C
Below Average
52/100

Western Hills Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 🏫 School
📍 600 39th St, West Des Moines, IA 50265
Overall
C
52/100 · the blend of everything below
Achievement
C
0.7 grade levels below the U.S. average · 33rd percentile in Iowa
Growth
C
Students gain 0.85 grade levels a year (U.S. average 1.0) · 35th percentile
Resources
A+
Class size, funding, school size and type

Each score is graded separately against Iowa schools. A school can be strong at moving students forward (growth) without having the highest test scores, or the reverse. How we score schools

52
Repit Score
out of 100
560
Students
enrolled
14.6:1
Student:Teacher
ratio
$18K
Per Student
spending

What Goes Into This Rating

FactorWeightScoreBasis
📚 Achievement (reading & math, grades 3–8)40%33/1000.7 grade levels below the national average, 2022–25 (Stanford SEDA)
📈 Growth (how fast students learn)45%35/100Students gain 0.85 grade levels per school year in 2022–25 (national average ≈ 1.0) and gained 1.01 in 2009–19; 29th percentile in Iowa (recent period weighted 70%)
🏫 Resources (class size, funding, size, type)15%92/100Inputs from NCES school and district data

Students served: 46% students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Compared with Iowa schools serving a similar share of low-income students, this school’s reading and math results are −14 points worse than expected. (Context only; not part of the score.)

The overall Repit Score ranks this blend against every rated school in Iowa. Schools are compared within their state because each state sets its own tests and proficiency bar. How we rate schools

Test Scores & Graduation

📖 Reading proficiency62% (−7 pts vs. state avg 69%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2018–19
➗ Math proficiency68% (−1 pts vs. state avg 69%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2018–19

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Federal reporting rounds small schools to ranges; we show the midpoint. Proficiency standards differ by state, so compare schools within the same state.

How Student Groups Do Here

Share of each group of students scoring proficient on the Iowa state test (2018–19), compared with the same group of students across the state. Differences between groups are shown as reported; they reflect many factors inside and outside school.

StudentsReadingMathvs. same group statewideRank in state for this group
White72%77%reading -2 pts, math +1 pts56th percentile (list)
Black35%35%reading -2 pts, math -1 pts47th percentile (list)
Hispanic35%35%reading -16 pts, math -18 pts8th percentile (list)
Low-income37%42%reading -15 pts, math -13 pts8th percentile (list)

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute. Groups with fewer than 20 tested students are not shown. Results are achievement (proficiency), not growth; growth by group is not published for individual schools.

School Information

Address 600 39th St
City West Des Moines
ZIP Code 50265
District 1930930
NCES School ID 193093001798
Data Year 2024-25

Community Context for 50265

Understanding the community around Western Hills Elementary School helps evaluate the school environment and neighborhood.

💰 Income & Economy

Median Household Income $81,579
Per Capita Income $50,745
Poverty Rate 7.5%
Households Earning $100K+ 41.2%

🎓 Education Level

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 47.3%
High School or Higher 95.0%

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value $241,800
Median Rent $1,013
Owner-Occupied 65.7%
Renter-Occupied 34.3%
View full data for ZIP 50265 →

Thinking about moving into this school’s area? See what homes and rents actually cost in ZIP 50265 — values, rent, and how it compares to nearby ZIPs. Free, no signup. See 50265 housing costs →

Student Demographics

Enrollment and demographic breakdown for Western Hills Elementary School.

👫 Gender Distribution

Male 49.1%
Female 50.9%

🌎 Race & Ethnicity

White 52.3%
Hispanic/Latino 24.8%
Black 11.1%
Two or More Races 7.0%
Asian 4.8%

📋 Enrollment Summary

Total Enrollment 560
Teachers (FTE) 38.3
Student:Teacher Ratio 14.6:1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Repit School Score for Western Hills Elementary School?
Western Hills Elementary School has a Repit School Score of 52 out of 100, earning a grade of C. The score is based mainly on reading and math proficiency compared with other schools in the state, with class size and funding counting for a smaller share.
How many students attend Western Hills Elementary School?
Western Hills Elementary School has 560 students enrolled for the 2024-25 school year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.6:1.
What grades does Western Hills Elementary School serve?
Western Hills Elementary School serves grades Pre-K – 06 and is classified as a School. This is a public school.
How much funding does Western Hills Elementary School receive per student?
Western Hills Elementary School receives $17,877 in per-pupil spending from its district. This is above the national average.
🏠 Rental Market Around Western Hills Elementary School in 50265 ▼
Avg Home Value
$314,234
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,290
1-Year Change
+3.1%
% Renters
34.3%

Other Schools in 50265

View all schools and real estate data for 50265 →

About Repit School Scores

Parents choosing a school deserve to see what it actually delivers. Since October 2026 the Repit School Score is built mainly on results:

  • Academics (largest share) — the share of students scoring proficient in reading and math on the state test, ranked against schools of the same level in the same state.
  • Graduation (high schools) — the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate. Only regular diplomas count; GEDs and certificates of attendance do not.
  • Resources (smaller share) — class size, per-pupil funding, school size and type.

Scores compare schools within their own state, because every state writes its own tests and sets its own proficiency bar. Full methodology

Data sources: NCES CCD 2024-25, U.S. Dept. of Education EDFacts (test results & graduation) | Last updated: October 2026