The top reported proficiency rate is 95% in Math. The lowest is 85% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Walnut Hills Elementary School
Walnut Hills Elementary School is a kindergarten-through-fifth-grade regular public school in the Waukee Community School District, located in the western portion of Urbandale, within Dallas County. The school sits in a suburban part of the Des Moines metro area that has been expanding steadily. The district itself is the fastest-growing in Iowa and has responded with major building projects: a second high school opened in 2021, and voters approved a substantial bond in 2023 for an additional elementary school, a new middle school, and safety upgrades. Elementary boundaries were redrawn in late 2024, effective the following school year, reassigning a meaningful number of students to balance enrollment across buildings. Families moving into the area should expect continued construction and periodic attendance zone adjustments.
Academically, Walnut Hills performs at a very high level on the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress. In math and English language arts, nearly all tested students scored at or above the proficient threshold. Science proficiency, while a bit lower, remains strong. When compared against other districts in Dallas County, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects places it among the highest in the county. Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate, and state testing is limited to grades three through five, so the results reflect that smaller grade band. Only one year of data was available in the academic trends section, so it is not possible to see whether performance has risen or fallen over time.
The student body is large for an elementary school, with enrollment in the mid-hundreds. The demographic composition is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Asian, Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch is low. Data on students receiving special education services or English learner support was not reported; a parent who needs that information should ask the school directly. No information was available on discipline, chronic absenteeism, or class sizes.
The school is located in Urbandale, a suburban city that originated as a streetcar suburb of Des Moines. The built environment is car-oriented, though the city maintains an extensive network of parks and recreational trails. Public transit is limited to a single bus route in the northwestern part of town. Major employers in Urbandale include Marsh & McLennan, the Urbandale Community School District, and John Deere, among others. The city has grown rapidly, especially in its western reaches that fall in Dallas County, one of the fastest-growing counties in the country during a recent period. Housing values in the area are above state and national benchmarks, and rents are relatively high. The surrounding neighborhood reflects a generally affluent suburban setting.
Walnut Hills Elementary offers a strong academic foundation in a district experiencing sustained growth. The very high proficiency rates suggest a student body that, on the whole, arrives ready to learn and is well supported in the classroom. The limited economic diversity and the absence of reported special-population data mean the school may serve a relatively homogeneous population. Parents considering this school should anticipate the district’s growth trajectory, which brings new facilities but also boundary changes. They should also ask directly about the availability of services for students with disabilities and English learners, since that information was not available in the public data reviewed.
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