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Public School Review - Established 2003

West Des Moines Comm School District

3550 Mills Civic Parkway
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
5/
10
Bottom 50%
Tel: (515) 633-5000
www.wdmcs.org

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 school year, there are 8 public elementary schools serving 4,695 students in West Des Moines Comm School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Iowa.
Public Elementary Schools in West Des Moines Comm School District have an average math proficiency score of 74% (versus the Iowa public elementary school average of 70%), and reading proficiency score of 68% (versus the 69% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 49% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Iowa public elementary school average of 30% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (IA)
# Schools
14 Schools
931 Schools
# Students
9,009 Students
323,671 Students
# Teachers
615 Teachers
23,684 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1

Student By Grade

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends

GradeWest Des Moines Comm School DistrictIowa
Pre-K28051
Kind594104
1615102
2632104
3671108
4606107
5617109
6680108
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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.
Definition of Terms
This School District
State Average (IA)
#193 out of 327 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

Overall School District Rank Trends

YearWest Des Moines Comm School District
2023#193
2022#184
2021#176
2019#138
2018#166
2017#150
2016#75
2015#109
2014#83
2013#55
2012#55
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70%
68%

Math Proficiency Trends

YearWest Des Moines Comm School DistrictIowa
202370%68%
202266%64%
202166%64%
201975%69%
201879%76%
201781%77%
201685%78%
201585%79%
201486%79%
201384%77%
201284%76%
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71%
70%

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends

YearWest Des Moines Comm School DistrictIowa
202271%70%
202171%68%
201971%68%
201879%74%
201779%75%
201682%75%
201581%76%
201481%76%
201379%72%
201278%71%
201182%76%
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61%
63%

Science Proficiency Trends

YearWest Des Moines Comm School DistrictIowa
202261%63%
202164%60%
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89%
90%

Graduation Rate Trends

YearWest Des Moines Comm School DistrictIowa
202389%90%
202293%90%
202194%87%
202094%89%
201993%88%
201893%89%
201794%89%
201693%88%
201594%88%
201493%89%
201391%87%
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Students by Ethnicity:

0.66
0.49

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends

YearWest Des Moines Comm School DistrictIowa
20240.630.48
20230.620.46
20220.610.45
20210.600.43
20200.560.42
20190.560.42
20180.540.39
20170.540.39
20160.510.38
20150.500.38
20140.490.37
20130.470.35
20120.440.34
20110.420.34
20100.390.32
20090.340.29
20080.320.28
20070.300.26
20060.290.23
20050.270.24
20040.240.22
20030.230.21
20020.220.20
20010.200.20
20000.140.15
19990.170.16
19980.160.15
19970.140.13
19960.130.13
19950.120.13
19940.110.13
19930.110.11
19920.110.10
19910.110.10
19900.120.10
19890.110.10
19880.110.10
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% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
6%
2%

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearWest Des Moines Comm School DistrictIowa
20246%3%
20236%2%
20227%3%
20218%3%
20208%3%
20198%3%
20188%2%
20178%2%
20168%2%
20157%3%
20147%3%
20137%3%
20126%2%
20116%2%
20105%2%
20096%2%
20086%2%
20076%2%
20065%2%
20055%2%
20045%2%
20035%2%
20025%2%
20014%2%
20003%1%
19993%2%
19983%2%
19974%2%
19963%2%
19953%2%
19943%2%
19933%1%
19924%1%
19913%1%
19903%1%
19893%1%
19883%1%
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% Hispanic
22%
14%

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearWest Des Moines Comm School DistrictIowa
202419%13%
202318%13%
202218%12%
202116%12%
202014%11%
201914%11%
201814%11%
201714%11%
201613%10%
201513%11%
201412%10%
201312%9%
201211%9%
201111%9%
20109%8%
20098%7%
20087%7%
20076%6%
20066%5%
20056%5%
20045%5%
20034%4%
20024%4%
20013%4%
20002%2%
19993%3%
19982%3%
19972%2%
19962%2%
19951%2%
19941%2%
19931%2%
19921%1%
19911%1%
19901%1%
19891%1%
19881%1%
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% Black
12%
8%

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearWest Des Moines Comm School DistrictIowa
202412%7%
202311%7%
202211%7%
202110%7%
20208%6%
20198%6%
20188%6%
20178%6%
20167%6%
20157%5%
20147%5%
20136%5%
20126%5%
20115%5%
20105%5%
20096%6%
20085%6%
20075%5%
20065%4%
20054%5%
20044%4%
20034%4%
20023%4%
20013%4%
20002%3%
19993%4%
19983%3%
19972%3%
19962%3%
19952%3%
19942%3%
19932%3%
19921%3%
19912%3%
19902%3%
19892%3%
19882%3%
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% White
53%
70%

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)

YearWest Des Moines Comm School DistrictIowa
202456%71%
202358%72%
202259%73%
202160%74%
202064%75%
201964%75%
201866%77%
201766%77%
201668%78%
201569%78%
201470%79%
201372%80%
201274%81%
201175%81%
201078%82%
200980%84%
200882%84%
200783%86%
200684%88%
200585%87%
200486%88%
200387%89%
200288%89%
200190%89%
200093%94%
199991%91%
199892%92%
199792%93%
199693%93%
199594%93%
199494%93%
199394%94%
199294%95%
199194%95%
199094%95%
198994%95%
198894%95%
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% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
% Two or more races
7%
5%

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2010-2024)

YearWest Des Moines Comm School DistrictIowa
20247%5%
20237%5%
20225%5%
20216%4%
20206%4%
20196%4%
20184%4%
20174%4%
20164%4%
20154%3%
20144%3%
20133%3%
20123%3%
20112%2%
20103%2%
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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $16,963 is higher than the state median of $16,592. The school district revenue/student has grown by 8% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $16,020 is less than the state median of $16,163. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Definition of Terms
This School District
This State (IA)
Total Revenue
$153 MM
$8,262 MM

Total Revenues Trends

YearWest Des Moines Comm School DistrictIowa
2023$153 MM$12 MM
2022$144 MM$11 MM
2021$153 MM$12 MM
2020$144 MM$11 MM
2019$143 MM$11 MM
2018$138 MM$10 MM
2017$136 MM$10 MM
2016$132 MM$10 MM
2015$109 MM$7 MM
2014$123 MM$9 MM
2012$123 MM$9 MM
2011$116 MM$8 MM
2010$109 MM$7 MM
2009$113 MM$7 MM
2008$107 MM$7 MM
2007$104 MM$7 MM
2006$95 MM$6 MM
2005$91 MM$6 MM
2004$89 MM$6 MM
2003$89 MM$6 MM
2002$85 MM$6 MM
2001$81 MM$5 MM
2000$70 MM$5 MM
1999$66 MM$5 MM
1998$64 MM$5 MM
1997$60 MM$4 MM
1996$54 MM$4 MM
1995$50 MM$4 MM
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Spending
$144 MM
$8,048 MM

Total Expenditure Trends

YearWest Des Moines Comm School DistrictIowa
2023$144 MM$11 MM
2022$140 MM$11 MM
2021$144 MM$11 MM
2020$140 MM$11 MM
2019$132 MM$10 MM
2018$138 MM$10 MM
2017$121 MM$10 MM
2016$118 MM$10 MM
2015$111 MM$7 MM
2014$134 MM$8 MM
2012$132 MM$8 MM
2011$115 MM$8 MM
2010$111 MM$7 MM
2009$106 MM$7 MM
2008$95 MM$7 MM
2007$90 MM$6 MM
2006$103 MM$6 MM
2005$91 MM$6 MM
2004$87 MM$6 MM
2003$84 MM$6 MM
2002$78 MM$6 MM
2001$67 MM$6 MM
2000$63 MM$5 MM
1999$60 MM$5 MM
1998$61 MM$5 MM
1997$65 MM$4 MM
1996$52 MM$4 MM
1995$49 MM$4 MM
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Revenue / Student
$16,963
$16,592

Average Revenue Per Student Trends

YearWest Des Moines Comm School DistrictIowa
2023$16,757$15,936
2022$15,675$14,700
2021$16,805$16,172
2020$15,675$14,700
2019$15,858$14,749
2018$15,323$14,230
2017$15,050$14,844
2016$14,574$14,113
2015$11,867$11,259
2014$13,099$13,301
2012$13,169$12,751
2011$12,553$12,165
2010$12,318$11,259
2009$12,939$11,087
2008$12,297$10,485
2007$12,144$10,103
2006$11,133$9,628
2005$10,673$9,167
2004$10,288$8,727
2003$10,179$8,857
2002$9,599$8,158
2001$9,420$7,654
2000$8,217$7,180
1999$7,630$6,993
1998$7,535$6,548
1997$7,137$6,347
1995$6,130$5,735
1992$5,571$5,300
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Spending / Student
$16,020
$16,163

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends

YearWest Des Moines Comm School DistrictIowa
2023$15,825$15,133
2022$15,266$14,340
2021$15,871$15,357
2020$15,266$14,340
2019$14,662$14,216
2018$15,281$13,767
2017$13,381$14,379
2016$13,000$14,161
2015$12,074$11,298
2014$14,264$12,593
2012$14,077$12,000
2011$12,439$11,589
2010$12,532$11,298
2009$12,137$10,614
2008$10,907$9,706
2007$10,495$9,439
2006$11,970$9,204
2005$10,659$8,457
2004$10,047$8,450
2003$9,563$8,908
2002$8,888$8,409
2001$7,746$7,961
2000$7,344$7,433
1999$6,959$7,234
1998$7,215$6,713
1997$7,738$6,475
1995$6,026$5,710
1992$7,366$5,398
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Best West Des Moines Comm School District Public Elementary Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Westridge Elementary School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
5500 E P True Parkway
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:
8/
10
Top 30%
4105 Fuller Rd
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-5200
Gr: PK-6 | 652 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #33.
Crossroads Park Elementary School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1050 50th St
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 633-5600
Gr: K-6 | 530 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #44.
Fairmeadows Elementary School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
807 23rd St
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-6500
Gr: PK-6 | 542 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #55.
Clive Learning Academy
(Math: 69% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1600 73rd Street
Windsor Heights, IA 50324
(515) 633-5800
Gr: PK-6 | 551 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #66.
Western Hills Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
600 39th St
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-5900
Gr: PK-6 | 570 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #77.
Hillside Elementary School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
713 8th St
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-6200
Gr: PK-6 | 548 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #88.
Crestview School Of Inquiry
(Math: 56% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
8355 Franklin Avenue
Clive, IA 50325
(515) 633-5700
Gr: PK-6 | 558 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 83%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 14 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 9,009 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 47%
  • : 89% (Top 20% in IA)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 70% (Btm 50%)
  • : 71% (Btm 50%)
  • : 61% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education

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