Enrollment
744
Iowa · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · West Des Moines, IA
Westridge Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Westridge Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 193093002055
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 64
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Westridge Elementary earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Iowa schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Iowa schools.
- #4 of 6
- schools in West Des Moines · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.9:1
- large classes for Iowa
- 21.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Westridge Elementary has class sizes larger than 83% of Iowa schools. Computed live against every Iowa school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Westridge Elementary ranks #4 of 6 schools in West Des Moines, IA.
School address
District: West Des Moines Comm School District · Iowa
NCES ID 193093002055 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
44.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.9:1
vs 14.8:1 Iowa avg
+14% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
21.8%
vs 36.4% Iowa avg
-40% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Westridge Elementary compares with Iowa and U.S. medians
What stands out at Westridge Elementary
Westridge Elementary is a large combined-grade school in West Des Moines, Iowa, enrolling 744 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 16.9:1 puts it in the larger third of Iowa schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 21.8% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Iowa, bigger than 93% of state schools at 744 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,322 scored Iowa schools.
Against 163 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #112.
Its student body is led by White (63%) and Hispanic or Latino (13%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 57/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 744 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
14.5% 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 Jordan Creek Elementary School (652 students): Westridge Elementary is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (16.9:1 vs 16.7:1).
West Des Moines Comm School District also operates Valley High School (2,178 students) and Valley Southwoods (678 students) alongside Westridge Elementary.
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 Westridge Elementary compares
Westridge Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Iowa and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Iowa | Iowa avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.9:1 | ▲ 14% | 14.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 21.8% | ▼ 40% | 36.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 744 | top 7% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.9:1
Leaner classes than 31% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
744
Bigger than 83% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
21.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 40% 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
16.9:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 83% in Iowa - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
14.5%
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 744 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
9
in-school suspensions + 17 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.5 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 62.8%
Hispanic or Latino 13.0%
African American 9.8%
Two or More 9.4%
Asian 4.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 62.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.8, Westridge Elementary 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 Westridge Elementary.
$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 Westridge Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Valley Southwoods | Similar size | Higher 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 |
| Stilwell Junior High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Westridge Elementary'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
- 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 other schools in West Des Moines
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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
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 (~744 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Westridge Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Westridge Elementary 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 Westridge Elementary
How many students attend Westridge Elementary?
Westridge Elementary has 744 students enrolled. It is a public school in West Des Moines, IA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Westridge Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Westridge Elementary is 16.9:1, which is 14% higher than the Iowa average of 14.8:1 and 8% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Westridge Elementary?
21.8% of students at Westridge Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Iowa average of 36.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Westridge Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Westridge Elementary is White at 62.8% 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 56.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Westridge Elementary?
Westridge Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 Westridge Elementary rank among schools in West Des Moines?
By Resource Investment Index, Westridge Elementary ranks #4 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 Westridge Elementary a good school?
Westridge Elementary earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% 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 Westridge Elementary, West Des Moines Comm School District also operates Valley High School (2,178 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.
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.