West Des Moines Community Schools

Listed by NCES as West Des Moines Comm School District (district ID 1930930)

Public school district · Polk County · Iowa · NCES district ID 1930930

West Des Moines Community Schools spent $13,914 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23, more than 87% of the other Iowa districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 (median $12,583). Its 14 schools enrolled 9,038 students in 2024-25; 39.2% of its revenue came from the state. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $14,690 per student, up 5.6% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year). Its four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 90% (Iowa: 87.5%).

NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 · Census Bureau school finances 2023-24 · NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 · method

Spending per student among Iowa's largest districts

Current spending per student excludes construction and debt. Among the 10 districts shown, West Des Moines Community Schools ranks 6.

Current spending per student, largest Iowa districts, FY23Des Moines Independent Comm $15,286; Waterloo Community Schools $14,490; Cedar Rapids Community Schools $14,365; Iowa City $14,290; Davenport Community $13,995; West Des Moines Community Schools $13,914; Dubuque Comm $13,808; Sioux City Community Schools $12,880; Ankeny Comm $12,127; Waukee Community $11,927; State median, 1,000+ students $12,583.10k12k14k16kDes Moines Independent Comm$15,286Waterloo Community Schools$14,490Cedar Rapids Community Schools$14,365Iowa City$14,290Davenport Community$13,995West Des Moines Community Scho…$13,914Dubuque Comm$13,808Sioux City Community Schools$12,880Ankeny Comm$12,127Waukee Community$11,927State median, 1,000+ students $12,583
Current spending per student, largest Iowa districts, FY23Des Moines Independent Comm $15,286; Waterloo Community Schools $14,490; Cedar Rapids Community Schools $14,365; Iowa City $14,290; Davenport Community $13,995; West Des Moines Community Schools $13,914; Dubuque Comm $13,808; Sioux City Community Schools $12,880; Ankeny Comm $12,127; Waukee Community $11,927; State median, 1,000+ students $12,583.10k12k14k16kDes Moines Independent Comm$15,286Waterloo Community Schools$14,490Cedar Rapids Community Schools$14,365Iowa City$14,290Davenport Community$13,995West Des Moines Community Schools$13,914Dubuque Comm$13,808Sioux City Community Schools$12,880Ankeny Comm$12,127Waukee Community$11,927State median, 1,000+ students $12,583
Current spending per student, largest Iowa districts, FY23Des Moines Independent Comm $15,286; Waterloo Community Schools $14,490; Cedar Rapids Community Schools $14,365; Iowa City $14,290; Davenport Community $13,995; West Des Moines Community Schools $13,914; Dubuque Comm $13,808; Sioux City Community Schools $12,880; Ankeny Comm $12,127; Waukee Community $11,927; State median, 1,000+ students $12,583.10k12k14k16kDes Moines Independent Comm$15,286Waterloo Community Schools$14,490Cedar Rapids Community Schools$14,365Iowa City$14,290Davenport Community$13,995West Des Moines Community Schools$13,914Dubuque Comm$13,808Sioux City Community Schools$12,880Ankeny Comm$12,127Waukee Community$11,927State median, 1,000+ students $12,583
Current spending per student, largest Iowa districts, FY23Des Moines Independent Comm $15,286; Waterloo Community Schools $14,490; Cedar Rapids Community Schools $14,365; Iowa City $14,290; Davenport Community $13,995; West Des Moines Community Schools $13,914; Dubuque Comm $13,808; Sioux City Community Schools $12,880; Ankeny Comm $12,127; Waukee Community $11,927; State median, 1,000+ students $12,583.10k12k14k16kDes Moines Independent Comm$15,286Waterloo Community Schools$14,490Cedar Rapids Community Schools$14,365Iowa City$14,290Davenport Community$13,995West Des Moines Community Schools$13,914Dubuque Comm$13,808Sioux City Community Schools$12,880Ankeny Comm$12,127Waukee Community$11,927State median, 1,000+ students $12,583

Where the money came from

$169,394,000 in revenue: 39.2% state, 53.7% local and 7.1% federal. Total spending including $56,259,000 of capital outlay was $195,866,000, or $21,232 per student; the figure above leaves capital out.

West Des Moines Community Schools revenue by source, fiscal year 2022-23State $66,439,000; Local $90,996,000; Federal $11,959,000; total $169,394,000.
  • State$66,439,000 39%
  • Local$90,996,000 54%
  • Federal$11,959,000 7%

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23: current expenditures for elementary and secondary education divided by fall membership; the state median covers 125 districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022. Revenue by source (TOTALREV, TFEDREV, TSTREV, TLOCREV).

Enrollment held steady from 2022-23 to 2024-25

9,120 students in 2022-23, 9,047 students in 2023-24, 9,038 students in 2024-25, counted across the schools that reported each year.

West Des Moines Community Schools enrollment by school year2022-23: 9,120, 2023-24: 9,047, 2024-25: 9,03802.5k5k7.5k10k2022-239,1202023-249,0472024-259,038
West Des Moines Community Schools enrollment by school year2022-23: 9,120, 2023-24: 9,047, 2024-25: 9,03802.5k5k7.5k10k2022-239,1202023-249,0472024-259,038
West Des Moines Community Schools enrollment by school year2022-23: 9,120, 2023-24: 9,047, 2024-25: 9,03802.5k5k7.5k10k2022-239,1202023-249,0472024-259,038
West Des Moines Community Schools enrollment by school year2022-23: 9,120, 2023-24: 9,047, 2024-25: 9,03802.5k5k7.5k10k2022-239,1202023-249,0472024-259,038

Teachers and students per teacher

School yearStudentsTeachers (FTE)Per teacher
2022-239,120599.915.2
2023-249,047620.114.6
2024-259,038613.114.7

Source: NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25; sums over the schools reporting each year.

$46,324,000 in teacher salaries in fiscal year 2022-23, $5,022 per student

West Des Moines Community Schools booked $46,324,000 of teacher salaries in its 2022-23 finance report and counted 607 full-time teachers in its Common Core of Data district staff file for 2022-23 (the school files behind the staffing figures on this page count teachers separately, so the two can differ), or $76,287 of salary spending per teacher. That is more than 97 in 100 Iowa districts with a figure (state median $63,361, 318 districts). It is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, so the result can differ widely from the average salary the district publishes (its salary schedule gives pay); benefits are left out, and states book salaries differently, so compare districts within one state. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Iowa teacher salary at $59,262 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).

ProgramTeacher salariesShare
Regular programs$31,075,00067.1%
Special education$6,225,00013.4%
Vocational$1,093,0002.4%
Other programs$7,931,00017.1%

Teacher salaries per student, fiscal years 2018-19 to 2022-23

The district's teacher salary bill divided by its fall enrollment each year: $4,759 in 2018-19, $4,787 in 2019-20, $4,792 in 2020-21, $4,849 in 2021-22, $5,022 in 2022-23.

West Des Moines Community Schools teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $4,759, 2019-20: $4,787, 2020-21: $4,792, 2021-22: $4,849, 2022-23: $5,02202k4k6k2018-19$4,7592019-20$4,7872020-21$4,7922021-22$4,8492022-23$5,022
West Des Moines Community Schools teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $4,759, 2019-20: $4,787, 2020-21: $4,792, 2021-22: $4,849, 2022-23: $5,02202k4k6k2018-19$4,7592019-20$4,7872020-21$4,7922021-22$4,8492022-23$5,022
West Des Moines Community Schools teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $4,759, 2019-20: $4,787, 2020-21: $4,792, 2021-22: $4,849, 2022-23: $5,02202k4k6k2018-19$4,7592019-20$4,7872020-21$4,7922021-22$4,8492022-23$5,022
West Des Moines Community Schools teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $4,759, 2019-20: $4,787, 2020-21: $4,792, 2021-22: $4,849, 2022-23: $5,02202k4k6k2018-19$4,7592019-20$4,7872020-21$4,7922021-22$4,8492022-23$5,022

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal years 2019 to 2023: teacher salaries in regular, special, vocational and other programs (Z35 to Z38) and fall membership (V33); NCES Common Core of Data LEA staff file 2022-23, teachers (full-time equivalent).

State test results, 2021-22

In 2021-22, the students tested in West Des Moines Community Schools scored proficient or above: 71% in reading and 66% in math, against 69.7% in reading and 63.8% in math across Iowa. Each state writes its own test and sets its own proficiency bar, so compare these within Iowa, not across states.

Students proficient or above, 2021-22
SubjectThis districtIowaStudents tested
Reading and language arts71%69.7%6,124
Math66%63.8%6,135

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results 2021-22, all students, from ED Data Express (the Data Rescue Project archive; ED has no 2022-23 result for this district): ED shows district results as ranges (for example 20-24%) to protect small groups.

Graduation rate, class of 2023

90% of the 739 students in West Des Moines Community Schools' class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 87.5% across Iowa. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out, and counts those who earned a regular diploma by 2023. Every state computes it the same way under federal law, though each sets its own diploma requirements.

Four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rate, class of 2023
This districtIowa
Four-year graduation rate90%87.5%
Students in the class73938,026

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates 2022-23, all students, from ED Data Express: ED shows district rates as ranges (for example 90-94%) and leaves out small classes.

8 elementary schools, 4,695 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Westridge Elementary74416.130.4%Not Title I
Jordan Creek Elementary School65216.926.5%Not Title I
Western Hills Elementary School57014.936.3%Not Title I
Crestview School of Inquiry55811.676.3%Schoolwide program
Clive Learning Academy55112.751.5%Schoolwide program
Hillside Elementary School54811.760.6%Schoolwide program
Fairmeadows Elementary School54215.932.8%Not Title I
Crossroads Park Elementary School53014.740.0%Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

2 middle schools, 1,306 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Indian Hills Junior High School66112.841.0%Eligible, no program
Stilwell Junior High School64513.438.1%Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

3 high schools, 3,008 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Valley High School2,17818.356.3%Eligible, no program
Valley Southwoods67813.937.2%Eligible, no program
Walnut Creek Campus15210.863.2%Eligible, no program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

1 other school, 29 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Learning Resource Center29not reported10.3%Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

Contact West Des Moines Community Schools

Source: NCES Common Core of Data, local education agency directory 2024-25. Enrollment, boundaries and school assignment are the district's to confirm.

What to look at next about West Des Moines Community Schools

  1. Iowa districts by spending per studentWest Des Moines Community Schools ranks 17 of 125 Iowa districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 on current spending per student in fiscal year 2022-23 ($13,914).#17 of 125
  2. Every school district in IowaWest Des Moines Community Schools is the number 10 by size of 328 Iowa districts, with 9,225 students in fall 2022 (F-33).#10 of 328
  3. Dubuque Comm School DistrictThe next larger Iowa district: 10,518 students in fall 2022, $13,808 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$13,808
  4. Council Bluffs Comm School DistrictThe next smaller Iowa district: 8,784 students in fall 2022, $15,071 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$15,071
  5. Compare West Des Moines Community Schools with Dubuque Comm School DistrictEnrollment, spending, revenue sources and schools, side by side.
  6. Valley High School, its largest high school2,178 students in 2024-25, 18.3 per teacher.2,178
  7. Teacher salary spending across IowaWest Des Moines Community Schools spent $76,287 in salaries per full-time teacher in fiscal year 2022-23 (state median $63,361); spending, not a salary.$76,287
  8. Find the school district for an addressA home's district decides which public schools it can enroll in.

Source: NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 (spending per student and fall 2022 membership; ranks among the state's districts that reported them); NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 (schools).

Questions about West Des Moines Community Schools

  1. How many schools and students are in West Des Moines Community Schools?
    14 schools were open in 2024-25 (8 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high, 1 other), enrolling 9,038 students, according to the NCES Common Core of Data.
  2. How much does West Des Moines Community Schools spend per student?
    $13,914 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), which leaves out construction and debt; the Iowa median for districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 is $12,583 and the U.S. figure is $16,260. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $14,690 per student, up 5.6% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).
  3. Where does West Des Moines Community Schools' money come from?
    $169,394,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2022-23: 39.2% state, 53.7% local and 7.1% federal (NCES F-33).
  4. How many children in West Des Moines Community Schools live in poverty?
    The Census Bureau estimates that 1,090 of the 11,208 children aged 5 to 17 living within the district's boundaries in 2024, 9.7%, were in families in poverty (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). It is a model-based estimate for everyone living in the district, not a count of its students; the free-meal shares in the school tables are counts of enrolled students.
  5. How much does West Des Moines Community Schools spend on teacher salaries?
    $46,324,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), or $5,022 per student. Divided by the 607 full-time teachers in the NCES Common Core of Data for 2022-23 that is $76,287 per teacher, more than 97 in 100 Iowa districts (state median $63,361). That is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, and the result can differ widely from the average salary a district publishes. The district's salary schedule gives pay. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Iowa teacher salary at $59,262 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).
  6. How do students in West Des Moines Community Schools do on state tests?
    In 2021-22, the students tested in West Des Moines Community Schools scored proficient or above: 71% in reading and 66% in math, against 69.7% in reading and 63.8% in math across Iowa. Iowa's own test sets what proficient means, so results compare within the state, not across states. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22.
  7. What is the graduation rate in West Des Moines Community Schools?
    90% of the 739 students in West Des Moines Community Schools' class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 87.5% across Iowa. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23.
  8. What is West Des Moines Community Schools' NCES district ID?
    1930930. Each of its schools' 12-digit NCES IDs begins with these seven digits.

Reading these figures: how to choose a school district, what Title I means and what an absenteeism rate means. They are for information and are not a substitute for the school's or district's own records.

Sources

Every federal file behind this record
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25: directory, membership, staff and lunch files. nces.ed.gov
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2021-22 school characteristics: Title I status. nces.ed.gov
  • Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021-22: AP courses, gifted programs, counselors, discipline. civilrightsdata.ed.gov
  • EDFacts, 2022-23: chronic absenteeism. ed.gov
  • EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23: the class of 2023 for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22: reading and math proficiency for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • NCES Digest of Education Statistics, table 211.60 (2021-22): the state's average teacher salary, from the National Education Association. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024: children aged 5 to 17 and those in families in poverty, by school district. census.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2023-24: per pupil current spending for 2023-24 and 2022-23. census.gov
  • NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23: district spending and revenue. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau geocoder and TIGER school districts: the district boundary used by the district finder. census.gov

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances Per pupil current spending by school system · FY 2023-24

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey Revenue and expenditures by district · FY 2022-23

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School directory, membership, staff and lunch files · 2024-25

Compiled from official source data by .