Private School Review - Established 2003
Alrazi Academy Top 3 ยท Highest % Faculty w/ Adv. Degrees (IA)
Montessori Children's House
Westlakes KinderCare

West Des Moines Private Schools

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 9 private schools serving 3,140 students in West Des Moines, IA, 26% of all K-12 students in West Des Moines, IA are educated in private schools versus public schools (compared to the IA state average of 10%).
The average acceptance rate is 92%, which is higher than the Iowa private school average acceptance rate of 91%.
56% of private schools in West Des Moines, IA are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Other Lutheran).

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • # Private Schools: 9
  • # Students Served: 3,140
  • Average Tuition: $3,927
  • % Students on Financial Aid: 35%
  • Average Class Size: 18 students
  • % Students of Color: 21%
  • View West Des Moines, IA School Trends

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • # Private Schools: 9
  • # Students Served: 3,140
  • Average Tuition: $3,927
  • % Students on Financial Aid: 35%
  • Average Class Size: 18 students
  • % Students of Color: 21%
  • View West Des Moines, IA School Trends

Top Ranked West Des Moines Private Schools (2026-27)

Alrazi Academy Photo
Alrazi Academy
Gr: PK-8 | 168 students
Avg. class size: 18 students
Sports: 2 | Extracurriculars: 2
Islamic
1119 5th St
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 255-0220
(1)
View Profile
Map of Dowling Catholic High School
Dowling Catholic High School
Gr: 9-12 | 1,389 students
Avg. class size: 23 students
Sports: 20
Catholic
1400 Buffalo Rd
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 222-1015
View Profile
Map of Sacred Heart School
Sacred Heart School
Gr: K-8 | 511 students
Catholic
1601 Grand Ave
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 223-1284
View Profile
Map of St. Francis Of Assisi School
St. Francis Of Assisi School
Gr: PK-8 | 728 students
Avg. class size: 22 students
Sports: 4
Catholic
7075 Ashworth Rd
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 457-7167
View Profile
Montessori Children's House Photo
Montessori Children's House
Gr: PK-2 | 209 students
Avg. class size: 12 students
Montessori School
1505 42nd Street
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(151) 577-1690
View Profile
Map of Shepherds Flock Early Learning Center
Shepherds Flock Early Learning Center
Gr: PK-K | 135 students
Daycare / Preschool (Other Lutheran)
3900 Ashworth Rd
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 225-1952
View Profile
Map of West Des Moines KinderCare
West Des Moines KinderCare
Gr: NS-PK
Daycare / Preschool
865 S 51st Street
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 267-1951
View Profile
Westlakes KinderCare Photo
Westlakes KinderCare
Gr: NS-PK
Daycare / Preschool
6670 University Ave.
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 221-0718
View Profile
Map of Whiz Kid Academy
Whiz Kid Academy
Gr: NS-7
Avg. class size: 15 students
Daycare / Preschool
1721 25th Street
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 225-8513
View Profile
[+] Show Closed Private Schools in West Des Moines, Iowa

West Des Moines, Iowa Private Schools (Closed)

Country Club KinderCare Photo
Country Club KinderCare
Gr: NS-PK
Daycare / Preschool
7210 Vista Drive
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 222-9685
View Profile

West Des Moines, IA Private School Trends (10-Year)

9
Private Schools
-18.2% (-2 schools) 10-yr
3,140
Students
-2.5% (-81 students) 10-yr
$3,927
Avg. Tuition
18
Avg. Class Size
+50.0% (+6 students) 10-yr
21%
Students of Color
+50.0% (+7.0 pp) 10-yr
16:1
Student-Teacher Ratio
+14.3% (+2.0) 10-yr
Download town snapshot: CSV | XML | JSON Data may not be displayed on any public-facing website or service that replicates or resembles a school search or review portal without prior written permission.
Enrollment & Diversity
Category
This Town (West Des Moines)
This State (IA)
# Schools
9 Schools
259 Schools

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

YearWest Des Moines, IA Total Schools
20258
20249
20239
20229
20219
20209
20199
201810
201710
201611
201511
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# Students
3,140 Students
52,730 Students

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private School

YearWest Des Moines, IA AvgIowa (IA)National
2025523217179
2024523212172
2023522192174
2022532203185
2021532201180
2020532196171
2019532199175
2018416197172
2017396195180
2016397194178
2015358188167
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% Students of Color
21%
16%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearWest Des Moines, IA AvgIowa (IA)National
202521%16%34%
202421%16%34%
202325%17%33%
202220%15%33%
202120%16%32%
202020%15%32%
201920%14%31%
201819%15%31%
201718%13%32%
201618%13%32%
201514%12%32%
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0.54
0.48

Diversity Score Trends

YearWest Des Moines, IA AvgIowa (IA)National
20250.540.470.65
20240.540.470.65
20230.530.500.65
20220.460.470.64
20210.460.470.64
20200.460.470.64
20190.440.460.63
20180.440.450.63
20170.310.390.61
20160.320.390.61
20150.320.390.61
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Show more data/charts: racial breakdown
# American Indian Students
2 Students
116 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
96 Students
1,075 Students
% Asian Students
3%
2%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearWest Des Moines, IA AvgIowa (IA)National
20253%3%5%
20243%2%5%
20234%3%5%
20222%2%4%
20212%3%4%
20202%2%4%
20192%2%4%
20183%2%4%
20173%2%4%
20163%2%4%
20153%2%4%
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# Hispanic Students
278 Students
3,392 Students
% Hispanic Students
9%
7%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearWest Des Moines, IA AvgIowa (IA)National
20259%6%9%
20249%7%9%
20238%6%9%
20226%6%8%
20216%6%9%
20206%6%9%
20195%5%8%
20185%5%8%
20175%4%8%
20165%4%8%
20155%4%8%
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# Black Students
137 Students
1,537 Students
% Black Students
4%
3%

Black Student Percentage Trends

YearWest Des Moines, IA AvgIowa (IA)National
20254%3%7%
20244%3%7%
20235%3%8%
20222%3%7%
20212%3%7%
20202%3%8%
20191%3%7%
20181%3%7%
20172%2%7%
20162%2%7%
20152%2%8%
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# White Students
2,043 Students
36,965 Students
% White Students
65%
70%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearWest Des Moines, IA AvgIowa (IA)National
202565%70%52%
202465%71%52%
202366%68%52%
202271%71%54%
202171%70%54%
202071%71%54%
201972%72%56%
201873%72%56%
201782%77%58%
201682%76%58%
201581%76%58%
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# Hawaiian Students
1 Student
98 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
585 Students
9,674 Students
% of Others Students
19%
18%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearWest Des Moines, IA AvgIowa (IA)National
202519%18%26%
202419%17%26%
202317%20%25%
202218%18%25%
202118%18%25%
202018%18%24%
201918%18%24%
201818%18%23%
20177%15%22%
20167%16%22%
20158%16%21%
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All Ethnic Groups
Academics
# Teachers
198 Teachers
4,273 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
12:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearWest Des Moines, IA AvgIowa (IA)National
202516:112:111:1
202416:112:111:1
202316:113:111:1
202216:113:111:1
202116:113:111:1
202016:113:112:1
201916:114:112:1
201815:114:112:1
201713:113:112:1
201613:113:112:1
201514:113:112:1
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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
64%
39%

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2015-2025)

YearWest Des Moines, IA AvgIowa (IA)National
202564%40%55%
202464%41%54%
202364%41%54%
202264%41%54%
202164%42%54%
202064%42%54%
201964%42%53%
201866%39%53%
201763%36%53%
201663%38%52%
201575%39%52%
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Average Class Size
18 students
16 students

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

YearWest Des Moines, IA AvgIowa (IA)National
2025181615
2024201615
2023171515
2022171615
2021171615
2020171615
2019171615
2018161615
2017161515
2016161515
2015121515
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Average Number of AP Courses
15 courses
9 courses

Trends in Average Number of AP Courses Offered

YearWest Des Moines, IA AvgIowa (IA)National
202515913
202415912
202315811
202215911
202115911
202015911
201915811
20189711
20179710
20169710
20159710
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Average ACT score
24
(Out of 36)
25

ACT Score Trends (2016-2025)

YearWest Des Moines, IA AvgIowa (IA)National
2025242526
2024242526
2023242526
2022242526
2021242526
2020242425
2019242425
2018242425
2017242425
2016252425
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Tuition & Aid
Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$3,927
$7,760

Tuition Cost Trends (2019-2025)

YearWest Des Moines, IA AvgIowa (IA)National
2025$3,927$9,791$15,012
2024$3,927$7,091$13,254
2023$3,927$5,542$12,626
2022$3,927$5,359$12,187
2021$3,927$5,359$11,800
2020$3,927$5,279$11,512
2019$3,927$5,264$11,293
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Average % on Financial Aid
35%
37%

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2015-2025)

YearWest Des Moines, IA AvgIowa (IA)National
202535%37%34%
202435%38%34%
202335%38%34%
202235%38%33%
202135%38%33%
202035%36%32%
201935%36%31%
201845%37%30%
201745%35%30%
201645%34%29%
201550%33%28%
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Average Financial Aid Grant
$1,200
$2,780

Financial Aid Grant Trends (2015-2025)

YearWest Des Moines, IA AvgIowa (IA)National
2025$1,200$2,769$7,073
2024$1,200$2,727$6,930
2023$1,200$3,038$6,469
2022$1,200$2,364$6,289
2021$1,200$2,185$6,055
2020$1,200$2,161$5,921
2019$1,200$2,028$5,795
2016$1,000$1,160$5,105
2015$1,000$992$5,030
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Admissions & Athletics
Average Acceptance Rate
92%
91%

Acceptance Rate Trends (2015-2025)

YearWest Des Moines, IA AvgIowa (IA)National
202592%85%81%
202499%94%85%
202399%93%85%
202299%94%85%
202199%94%85%
202099%94%85%
201999%93%85%
201899%93%85%
201799%95%85%
201699%97%85%
201599%97%85%
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Average Number of Extracurriculars
2 extracurriculars
6 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
9 sports
7 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in West Des Moines, IA?
The top ranked private schools in West Des Moines, IA include Sacred Heart School, Alrazi Academy, and St. Francis Of Assisi School.
How many private schools are located in West Des Moines?
9 private schools are located in West Des Moines.
How diverse are private schools in West Des Moines?
West Des Moines private schools are approximately 21% minority students, which is higher than the Iowa private school average of 16%.
What percentage of students in West Des Moines go to private school?
26% of all K-12 students in West Des Moines are educated in private schools (compared to the IA state average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in West Des Moines?
56% of private schools in West Des Moines are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Other Lutheran).
Which private schools in West Des Moines are often viewed compared to one another?

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