cluster in a similar pattern, with typical monthly payments that are somewhat above the national average but still within reach for many households, especially given that the area's median household income is a bit above the national figure. The district's weighted home value is higher than the Iowa state average, and the price-to-income ratio suggests that buying a home requires a larger share of income than the national norm.

For families moving into the area, the district's recent history matters. A second high school, Waukee Northwest, opened in 2021, creating two separate feeder systems and effectively deciding which high school a student will attend based on their address. In late 2023, voters approved a major bond to fund a new elementary school, a new middle school, security upgrades, and additional classrooms across existing buildings. The school board then adopted new elementary attendance boundaries effective for the 2025-2026 school year, reassigning a significant number of K-4 students to different schools; current fifth graders and siblings of enrolled students were grandfathered. Enrollment is projected to continue rising past the current headcount, meaning more construction and potential boundary shifts are likely.

This district fits families who want a large, growing suburban system with a solid academic baseline, two high school options, and a track record of investing in facilities. The trade-off is that continued growth means periodic boundary adjustments and the busyness of a district that is still building out. For those who prefer a more settled environment or a district with the very highest test scores in the county, other options may warrant a closer look.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

13,600

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 7%

Black 8%

White 69%

Asian 8%

Two+ 7%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

61%

87%

Gr 4

64%

91%

Gr 5

55%

87%

Gr 6

66%

89%

Gr 7

61%

92%

Gr 8

74%

94%

Gr 38

64%

90%

Math

Gr 3

66%

93%

Gr 4

60%

92%

Gr 5

64%

90%

Gr 6

62%

89%

Gr 7

54%

86%

Gr 8

56%

88%

Gr 38

60%

90%

Science

Gr 5

51%

82%

Gr 8

53%

84%

Gr 38

52%

83%

Schools in this District

18 schools are officially reported under this district.

Eason Elementary School

Brookview Elementary School

Prairieview School

Walnut Hills Elementary School

Maple Grove Elementary School

Waukee Elementary School

Waukee Middle School

Waukee High School

South Middle School

Shuler Elementary School

Woodland Hills Elementary School

Timberline School

Grant Ragan Elementary School

Radiant Elementary School

Northwest High School

Vince Meyer Early Learning Center

Sugar Creek Elementary School

Trailridge School

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

1 grade reported

83%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

84%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

76%

Grades 3-8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$360,669

Year-over-year change-0.4%

Range across 9 ZIP codes$330K to $596K

vs. state typical1.54x

vs. national typical0.98x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (9 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
50263	Waukee	$341K	-1.8%	39.8%
50266	West Des Moines	$337K	+0.1%	29.8%
50323	Urbandale	$455K	-1.0%	11.1%
50063	Dallas Center	$330K	+3.5%	7.2%
50003	Adel	$396K	+1.0%	6.2%
50325	Clive	$434K	+0.9%	5.5%
50111	Grimes	$349K	+0.2%	0.3%
50261	Van Meter	$408K	+0.6%	0.2%
50061	Cumming	$596K	+2.5%	0.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,474/mo

Year-over-year change+2.4%

Range across 5 ZIP codes$1,146 to $1,605/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (5 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
50263	Waukee	$1,605	+1.9%	39.8%
50266	West Des Moines	$1,354	+3.0%	29.8%
50323	Urbandale	$1,509	—	11.1%
50003	Adel	$1,146	—	6.2%
50111	Grimes	$1,469	+0.9%	0.3%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,820/mo

Home price / national median income4.3x

Annual rent / national median income21.1%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$346/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$234,891 (+3.9% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.