West Des Moines Comm School District, IA

Original Research by School Decision on West Des Moines Comm School District

West Des Moines Community School District is a large, full-spectrum public district serving a diverse student population across a cluster of communities in Polk County. It operates fourteen schools, including an elementary-focused Learning Resource Center, two junior highs, a separate freshman campus called Valley Southwoods, and the comprehensive Valley High School for tenth through twelfth graders. This structural choice, with ninth graders in their own building before joining the main high school, is a longstanding feature of the district that shapes how secondary students experience the transition into high school.

This is a district where academic results are solid but not at the very top of a competitive county. On state assessments in math and English language arts, overall proficiency sits slightly above the three-quarters mark, while science proficiency is lower, at roughly two-thirds of tested students. When measured against the other districts in Polk County, the district's composite proficiency index lands below the midpoint, meaning there are several districts in the county with higher overall test performance. This is not a struggling district academically, but a parent comparing options within the metro area would see that some neighboring peers post stronger numbers.

The district has substantial capital construction underway, with the most recent fiscal year showing a significant level of spending on buildings and facilities. This suggests that the physical school environments are receiving investment, though the specific projects and their timelines are not detailed in the available data. The district's per-pupil operating spending is in the upper range compared to other Polk County districts, a signal that resources per student are relatively high.

Chronic absenteeism, where a student misses a substantial portion of the school year, affects about a quarter of the student body, and this rate falls slightly above the midpoint among county districts that reported the figure. This is an area a parent may want to ask about, particularly for a given grade level or school within the district, as the rate can vary significantly by campus.

The housing market across the district's zip codes reflects a wide range of conditions. Home values span from more modest levels in parts of West Des Moines and Urbandale to higher-price areas in Clive and Cumming. The district-weighted home value sits well above the Iowa state benchmark, meaning housing costs are elevated relative to the state as a whole. Rents follow a similar pattern, with the district-weighted rent also above state norms. A family moving into this area should expect that the cost of housing is a meaningful part of the equation, and that the district's geography includes both more affordable and more expensive enclaves within its boundaries.

Student demographics show a district that is majority white, with a significant Hispanic population, a notable Black student population, and smaller shares of Asian and multiracial students. The data does not include the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, nor the proportion of students with disabilities or English learners, so a full picture of the district's economic and instructional support needs is not available from this data alone. A parent with specific questions about special education services or English language learner programs would need to reach out to the district directly.

The district's middle schools are Indian Hills and Stilwell Junior Highs, and its elementary schools include a mix of neighborhood buildings and a themed option at Crestview School of Inquiry. The lack of detailed program data in this profile, such as the availability of advanced coursework, career and technical education, or magnet pathways, means a family interested in those features should look to the district's website for current offerings.

For a family already living in or moving to the western Des Moines suburbs, West Des Moines Schools is a mainstream suburban district with above-average resource levels, active facility investment, and decent but not county-leading test scores. It fits a family that values a large, diverse school system with a defined secondary structure and is willing to pay the area's higher housing costs for access to it. The chronic absenteeism rate and the gaps in student support data are worth a follow-up conversation with the district office.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

9,170

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 20%

Black 12%

White 55%

Asian 6%

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

50%

80%

Gr 4

64%

85%

Gr 5

59%

88%

Gr 6

64%

88%

Gr 7

71%

90%

Gr 8

63%

92%

Gr 38

62%

87%

Math

Gr 3

54%

86%

Gr 4

59%

87%

Gr 5

60%

86%

Gr 6

64%

89%

Gr 7

63%

87%

Gr 8

62%

89%

Gr 38

60%

87%

Science

Gr 5

47%

82%

Gr 8

51%

83%

Gr 38

49%

83%

Schools in this District

14 schools are officially reported under this district.

Jordan Creek Elementary School

Walnut Creek Campus

Valley Southwoods

Hillside Elementary School

Clive Learning Academy

Crestview School of Inquiry

Crossroads Park Elementary School

Fairmeadows Elementary School

Indian Hills Junior High School

Stilwell Junior High School

Valley High School

Western Hills Elementary School

Westridge Elementary

Learning Resource Center

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

1 grade reported

75%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

75%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

67%

Grades 3-8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$368,832

Year-over-year change+1.6%

Range across 9 ZIP codes$285K to $596K

vs. state typical1.57x

vs. national typical1.00x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (9 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
50265	West Des Moines	$313K	+2.1%	49.0%
50266	West Des Moines	$337K	+0.1%	16.1%
50325	Clive	$434K	+0.9%	13.1%
50061	Cumming	$596K	+2.5%	11.8%
50322	Urbandale	$293K	+1.7%	4.7%
50323	Urbandale	$455K	-1.0%	2.8%
50324	Windsor Heights	$285K	+2.5%	1.9%
50321	Des Moines	$359K	+2.5%	0.5%
50312	Des Moines	$295K	+1.9%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,283/mo

Year-over-year change+0.8%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$1,054 to $1,509/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
50265	West Des Moines	$1,268	+0.0%	49.0%
50266	West Des Moines	$1,354	+3.0%	16.1%
50322	Urbandale	$1,079	+1.4%	4.7%
50323	Urbandale	$1,509	—	2.8%
50324	Windsor Heights	$1,305	—	1.9%
50321	Des Moines	$1,054	—	0.5%
50312	Des Moines	$1,297	-2.5%	0.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,861/mo

Home price / national median income4.4x

Annual rent / national median income18.4%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$578/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.