The top reported proficiency rate is 87% in Math. The lowest is 78% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Woodland Hills Elementary School
Woodland Hills Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in the Waukee Community School District, located on the western edge of West Des Moines. The school is part of a district that has been reshaping itself to keep pace with rapid growth, and both the school and its surroundings reflect that expansion.
Woodland Hills is a relatively large elementary school for its grade band. The student body is notably diverse, with a substantial majority of white students and significant populations of Asian students, Black students, and students of two or more races, along with a smaller Hispanic presence. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a moderate share that places the school’s economic need level below what is typical in many Iowa districts. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the available file, so a parent interested in those programs may want to ask the school directly about the services it provides.
Academically, the school turned in strong results on the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress in the most recent testing year. Proficiency rates across math, English language arts, and science all landed at or above the midpoint compared with other schools in the six districts of Dallas County. The highest rates came in math, followed closely by ELA, with science a few steps behind but still solid. Participation was very high, meaning the results represent nearly the entire tested population. There is only a single year of data available, so no trend can be described, but the single snapshot shows a school where most students are meeting or exceeding proficiency benchmarks in the core subjects.
The Waukee district context matters for any family considering this school. Waukee is one of the fastest-growing districts in Iowa, and the growth has driven major changes. Voters approved a bond in late 2023 to fund a new elementary school, a new middle school, and system-wide upgrades. Elementary boundaries were redrawn for the 2025-26 school year, reassigning a number of K-4 students to different buildings. For families moving into the area, this means the school a child attends may shift over time as the district adds capacity. Woodland Hills itself sits within this dynamic, and its enrollment is healthy, with each grade from kindergarten through fifth grade filled with a similar-sized cohort.
West Des Moines is both a bedroom community for Des Moines and its own employment hub. The city has grown faster than any other in Iowa, with major corporate campuses from Wells Fargo, Microsoft, and multiple insurance and finance firms fueling new housing and commercial development. The housing market reflects that demand: home prices and rents are elevated, typical of a sought-after suburban area. The city is auto-oriented overall, though Historic Valley Junction offers a walkable strip of local shops and restaurants. Recreational space exists along the Raccoon River corridor and at Walnut Woods State Park.
Woodland Hills functions as a neighborhood school in a district that is still building out its infrastructure. A family drawn to a suburban environment with strong school performance and a diverse student body will find that here. The school’s academic results give confidence that most students are learning at grade level. The district’s growth trajectory means continued construction, boundary adjustments, and a sense of a community that is still being assembled rather than settled. For families who want a solid, well-performing elementary school in a fast-growing region with a robust job market, Woodland Hills fits that description.
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