- Enrollment
- 2,364
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
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
🌟 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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-68 students YoY
Hoover High School shrank from 991 students in 2022-23 to 923 in 2023-24 (-6.9%).
Teacher FTE lost 46.2 → 41.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-68 students YoY 190897000543 · Des Moines, IA High · MID · TRAD
898 enr · 19.5:1 · 69.5% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Lincoln High School (2,364 students)
Hoover High School shrank from 991 students in 2022-23 to 923 in 2023-24 (-6.9%). Teacher FTE lost 46.2 → 41.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Hoover 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
- East High Scho
East High School
1,952 students
- North High Sch
North High School
1,428 students
- This school 898
Hoover High School
898 students
- Weeks Middle S 688
Weeks Middle School
688 students
What this shows Hoover High School reports 898 students on the CCD universe file.
How Hoover High School compares
Hoover High School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs 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 methodology
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
$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
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.
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
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 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
- 2,051
- 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
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 (~898 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19.5:1)
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. CCD year-over-year: 991 (2022-23) → 923 (2023-24), down 68.
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 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.