Enrollment
898
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Des Moines, IA
Hoover High School
Federal NCES profile for Hoover High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 190897000543
👥 S:T ratio 22
📚 AP courses 35
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 38
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Hoover High School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of Iowa schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Iowa.
- #3 of 6
- high schools in Des Moines · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.5:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 69.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Hoover High School has class sizes larger than 92% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Hoover High School ranks #3 of 6 high schools in Des Moines, IA.
School address
District: Des Moines Independent Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 190897000543 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
46.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.5:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
+32% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
69.5%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
+91% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Hoover High School compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at Hoover High School
Hoover High School is a higher-need, large high school in Des Moines, Iowa, enrolling 898 students.
Class loads run heavy: 19.5:1 is larger than about 92% of Iowa schools and 32% above the 14.8:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need is high: 69.5% of students qualify for free meals, 91% above the Iowa average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Iowa, bigger than 95% of state schools at 898 students.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 94% of the 1,322 Iowa schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 27 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Iowa schools statewide, it ranks #22, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (37%) and Hispanic or Latino (26%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 75/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 7 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 310 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 61.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Des Moines's high schools, it stands alongside Lincoln High School (2,364 students): Hoover High School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (19.5:1 vs 26.3:1).
Des Moines Independent Comm School District also operates Lincoln High School (2,364 students) and Roosevelt High School (2,051 students) alongside Hoover High 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 Hoover High School compares
Hoover High 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 | 19.5:1 | ▲ 32% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 69.5% | ▲ 91% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 898 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.5:1
Leaner classes than 18% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
898
Bigger than 89% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
69.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 91% 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
19.5:1
students per teacher
- 32% above state mean
Top 92% in Iowa - lower ratio than 8% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
61.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$14,308
per pupil, district-wide
- above Iowa avg of $12,854
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.9 FTE
Per 310 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 99 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.1 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
African American 36.8%
Hispanic or Latino 25.6%
White 16.8%
Asian 15.0%
Two or More 5.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: African American at 36.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 74.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 74.5, Hoover High School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
AP courses offered 7
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Des Moines Independent Comm School District, which includes Hoover High School.
$14,308
Per student
+11%
vs Iowa
Avg $12,854
-14%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 29.4%
State 56.2%
Federal 14.4%
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 Hoover High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Roosevelt High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Weeks Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Hoover High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,364
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 2,051
- Students per teacher
- 31.1:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,952
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,428
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- 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
East High School
Standard public school
1,952 students 20.8:1 students per teacher
North High School
Standard public school
1,428 students 21.6:1 students per teacher
Saydel High School
Standard public school
458 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Similar high 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 (~898 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Hoover High School's federal record.
- Compare Hoover High School against another school. Compare schools
- Des Moines Independent 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 Hoover High School
How many students attend Hoover High School?
Hoover High School has 898 students enrolled. It is a high school in Des Moines, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hoover High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Hoover High School is 19.5:1, which is 32% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 24% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Hoover High School?
69.5% of students at Hoover High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Hoover High School?
The largest demographic group at Hoover High School is African American at 36.8% of enrollment, in Des Moines, IA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 74.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Hoover High School?
Hoover High School has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Hoover High School rank among high schools in Des Moines?
By Resource Investment Index, Hoover High School ranks #3 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.
Is Hoover High School a good school?
Hoover High School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of Iowa schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Iowa. 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 Des Moines Independent Comm School District?
Besides Hoover High School, Des Moines Independent Comm School District also operates Lincoln High School (2,364 students), Roosevelt High School (2,051 students), and East High School (1,952 students). See the Des Moines Independent 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.