- Enrollment
- 2,364
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Des Moines, IA
East High School
Federal NCES profile for East High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 190897000528
👥 S:T ratio 17
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 43
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
East High School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of Iowa schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Iowa.
- #1 of 6
- high schools in Des Moines · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.8:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 70.6%
- free-lunch eligible
East High School has class sizes larger than 94% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, East High School ranks #1 of 6 high schools in Des Moines, IA.
School address
District: Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190897000528 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-26 students YoY
East High School held near 2,014 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-26 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 94.2 → 85.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-26 students YoY 190897000528 · Des Moines, IA High · MID · TRAD
1,952 enr · 20.8:1 · 70.6% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Lincoln High School (2,364 students)
East High School held near 2,014 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-26 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 94.2 → 85.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
East High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lincoln High S
Lincoln High School
2,364 students
- Roosevelt High
Roosevelt High School
2,051 students
- This school
East High School
1,952 students
- North High Sch
North High School
1,428 students
- Hoover High Sc 898
Hoover High School
898 students
- Weeks Middle S 688
Weeks Middle School
688 students
What this shows East High School reports 1,952 students on the CCD universe file.
How East High School compares
East High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.8:1 | ▲ 41% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 70.6% | ▲ 94% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,952 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.8:1
Leaner classes than 13% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,952
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
70.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 94% above the Iowa average of 36.4%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20.8:1
students per teacher
- 41% above state mean
Top 94% in Iowa - lower ratio than 6% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Funding equity
$15,286
per pupil, district-wide
- above Iowa avg of $13,441
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors6.8 FTE
Per 287 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 191 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 45.7%
White 24.8%
African American 17.1%
Asian 6.7%
Two or More 4.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 45.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.4, East High School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
AP courses offered 8
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Des Moines Independent Comm School District reports $15,286 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How East High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Roosevelt High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hoover High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Weeks Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to East High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,051
- Students per teacher
- 31.1:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,428
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 898
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 688
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar high schools in Des Moines
5 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Lincoln High School
Standard public school
2,364 students 26.3:1 students per teacher
Roosevelt High School
Standard public school
2,051 students 31.1:1 students per teacher
North High School
Standard public school
1,428 students 21.6:1 students per teacher
Hoover High School
Standard public school
898 students 19.5:1 students per teacher
Saydel High School
Standard public school
458 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~1,952 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.8:1)
Frequently asked questions about East High School
How many students attend East High School?
East High School has 1,952 students enrolled. It is a high school in Des Moines, IA. CCD year-over-year: 2,040 (2022-23) → 2,014 (2023-24), nearly flat (-26).
What is the student-teacher ratio at East High School?
The student-teacher ratio at East High School is 20.8:1, which is 41% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 32% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at East High School?
70.6% of students at East High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of East High School?
The largest demographic group at East High School is Hispanic or Latino at 45.7% of enrollment, in Des Moines, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for East High School?
East High School has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does East High School rank among high schools in Des Moines?
By Resource Investment Index, East High School ranks #1 of 6 high schools in Des Moines, IA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Des Moines on the city page.
What other schools are in Des Moines Independent Comm School District?
Besides East High School, Des Moines Independent Comm School District also operates Lincoln High School (2,364 students), Roosevelt High School (2,051 students), and North High School (1,428 students). See the Des Moines Independent Comm School District district page for the complete list.