- Enrollment
- 744
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
High school (grades 9-12) · West Des Moines, IA
Valley High School
Federal NCES profile for Valley High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 193093001797
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 27
📋 Attendance 17
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Valley High School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of Iowa schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Iowa.
- #3 of 3
- high schools in West Des Moines · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.1:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 30.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Valley High School has class sizes larger than 89% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Valley High School ranks #3 of 3 high schools in West Des Moines, IA.
School address
District: West Des Moines Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 193093001797 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-41 students YoY
Valley High School held near 2,111 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-41 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 120.1 → 123.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-41 students YoY 193093001797 · West Des Moines, IA High · LARGE · TRAD
2,178 enr · 18.1:1 · 30.7% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Westridge Elementary (744 students)
Valley High School held near 2,111 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-41 headcount). Teacher FTE added 120.1 → 123.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Iowa schools → · Find another →
Valley High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Valley High School
2,178 students
- Westridge Elem 744
Westridge Elementary
744 students
- Valley Southwo 678
Valley Southwoods
678 students
- Indian Hills J 661
Indian Hills Junior High School
661 students
- Jordan Creek E 652
Jordan Creek Elementary School
652 students
- Stilwell Junio 645
Stilwell Junior High School
645 students
What this shows Valley High School reports 2,178 students on the CCD universe file.
How Valley High School compares
Valley 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 | 18.1:1 | ▲ 22% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 30.7% | ▼ 16% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,178 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.1:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
2,178
Bigger than 99% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
30.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 16% below the Iowa average of 36.4%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
18.1:1
students per teacher
- 22% above state mean
Top 89% in Iowa - lower ratio than 11% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
33.2%
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
$13,914
per pupil, district-wide
- above Iowa avg of $13,441
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors6.0 FTE
Per 363 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 119 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 54.9%
Hispanic or Latino 20.3%
African American 11.9%
Two or More 6.8%
Asian 6.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 54.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.5, Valley High School is more mixed than the Iowa school average of 33.8.
Programs
AP courses offered 12
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for West Des Moines Comm School District reports $13,914 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Valley High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westridge Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Valley Southwoods | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Indian Hills Junior High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Jordan Creek Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Stilwell Junior High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Valley High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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
- Enrollment
- 645
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
Similar high schools in West Des Moines
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
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 (~2,178 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.1:1)
Frequently asked questions about Valley High School
How many students attend Valley High School?
Valley High School has 2,178 students enrolled. It is a high school in West Des Moines, IA. CCD year-over-year: 2,152 (2022-23) → 2,111 (2023-24), nearly flat (-41).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Valley High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Valley High School is 18.1:1, which is 22% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 15% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Valley High School?
30.7% of students at Valley High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Valley High School?
The largest demographic group at Valley High School is White at 54.9% 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 63.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Valley High School?
Valley High School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 Valley High School rank among high schools in West Des Moines?
By Resource Investment Index, Valley High School ranks #3 of 3 high 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 high schools in West Des Moines on the city page.
What other schools are in West Des Moines Comm School District?
Besides Valley High School, West Des Moines Comm School District also operates Westridge Elementary (744 students), Valley Southwoods (678 students), and Indian Hills Junior High School (661 students). See the West Des Moines Comm School District district page for the complete list.