Valley High School

3650 Woodland Ave
West Des Moines, IA 50266

valley.wdmcs.org/

2,178 Students

High School 10th - 12th

School Overview

Valley High School, located in West Des Moines, Iowa, serves as the primary comprehensive high school for the West Des Moines Community School District. It is one of the largest high schools in the state, known for offering an extensive academic curriculum that includes a robust selection of Advanced Placement (AP) courses, concurrent enrollment opportunities with local colleges, and diverse vocational-technical programs. The school places a strong emphasis on preparing students for post-secondary success, whether they are pursuing higher education, military service, or the workforce.

Beyond the classroom, Valley High School maintains a highly active extracurricular culture, boasting a wide array of athletic programs, performing arts groups, and student-led clubs. The school is frequently recognized for its competitive spirit in sports and its prestigious music and theater departments. With its sprawling campus, commitment to community engagement, and a wide variety of resources, Valley High aims to foster a supportive and inclusive environment that encourages students to develop their individual talents while contributing to the broader West Des Moines community.

2,178

Total Students

118.9

Full-Time Teachers

18.3

Student/Teacher Ratio

68.0%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Valley High School
Demographic	Student Count
White	1,195
Hispanic	442
Black	258
Asian	132
Two or More	147
American Indian	2

White
1,195 (54.9%)
Hispanic
442 (20.3%)
Black
258 (11.9%)
Two or More
147 (6.8%)
Asian
132 (6.1%)
American Indian
2 (0.1%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	High School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	West Des Moines Comm School District
Phone:	(515)633-4000
Website:	http://valley.wdmcs.org/
Grade Range:	10th - 12th
Total Students:	2,178
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	118.9
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	18.3
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	1,227
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	254

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 10 756

Grade 11 686

Grade 12 736