Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Elementary· 14 schools in district

Western Hills Elementary School

600 39th St, West Des Moines, IA 50265West Des Moines Comm School District →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades PK–06Non-Charter
579
Students
Total enrolled
$18,157
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 27% vs nat'l
15.4 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
~avg
50/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 579 students in grades PK–06 in West Des Moines, Iowa.
27% above average funding
District spends $18,157 per pupil, 27% more than the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 50th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Western Hills Elementary School is a large elementary in West Des Moines, Iowa, serving grades PK–06 with 579 students. The district invests $18,157 per student — 27% above the national average of $14,347, with a 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 32% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body.

Student Body & Demographics at Western Hills Elementary School

579
Total Students
15.4 : 1
Student:Teacher
32%
Free Lunch
38
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (PK–06) are served by this school
Gender Distribution273 male · 306 female
47%
53%
Male 47%Female 53%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility32%
National avg 52% · 188 students
Student Composition
55%
21%
11%
8%
Asian4%
White55%
Hispanic / Latino21%
Black11%
Multiracial8%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 193093001798

Academic Outcomes at Western Hills Elementary School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
50
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 50th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 78th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 50265

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$18,157Above avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$18,157
State avg
$17,386
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$7,989
Student Support$3,450
Administration$2,179
Operations$2,724
Other$1,816
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $18,157 spent per student, an estimated $8,044 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
40%
51%
State government
39.7%
Local (property tax)
51.0%
Federal programs
9.2%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Above-average funding — $18,157/student vs $14,347 nationally
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Westridge ElementaryJordan Creek Elementary SchoolCrestview School of InquiryFairmeadows Elementary School
+3 more
↓
Middle
Indian Hills Junior High SchoolStilwell Junior High School
↓
High School
Valley High SchoolWalnut Creek Campus
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelElementary
GradesPK – 06
Location—
CountyPolk County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictWest Des Moines Comm School District →
Phone: (515)633-5900
NCES ID: 193093001798
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in West Des Moines seeking a public elementary school, especially those prioritizing above-average resources and classroom investment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in West Des Moines Comm School District
High
Valley High School
2,152 students · 10–12
● 50 opp36% FRL
Elem
Westridge Elementary
748 students · PK–06
● 50 opp25% FRL
Mid
Indian Hills Junior High School
696 students · 07–08
● 39 opp45% FRL
Other
Valley Southwoods
687 students · 09–09
● 50 opp38% FRL
Mid
Stilwell Junior High School
684 students · 07–08
● 50 opp36% FRL
Elem
Jordan Creek Elementary School
647 students · PK–06
● 50 opp23% FRL
Elem
Crestview School of Inquiry
574 students · PK–06
● 39 opp58% FRL
Elem
Fairmeadows Elementary School
569 students · PK–06
● 50 opp27% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
600 39th St, West Des Moines, IA 50265
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Elementary
1
How is early reading and literacy taught?
Look for evidence-based, structured approaches
2
How does the school communicate with families?
Frequency, channels, translation support
3
What support exists for students who fall behind?
Tutoring, intervention programs, IEPs
4
What's the average class size here?
National avg is ~23 for elementary
5
What before/after-school programs are available?
Important for working parents
6
How is student social-emotional wellbeing supported?
Counselors, community circles, conflict resolution
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.