Enrollment
570
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · West Des Moines, IA
Western Hills Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Western Hills Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 193093001798
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 65
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Western Hills Elementary School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of Iowa schools. 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
- 15.4:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 28.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Western Hills Elementary School has class sizes larger than 71% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Western Hills Elementary School ranks #1 of 6 schools in West Des Moines, IA.
School address
District: West Des Moines Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 193093001798 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
37.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.4:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
+4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
28.3%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
-22% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Western Hills Elementary School compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at Western Hills Elementary School
Western Hills Elementary School is a large combined-grade school in West Des Moines, Iowa, enrolling 570 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.4:1 puts it in the larger third of Iowa schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 28.3% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 570 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 278 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #185.
Its student body is led by White (49%) and Hispanic or Latino (28%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 66/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 570 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
14.2% 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): Western Hills Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.4:1 vs 16.9:1).
West Des Moines Comm School District also operates Valley High School (2,178 students) and Westridge Elementary (744 students) alongside Western Hills 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 Western Hills Elementary School compares
Western Hills 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 | 15.4:1 | ▲ 4% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 28.3% | ▼ 22% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 570 | top 14% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.4:1
Leaner classes than 43% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
570
Bigger than 70% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
28.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 22% 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
15.4:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 71% in Iowa - lower ratio than 29% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
14.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
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
Per 570 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
12
in-school suspensions + 32 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.7 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 48.9%
Hispanic or Latino 28.1%
African American 10.7%
Two or More 7.4%
Asian 4.9%
Largest group: White at 48.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.3, Western Hills 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 Western Hills 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 Western Hills Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Westridge Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Valley Southwoods | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Indian Hills Junior High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Jordan Creek Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Western Hills 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
Hillside Elementary School
Standard public school
548 students 13.7:1 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 (~570 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Western Hills Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Western Hills 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 Western Hills Elementary School
How many students attend Western Hills Elementary School?
Western Hills Elementary School has 570 students enrolled. It is a public school in West Des Moines, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Western Hills Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Western Hills Elementary School is 15.4:1, which is 4% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 2% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Western Hills Elementary School?
28.3% of students at Western Hills Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Western Hills Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Western Hills Elementary School is White at 48.9% 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 66.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Western Hills Elementary School?
Western Hills 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 Western Hills Elementary School rank among schools in West Des Moines?
By Resource Investment Index, Western Hills 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 Western Hills Elementary School a good school?
Western Hills Elementary School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of Iowa schools. 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 Western Hills 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.