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A+

Van Meter Community School District

Public school districtGrades PK–12

Serves Van Meter, and parts of West Des Moines and Waukee.

Van Meter’s School Grade A+ better than 98% of Iowa school districts

Students
1,146
Schools
3
Spent per student
$10,339
IA $13,713
Students per teacher
18:1
Free or reduced lunch
8%
Debt
$5.9M
fiscal 2024
The gist

What stands out about Van Meter Community School District

  • Its letter, A+: results better than 98% of Iowa districts
  • Math proficiency 21 pts above the state
  • Reading proficiency 22 pts above the state
  • Graduation rate 10 pts above the state
  • Spends 25% less per student than the IA average
  • 18 students per teacher
  • Enrollment up 17.9% since 2020–21
  • Debt of $5.9M, about $5,135 per student
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

A+: better than 98% of the 326 Iowa school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math well above the state, 2021–22
A+
GraduationFour-year graduation well above the state, class of 2023
A−
The town it serves, and its School Grade
A+Van Meter 1,978

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Van Meter. Grade by grade →

PK–5Van Meter Elementary SchoolThis district
6–8Van Meter Middle SchoolThis district
9–12Van Meter High SchoolThis district

Test scores vs. IA

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency85%
State average 63.8% · 676 students tested
Reading / language arts92%
State average 69.7% · 676 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)95–100%
State average 87.5% · 66 in the class

100% of students in the tested grades sat the 2022 tests.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024
$10,339 per student · 25% below IA
Spending
Classroom instruction 63%Support & administration 33%Other 4%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 50%State 48%Federal 2%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time
972’20
1,045’21
1,090’22
1,117’23
1,146’24

Up 17.9% since 2020–21.

Students
White 93%Hispanic 3%Two or more races 3%Black <1%Asian <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%

Schools in the district

3 public schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Iowa’s other public schools.

Van Meter Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Van Meter
A+
578 students16:1
Van Meter Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Van Meter
A+
252 students33:1
Van Meter High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Van Meter
A+
316 students15:1

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

West Des Moines Community School DistrictClive, Windsor Heights
$14,690per student
Des Moines Independent Community School DistrictDes Moines, Windsor Heights
$15,990per student
Norwalk Community School DistrictCumming, Norwalk
$11,412per student
Waukee Community School DistrictClive
$12,482per student

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within Iowa.