Valley Southwoods (Ranked Bottom 50% for 2026)

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Valley Southwoods

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Bottom 50%

Serving 744 students in grades 9, Valley Southwoods ranks in the bottom 50% of all schools in Iowa for overall test scores (math proficiency is bottom 50%, and reading proficiency is bottom 50%).

The percentage of students achieving is 55% (which is lower than the Iowa state average of 68%). The percentage of students achieving is 75% (which is higher than the Iowa state average of 70%).

The student-teacher ratio of 15:1 is higher than the Iowa state level of 14:1.

Minority enrollment is 45% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is higher than the Iowa state average of 29% (majority Hispanic and Black).

Quick Facts (2026)

Grades: 9
Enrollment: 744 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
Minority Enrollment: 45%
: Bottom 50% in IA
: 55% (Btm 50%)
: 75% (Top 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education

<�鶹��ý class="so-dt-title" id="top-rankings">Top Rankings

Valley Southwoods ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Iowa for:

Category

Attribute

Diversity

Most diverse schools (Top 20%)

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="overview">School Overview

Valley Southwoods's student population of 744 students has grown by 8% over five school years.

The teacher population of 49 teachers has grown by 11% over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades 9
(Supplemental Virtual)

Total Students

744 students

View Data

Total Students Trends Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Valley Southwoods
2023	687
2022	766
2021	687
2020	669
2019	669
2018	724
2017	724
2016	682
2015	734
2014	660
2013	697
2012	709
2011	699
2010	666
2009	699
2008	713
2007	680
2006	655
2005	699
2004	691
2003	627
2002	637
2001	663
2000	627
1999	654

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Gender %

Total Classroom Teachers

49 teachers

View Data

Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Valley Southwoods
2023	45
2022	41
2021	44
2020	44
2019	44
2018	45
2017	45
2016	45
2015	45
2014	45
2013	45
2012	46
2011	44
2010	46
2009	47
2008	49
2007	47
2006	47
2005	48
2004	45
2003	44
2002	45
2001	52
2000	44
1999	42

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<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id="school-rankings">School Rankings

Valley Southwoods ranks within the bottom 50% of all 1,223 schools in Iowa (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of Valley Southwoods is 0.65, which is more than the diversity score at state average of 0.47. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (IA)

#791 out of 1223 schools
(Bottom 50%)

View Data

Overall School Rank Trends Over Years (2021-2023)
Year	Valley Southwoods
2023	#791
2022	#708
2021	#553

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55%

68%

View Data

Math Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2021-2023)
Year	Valley Southwoods	Iowa	West Des Moines Community School District
2023	55%	68%	70%
2022	57%	64%	66%
2021	62%	64%	66%

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75%

70%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison Over Years (2013-2022)
Year	Valley Southwoods	Iowa	West Des Moines Community School District
2022	75%	70%	71%
2021	76%	68%	71%
2015	50%	76%	81%
2013	50%	72%	79%

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Student-Teacher Ratio

15:1

14:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Valley Southwoods	Iowa	West Des Moines Community School District
2023	15:1	14:1	15:1
2022	19:1	14:1	15:1
2021	16:1	14:1	15:1
2020	15:1	14:1	15:1
2019	15:1	14:1	15:1
2018	16:1	14:1	15:1
2017	16:1	14:1	15:1
2016	15:1	14:1	15:1
2015	16:1	14:1	15:1
2014	15:1	14:1	16:1
2013	15:1	14:1	16:1
2012	15:1	14:1	16:1
2011	16:1	14:1	16:1
2010	15:1	13:1	15:1
2009	15:1	13:1	15:1
2008	15:1	13:1	15:1
2007	14:1	14:1	15:1
2006	14:1	13:1	15:1
2005	15:1	13:1	15:1
2004	15:1	13:1	15:1
2003	14:1	13:1	15:1
2002	14:1	13:1	16:1
2001	13:1	14:1	17:1
2000	14:1	14:1	16:1
1999	16:1	14:1	16:1

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American Indian

n/a

Asian

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Valley Southwoods	Iowa	West Des Moines Community School District
2023	6%	2%	6%
2022	5%	3%	7%
2021	5%	3%	8%
2020	7%	3%	8%
2019	7%	3%	8%
2018	6%	2%	8%
2017	6%	2%	8%
2016	6%	2%	8%
2015	8%	3%	7%
2014	6%	3%	7%
2013	7%	3%	7%
2012	6%	2%	6%
2011	6%	2%	6%
2010	5%	2%	5%
2009	7%	2%	6%
2008	5%	2%	6%
2007	4%	2%	6%
2006	5%	2%	5%
2005	5%	2%	5%
2004	4%	2%	5%
2003	4%	2%	5%
2002	3%	2%	5%
2001	3%	2%	4%
2000	4%	1%	3%
1999	4%	2%	3%

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Hispanic

18%

13%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Valley Southwoods	Iowa	West Des Moines Community School District
2023	18%	13%	18%
2022	16%	12%	18%
2021	17%	12%	16%
2020	12%	11%	14%
2019	12%	11%	14%
2018	12%	11%	14%
2017	12%	11%	14%
2016	13%	10%	13%
2015	11%	11%	13%
2014	9%	10%	12%
2013	10%	9%	12%
2012	9%	9%	11%
2011	10%	9%	11%
2010	9%	8%	9%
2009	7%	7%	8%
2008	6%	7%	7%
2007	5%	6%	6%
2006	6%	5%	6%
2005	4%	5%	6%
2004	4%	5%	5%
2003	4%	4%	4%
2002	4%	4%	4%
2001	2%	4%	3%
2000	2%	2%	2%
1999	2%	3%	3%

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Black

12%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Valley Southwoods	Iowa	West Des Moines Community School District
2023	13%	7%	11%
2022	11%	7%	11%
2021	10%	7%	10%
2020	9%	6%	8%
2019	9%	6%	8%
2018	7%	6%	8%
2017	7%	6%	8%
2016	6%	6%	7%
2015	7%	5%	7%
2014	5%	5%	7%
2013	7%	5%	6%
2012	5%	5%	6%
2011	6%	5%	5%
2010	6%	5%	5%
2009	4%	6%	6%
2008	5%	6%	5%
2007	5%	5%	5%
2006	4%	4%	5%
2005	4%	5%	4%
2004	3%	4%	4%
2003	4%	4%	4%
2002	2%	4%	3%
2001	2%	4%	3%
2000	3%	3%	2%
1999	1%	4%	3%

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White

55%

71%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Valley Southwoods	Iowa	West Des Moines Community School District
2023	56%	72%	58%
2022	62%	73%	59%
2021	62%	74%	60%
2020	67%	75%	64%
2019	67%	75%	64%
2018	71%	77%	66%
2017	71%	77%	66%
2016	72%	78%	68%
2015	71%	78%	69%
2014	75%	79%	70%
2013	72%	80%	72%
2012	75%	81%	74%
2011	77%	81%	75%
2010	78%	82%	78%
2009	82%	84%	80%
2008	84%	84%	82%
2007	86%	86%	83%
2006	85%	88%	84%
2005	87%	87%	85%
2004	89%	88%	86%
2003	88%	89%	87%
2002	91%	89%	88%
2001	93%	89%	90%
2000	91%	94%	93%
1999	93%	91%	91%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2011-2023)
Year	Valley Southwoods	Iowa	West Des Moines Community School District
2023	7%	5%	7%
2022	6%	5%	5%
2021	6%	4%	6%
2020	5%	4%	6%
2019	5%	4%	6%
2018	4%	4%	4%
2017	4%	4%	4%
2016	3%	4%	4%
2015	3%	3%	4%
2014	4%	3%	4%
2013	4%	3%	3%
2012	3%	3%	3%
2011	1%	2%	2%

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All Ethnic Groups

0.65

0.47

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Valley Southwoods	Iowa	West Des Moines Community School District
2023	0.63	0.46	0.62
2022	0.58	0.45	0.61
2021	0.58	0.43	0.60
2020	0.53	0.42	0.56
2019	0.53	0.42	0.56
2018	0.48	0.39	0.54
2017	0.48	0.39	0.54
2016	0.46	0.38	0.51
2015	0.48	0.38	0.50
2014	0.43	0.37	0.49
2013	0.47	0.35	0.47
2012	0.43	0.34	0.44
2011	0.39	0.34	0.42
2010	0.38	0.32	0.39
2009	0.32	0.29	0.34
2008	0.29	0.28	0.32
2007	0.26	0.26	0.30
2006	0.27	0.23	0.29
2005	0.23	0.24	0.27
2004	0.21	0.22	0.24
2003	0.22	0.21	0.23
2002	0.17	0.20	0.22
2001	0.13	0.20	0.20
2000	0.17	0.15	0.14
1999	0.13	0.16	0.17

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Participates in the

Yes

Eligible for

30%

36%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Valley Southwoods	Iowa	West Des Moines Community School District
2023	34%	36%	33%
2022	33%	35%	32%
2021	32%	35%	34%
2020	27%	36%	30%
2019	27%	36%	30%
2018	25%	34%	28%
2017	25%	34%	28%
2016	26%	34%	28%
2015	25%	34%	27%
2014	21%	34%	26%
2013	23%	34%	24%
2012	17%	33%	20%
2011	15%	31%	19%
2010	13%	29%	16%
2009	9%	26%	13%
2008	11%	26%	11%
2007	9%	24%	10%
2006	7%	25%	9%
2005	8%	23%	9%
2004	8%	22%	8%
2003	7%	21%	7%
2002	6%	19%	6%
2001	5%	19%	6%
2000	4%	19%	5%
1999	6%	20%	7%

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Eligible for

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1999-2023)
Year	Valley Southwoods	Iowa	West Des Moines Community School District
2023	4%	6%	5%
2022	6%	5%	5%
2021	8%	6%	7%
2020	7%	7%	7%
2019	7%	7%	7%
2018	5%	7%	5%
2017	5%	7%	5%
2016	4%	7%	5%
2015	5%	7%	5%
2014	4%	7%	6%
2013	5%	7%	6%
2012	6%	7%	5%
2011	6%	8%	4%
2010	4%	8%	6%
2009	4%	8%	5%
2008	5%	8%	5%
2007	5%	8%	5%
2006	4%	8%	4%
2005	4%	8%	5%
2004	3%	8%	4%
2003	4%	8%	3%
2002	3%	8%	3%
2001	3%	8%	4%
2000	3%	7%	3%
1999	2%	7%	3%

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School Statewide Testing

School District Name

West Des Moines Community School District

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education

Profile last updated: 02/09/2025

<�鶹��ý class='so-dt-title' id='faq'>Frequently Asked Questions

What is Valley Southwoods's ranking?

Valley Southwoods is ranked #791 out of 1,223 schools, which ranks it among the bottom 50% of public schools in Iowa.

What schools are Valley Southwoods often compared to?

Valley Southwoodsis often viewed alongside schools like Roosevelt High School, Urbandale High School by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

55% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 68% IA state average), while 75% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 70% IA state average).

How many students attend Valley Southwoods?

744 students attend Valley Southwoods.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

55% of Valley Southwoods students are White, 18% of students are Hispanic, 12% of students are Black, 9% of students are Two or more races, and 6% of students are Asian.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Valley Southwoods?

Valley Southwoods has a student ration of 15:1, which is higher than the Iowa state average of 14:1.

What grades does Valley Southwoods offer ?

Valley Southwoods offers enrollment in grades 9 (Supplemental Virtual).

What school district is Valley Southwoods part of?

Valley Southwoods is part of West Des Moines Community School District.

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Quick Facts (2026)

Grades: 9
Enrollment: 744 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
Minority Enrollment: 45%
: Bottom 50%
: 55% (Btm 50%)
: 75% (Top 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education