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Windsor Heights SignagePhoto: Mikjones24 · CC BY-SA 4.0
D−
Schools in Windsor Heights · Des Moines Independent Community School District, West Des Moines Community School District

Windsor Heights’s public schools score below 96% of Iowa districts on tests and graduation

On the state math tests, 46% of Windsor Heights’s students scored proficient, below the Iowa average (64%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Windsor Heights, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Iowa, not nationally.

#129of 140 Iowa townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Iowa state tests taken in spring 2022, when 95% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
55%
▼ 15 pts vs IA 70%
2021–22
Math proficiency
46%
▼ 17 pts vs IA 64%
2021–22
Graduate on time
72%
▼ 16 pts vs IA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$16.0K
▲ 17% vs IA $13.7K
FY2024 · Des Moines Independent
Students per teacher
15.4
IA 14.1 · larger classes
Schools in town
2
11,814 students on the public path
In brief

Windsor Heights’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 55% of tested students were proficient in reading and 46% in math, against 70% and 64% statewide; 95% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

72% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Iowa. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Des Moines Independent spends $15,990 per student and West Des Moines $14,690, against $13,713 across Iowa (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Windsor Heights’s grade

D− Test scoresD− Graduation

D−: better than 4% of Iowa school districts, #129 of 140 Iowa towns. Both inputs trail the Iowa average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

Iowa school districts we grade (326)Better than 4%
Lower resultsHigher results
Iowa towns with similar household incomes (398)Better than 3%
D−DA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 24,555 test results and a graduating class of 2,284 could put Windsor Heights anywhere from D− to D. The tests are from spring 2022, when 95% of Windsor Heights’s students in the tested grades sat them (24,703 in math, 24,406 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Windsor Heights, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–82 schoolsDepends on your addressC− to A
9–126 high schoolsDepends on your addressD− to A−

Windsor Heights runs its own schools through grade 12 (Des Moines Independent Community School District). From grade PK, students attend the West Des Moines Community School District, shared with Clive and West Des Moines. Its high school is in Des Moines. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Windsor Heights

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Des Moines Independent Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 59 schools · 29,676 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 15.7 per teacher (IA 14.1)
$15,990IA $13,713 · FY2024
D−
West Des Moines Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 13 schools · 9,009 students · 14.7 per teacher (IA 14.1)
$14,690IA $13,713 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Des Moines Independent Community School District49%
State average 69.7% · 18282 students tested
Math · PK–12, Des Moines Independent Community School District40%
State average 63.8% · 18568 students tested
Reading · PK–12, West Des Moines Community School District71%
State average 69.7% · 6124 students tested
Math · PK–12, West Des Moines Community School District66%
State average 63.8% · 6135 students tested

Windsor Heights vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Iowa towns that share Windsor Heights’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Windsor HeightsD−Des Moines Independent PK–12 · West Des Moines PK–12
CliveB+West Des Moines PK–12 · Waukee PK–12
West Des MoinesB+West Des Moines PK–12 · Waukee PK–12
Des MoinesD−Des Moines Independent

2 of the 3 neighbors share West Des Moines with Windsor Heights for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Windsor Heights

8 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Iowa’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Windsor Heightsby address
Clive Learning Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Des Moines
C−
551 students13:1Rate it →
Cowles Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Des Moines
A
392 students17:1Rate it →
Also serving Windsor Heightsin other towns
Lincoln High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Des Moines
D
2,364 students25:1Rate it →
Roosevelt High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Des Moines
C+
2,051 students31:1Rate it →
East High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Des Moines
D
1,952 students22:1Rate it →
North High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Des Moines
D−
1,428 students21:1Rate it →
Hoover High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Des Moines
D
898 students21:1Rate it →
Valley High School
High · Grades 10–12 · West Des Moines
A−
2,178 students18:1Rate it →

Questions about Windsor Heights’s schools

Are Windsor Heights’s schools good?

On Iowa’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Windsor Heights children attend score below 96% of Iowa’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D− Schools grade, #129 of 140 Iowa towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 3%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Windsor Heights in?

Two districts: Des Moines Independent Community School District runs grades PK–12, and West Des Moines Community School District runs grades PK–12, shared with Clive and West Des Moines.

Where do Windsor Heights kids go to high school?

One of 6 high schools, depending on your address: Lincoln High School, Valley High School, Roosevelt High School, East High School, North High School and Hoover High School.

What is Windsor Heights’s graduation rate?

72% of the class of 2023 in Des Moines Independent Community School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Iowa.

How much does Windsor Heights spend per student?

$15,990 in Des Moines Independent Community School District and $14,690 in West Des Moines Community School District (FY2024), against $13,713 across Iowa. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Windsor Heights families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Windsor Heights → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Iowa. Stars are from neighbors.