Enrollment
548
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · West Des Moines, IA
Hillside Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Hillside Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 193093001188
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 56
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Hillside Elementary School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #1 of 6
- schools in West Des Moines · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.7:1
- students per teacher
- 50.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Hillside Elementary School has class sizes near the Iowa median. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Hillside Elementary School ranks #1 of 6 schools in West Des Moines, IA.
School address
District: West Des Moines Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 193093001188 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
40.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.7:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
-7% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
50.8%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
+40% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Hillside Elementary School compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at Hillside Elementary School
Hillside Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in West Des Moines, Iowa, enrolling 548 students.
At 13.7:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Iowa median, within a few percentage points of the 14.8:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 50.8% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 548 puts it in the larger third of Iowa schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,322 scored Iowa schools.
Against 183 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #74.
Its student body is led by White (45%) and Hispanic or Latino (26%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 69/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 554 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
17.5% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among West Des Moines's public schools, it stands alongside Westridge Elementary (744 students): Hillside Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.7:1 vs 16.9:1).
West Des Moines Comm School District also operates Valley High School (2,178 students) and Westridge Elementary (744 students) alongside Hillside Elementary School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Hillside Elementary School compares
Hillside Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.7:1 | ▼ 7% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 50.8% | ▲ 40% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 548 | top 16% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.7:1
Leaner classes than 60% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
548
Bigger than 67% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
50.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 40% above the Iowa average of 36.4%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.7:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 45% in Iowa - lower ratio than 55% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
17.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,960
per pupil, district-wide
- above Iowa avg of $12,854
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 12 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 45.1%
Hispanic or Latino 25.7%
African American 17.9%
Two or More 8.4%
Asian 2.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Largest group: White at 45.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.1, Hillside Elementary School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for West Des Moines Comm School District, which includes Hillside Elementary School.
$12,960
Per student
+1%
vs Iowa
Avg $12,854
-22%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 51.0%
State 39.7%
Federal 9.2%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Hillside Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Westridge Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Valley Southwoods | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Indian Hills Junior High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Jordan Creek Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Hillside Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,178
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 744
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 678
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 661
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
- Enrollment
- 652
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar other schools in West Des Moines
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Westridge Elementary
Standard public school
744 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
Jordan Creek Elementary School
Standard public school
652 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Western Hills Elementary School
Standard public school
570 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Fairmeadows Elementary School
Standard public school
542 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
Learning Resource Center
Standard public school
29 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Iowa, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~548 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Hillside Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Hillside Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- West Des Moines Comm School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Hillside Elementary School
How many students attend Hillside Elementary School?
Hillside Elementary School has 548 students enrolled. It is a public school in West Des Moines, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hillside Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Hillside Elementary School is 13.7:1, which is 7% lower than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 13% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Hillside Elementary School?
50.8% of students at Hillside Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Hillside Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Hillside Elementary School is White at 45.1% of enrollment, in West Des Moines, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Hillside Elementary School?
Hillside Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Hillside Elementary School rank among schools in West Des Moines?
By Resource Investment Index, Hillside Elementary School ranks #1 of 6 schools in West Des Moines, IA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in West Des Moines on the city page.
Is Hillside Elementary School a good school?
Hillside Elementary School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Iowa median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in West Des Moines Comm School District?
Besides Hillside Elementary School, West Des Moines Comm School District also operates Valley High School (2,178 students), Westridge Elementary (744 students), and Valley Southwoods (678 students). See the West Des Moines Comm School District district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.