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Urbandale High School

Q: Is Urbandale High School a good school?

Urbandale High School ranks 150 th of 340 Iowa high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

150^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 340 Iowa High Schools

Better than 56% of Iowa high schools

Summary

Urbandale High School is a public high school serving 1,311 students in grades 9-12 in Urbandale, Iowa, which is part of the Urbandale Community School District. The school consistently outperforms the state average in academic assessments, maintains high graduation rates, and has relatively low chronic absenteeism and free/reduced lunch rates compared to nearby schools.

Urbandale High School's academic performance is a standout, with 82% of 10th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 74.7%. In mathematics, 68.1% of 10th graders were proficient or better, on par with the state average. The school's four-year graduation rates have ranged from 87.5% to 97.8% in recent years, exceeding the state average. Additionally, Urbandale High School has lower chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 20.2% to 37.6%, compared to some neighboring schools like East High School and Saydel High School.

Urbandale High School's performance and efficiency also stand out. The school's student-teacher ratio is lower, ranging from 14 to 15 students per teacher, compared to nearby schools. Additionally, Urbandale High School's spending per student ($11,428 in 2018-2019) is lower than some of the surrounding schools, such as Walnut Creek Campus ($18,513) and Virtual Campus ($15,636). Overall, Urbandale High School's consistent academic excellence, high graduation rates, and efficient use of resources make it an attractive option for families in the area.

1,301

Students ?

14.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,428

Per pupil spending ?

36.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

7111 Aurora Avenue
Urbandale, IA 50322-1741

(515) 457-6800

District: Urbandale Community School District

Racial breakdown:

White:

62.8%

Hispanic:

15.8%

African American:

9.0%

See top rated Iowa high schools

Compare Urbandale High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 35th percentile in 2015 → 56th in 2025

Strengths

✓94% graduate in 4 years — above the Iowa average (89%)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 21 percentile points since 2015

✓Above the Iowa median (56th percentile)

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (38% vs 22% Iowa)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school74%

District avg74%

Iowa avg69%

150^th of 340

Iowa public high schools ?

Top 44%▲ up 20 pts since 2015

From bottom 35% (2015) to top 44% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Iowa High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

126^th of 313Urbandale Community School District among Iowa districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Iowa percentile	Rating
2025	61.2	150 of 340	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	34.3	263 of 338	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	43.5	219 of 336	34.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	52.3	170 of 332	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	60.9	124 of 327	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	58.1	137 of 327	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	55.9	163 of 320	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2017	50.8	192 of 325	40.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	53.2	166 of 320	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2015	46.9	209 of 324	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2014	49.7	193 of 322	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	63.7	136 of 351	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2012	62.1	154 of 351	56.1%	★★★☆☆

By subject vs Iowa (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts82%+8 vs state

Science72%+5 vs state

Mathematics68%~ state avg

3.7

3 ratings · 3 written reviews

5★2

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Sunday, December 12, 2021

If you are rich and your child is perefect, attractive and popular and can learn completely on their own with very little guidance, this is the school for you. However, if even only one of those is not true of you and your child, don't send your child here. Its a very hostile environment. Bullies get away with everything. Teachers who actually get called out for not helping a student with concerns, sexual harassment and bullying blame other kids for not doing their job for them (I'm looking at you, Jayhawk Band). Most families in this district don't hold their children accountable for their behaviors so the spoiled brats get away with everything. They ignore 504 plans. The counselors don't counsel, they are completely clueless when it comes to mental health. The school board is a joke. I give one star for the very small handful of actual good teachers and the vocal music department which is amazing considering what and who they have to work with. Seriously, don't send your kids here if you actually love them. Close Quote

by a parent
Tuesday, January 22, 2019

My husband and I grew up in the Urbandale School District and now we are raising four children in this same district. We moved back here intentionally so that our children would have the same experience we had growing up. Our children have thrived in Urbanddale Schools and were able to be involved in many extra-curricular activities. My two oldest are at the top of their classes in the colleges they chose two attend. We still have two going to school here and would choose to keep them enrolled here even if we moved to a different school district. Close Quote

by a parent
Monday, January 21, 2019

Urbandale High School has a top notch, beautiful, state of the art building and teachers who go above and beyond to support their students! Their support of the fine arts is extraordinary and it shows in their music programs. Close Quote

Schools Near Urbandale High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ISASP English Language Arts (2025)			ISASP Mathematics (2025)			ISASP Science (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISASP English Language Arts 9th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 10th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 11th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 9th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 10th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 11th Grade	ISASP Science 10th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Urbandale High School	Public	9-12	7111 Aurora Avenue	Urbandale	50322	Polk County	Urbandale Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 457-6800	1,301	88	14.7	36.4%	817 (62.8%)	117 (9.0%)	205 (15.8%)	88 (6.8%)	4 (0.3%)	2 (0.2%)	68 (5.2%)	61.2	150^th of 340 public high schools	55.9%		34.3	263^rd of 338 public high schools	22.2%	113	83.2	82.0	80.4	63.3	68.1	71.0	71.8	$11,428	$388	$11,040
Hoover High School	Public	9-12	4800 Aurora Ave	Des Moines	50310	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 242-7300	898	44	20.5	80.0%	150 (16.7%)	329 (36.6%)	229 (25.5%)	134 (14.9%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (5.3%)	5.7	319^th of 340 public high schools	6.2%		4.8	321^st of 338 public high schools	5.0%	2	51.8	51.2	49.7	43.0	45.1	39.5	39.9	$17,790	$689	$17,101
Walnut Creek Campus	Public	9-12	1020 8th Street	West Des Moines	50265	Polk County	West Des Moines Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 633-6480	152	14	10.8	76.3%	76 (50.0%)	30 (19.7%)	28 (18.4%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (11.2%)	0.6	334^th of 340 public high schools	1.8%		1.2	328^th of 338 public high schools	3.0%	6	23.1	34.8	41.2	7.7	26.1	23.5	26.1	$18,513	$197	$18,315
Johnston Senior High School	Public	10-12	6500 NW 100th Street	Johnston	50131	Polk County	Johnston Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 278-0449	1,820	87	20.8	22.4%	1,233 (67.7%)	195 (10.7%)	142 (7.8%)	145 (8.0%)	2 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	93 (5.1%)	77.1	49^th of 340 public high schools	85.6%		75.9	53^rd of 338 public high schools	84.3%	4		85.8	79.5		80.5	78.5	80.5	$11,440	$378	$11,061
Roosevelt High School	Public	9-12	4419 Center St	Des Moines	50312	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 242-7272	2,051	66	31.2	55.2%	850 (41.4%)	562 (27.4%)	364 (17.7%)	64 (3.1%)	9 (0.4%)	7 (0.3%)	178 (8.7%)	31.5	269^th of 340 public high schools	20.9%		22.5	290^th of 338 public high schools	14.2%	21	71.0	67.5	61.6	58.8	65.4	54.1	60.7	$14,829	$690	$14,140
Valley High School	Public	10-12	3650 Woodland Ave	West Des Moines	50266	Polk County	West Des Moines Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 633-4000	2,178	119	18.3	68.0%	1,195 (54.9%)	258 (11.8%)	442 (20.3%)	132 (6.1%)	2 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	147 (6.7%)	37.9	254^th of 340 public high schools	25.3%		46.7	212^th of 338 public high schools	37.3%	42		73.2	61.0		64.9	62.7	61.1	$15,551	$791	$14,760
North High School	Public	9-12	501 Holcomb Ave	Des Moines	50313	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(515) 242-7200	1,428	66	21.4	84.0%	278 (19.5%)	342 (23.9%)	553 (38.7%)	155 (10.9%)	12 (0.8%)	4 (0.3%)	84 (5.9%)	2.8	326^th of 340 public high schools	4.1%		2.2	325^th of 338 public high schools	3.8%	1	48.0	48.8	38.5	33.5	39.2	34.8	42.1	$15,636	$747	$14,889
Great Oaks High School and Career Center	Public, Charter	9-12	100 East Euclid	Des Moines	50313	Polk County	Charter Organization: Oakmont Education	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(319) 321-9976	72	3	24.1	4.2%	23 (31.9%)	27 (37.5%)	21 (29.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)			25.0			14.3
Virtual Campus	Public, Virtual	9-12	1800 Grand Avenue	Des Moines	50309	Polk County	Des Moines Independent Community School District	No	(n/a)	Yes	No	(515) 242-8502	380	16	23.9	69.5%	178 (46.8%)	51 (13.4%)	103 (27.1%)	11 (2.9%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	34 (8.9%)	2.8	327^th of 340 public high schools	3.8%		8.9	314^th of 338 public high schools	7.1%	13	51.4	53.9	45.7	21.6	27.0	28.4	37.9
Saydel High School	Public	9-12	5601 NE 7th St	Des Moines	50313	Polk County	Saydel Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 262-9325	458	28	16.6	52.8%	311 (67.9%)	9 (2.0%)	93 (20.3%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (9.0%)	9.5	315^th of 340 public high schools	7.4%		12.6	308^th of 338 public high schools	8.9%	7	53.6	62.7	49.6	41.7	46.4	47.1	44.5	$15,532	$350	$15,182

Frequently Asked Questions about Urbandale High School

What is the racial makeup of Urbandale High School?

Students at Urbandale High School are 63% White, 16% Hispanic, 9% African American, 7% Asian, 5% Two or more races.

How many students attend Urbandale High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,301 students attended Urbandale High School.

What schools feed into Urbandale High School?

Urbandale High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Karen Acres Elementary School
Elementary : Webster Elementary School
Middle : Urbandale Middle School

Is Urbandale High School a good school?

Urbandale High School ranks 150^th of 340 Iowa high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Urbandale High School in?

Urbandale Community School District

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Latest Iowa data All new data »

2024–25 graduation ratesJun 13, 2026

2024–25 ISASP test scoresAug 20, 2025

2023–24 graduation ratesApr 1, 2025

2017–18 through 2023–24 attendance dataNov 15, 2024

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Iowa Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.