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Western Hills Elementary School

600 39TH ST, WEST DES MOINES, IA 50265

Top 10% School in Iowa

Ranked 48 of 183 in Iowa

See top schools in West Des Moines

About Western Hills Elementary School

Western Hills Elementary School is a public school located in West Des Moines, Iowa, serving students from pre-kindergarten through grade 6. There are about 560 students at the school, and the student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1. This means that teachers can help students with their schoolwork more closely at the start of their education. Western Hills Elementary is a great school because it focuses on core academic growth, social-emotional learning, and classrooms that promote respect and working together. The school has students from many different backgrounds and encourages fairness and learning that includes everyone. According to the proficiency data we have, 71% of students at Western Hills Elementary School were good at math or better, and 61% were good at reading/ELA or better. This shows that the school really cares about teaching kids the basics. In addition to what they learn in class, the school also has technology, enrichment programs, and community-based learning opportunities. The school is in a well-established neighborhood in West Des Moines, which means that both the community and the district support it a lot. Overall, Western Hills Elementary School is a good place to learn in Iowa because the test scores stay the same, there are many ways to learn, and students can keep growing.

Western Hills Elementary School Contact Information

Address

600 39TH ST, WEST DES MOINES, IA 50265

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Phone

(515) 633-5900

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Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 71%
Reading 61%
State average proficiency is 71% in Math and 61% in Reading.
38
Full-time Teachers
15 : 1
Student-Teacher Ratio
576
Total Students
$71518
Avg. Teacher Salary
TOP 48 IN STEM IN STATE

Robotics & STEM
at Western Hills Elementary School

2.5X
More likely to pursue STEM Careers
80%
Jobs that will require STEM in 2030
2.5X
More likely to persue STEM Careers
80%
Jobs that will require STEM in 2030
  • 🤖 Coding & Debugging
  • 🧪 Hobby Electronics and Engineering
  • 👩‍💻 Apply Math in Science and Engineering
  • 🛠️ 3D Printing
🚀
Hands-on with real robots
🏆
Led by competition winners
🎓
STEM career pathways

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

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Mansfield Public Schools Educator Spotlight: Pathways of a Fourth-Grade Teacher

MANSFIELD — Inside the brick building on East Street, four educators who began teaching within 2 years of each other, all spending the beginning of their careers teaching fourth grade at Jordan/Jackson Elementary School...

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School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 7:30 AM - 2:25 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 7:15 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Student Demographics

White 55.4%
Asian 4.3%
Hispanic 20.9%
Black 11.4%
Two+ Races 7.6%
Native Am. 1%
White
55.4%
Asian
4.3%
Hispanic
20.9%
Black
11.4%
Two+ Races
7.6%
Native Am.
1%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 576
52.8%
304 Female
47.2%
272 Male

Student Population

576 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 15 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Students per Counselor

578 : 1

Student to counselor ratio

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

In October 2025, Jimena “Mena” Agripino, a preschool teacher at Western Hills Elementary, won a PAWSitive Impact Award. The award recognized her for “creating a classroom filled with warmth, kindness, and connection,” making students feel seen and valued

FAQ

Q1. What does Western Hills Elementary do to help students be creative?

Ans. The curriculum includes arts programs, creative learning projects, and activities that get kids involved.

Q2. Do families want to help out at the school?

Ans. Yes, the school encourages people to get involved on their own to make the community stronger.

Q3. What are the most important behavior expectations?

Ans. Students are encouraged to show respect, responsibility, and good citizenship.

Q4. How does the school help students who learn in different ways?

Ans. Individualized support services and specialized instruction help meet the needs of each student.

Q5. Does the school celebrate the things students do well?

Ans. Recognition programs focus on academic effort, character, and participation.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

  • Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
  • Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
  • Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

  • Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
  • Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
  • Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

  • Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
  • Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
  • Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3
ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10
F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2
SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

Local kids are transforming ideas into real-world.

See the projects happening right in your neighborhood

What Parents Say

Western Hills Elementary School

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DISCLAIMER

The information provided about schools is for general reference only and may not be 100% accurate or up to date. We recommend contacting the respective school directly to confirm the latest details and ensure accuracy.