Van Meter High School

Summary:

Van Meter High School is a public high school serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 292 students, located in the Van Meter Community School District, which is ranked 4th out of 309 districts in Iowa and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Van Meter High School consistently outperforms the state average in ISASP (Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress) test scores across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, the school had 97% of 10th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 73.8%. Similarly, the school had 86.4% of 10th graders proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to the state average of 66%. This exceptional academic performance has earned the school a ranking among the top high schools in Iowa, reaching the #1 spot in the 2020-2021 school year and consistently ranking in the top 10 since then.

While Van Meter High School's student population is relatively homogeneous, with over 93% of students identifying as White, the school has a low percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 4.59% to 9.16% over the past three school years. This is significantly lower than the nearby West Des Moines Community School District, which had a 68.71% free and reduced lunch rate in 2022-2023 at Walnut Creek Campus. This suggests that Van Meter High School serves a relatively affluent community, which may have implications for the school's resources and the educational experiences it can provide to its students.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 520 1st Ave
       Van Meter, IA  50261


(515) 996-2221

District: Van Meter Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
5th of 338 Iowa High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $14,547 Help


Feeder schools for Van Meter High School:

Elementary:    Van Meter Elementary School
Middle:    Van Meter Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  13.7 Help
Number of students:  292

Racial breakdown:

White:
93.2%
Hispanic:
3.8%
Two or more races:
1.7%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  7.5% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Van Meter High School is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2017 the calculated Average Standard Score was 85.17. (See more...)
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Compare Details Van Meter High School ranks better than 98.5% of high schools in Iowa. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 91.92. (See more...)
Help
The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Van Meter High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Van Meter High School is $14,547.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Van Meter High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks Van Meter High School 5th of 338 Iowa public high schools. (See Van Meter High School in the ranking list.)

Van Meter Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Van Meter Community School District 4th of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Van Meter High School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools IA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2012 76.73 41st 349 88.3%
2013 83.23 16th 350 95.4%
2014 91.60 2nd 337 99.4%
2015 83.14 22nd 349 93.7%
2016 78.01 48th 343 86.0%
2017 85.17 11th 327 96.6%
See the entire list of Iowa High School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Iowa Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Van Meter High School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2012 45.48 242nd 351 31.1%
2013 78.01 38th 351 89.2%
2014 67.63 113th 322 64.9%
2015 77.76 49th 324 84.9%
2016 84.08 28th 320 91.3%
2017 81.09 32nd 325 90.2%
2018 79.49 29th 320 90.9%
2019 80.24 38th 327 88.4%
2021 94.55 1st 327 99.7%
2022 90.92 8th 332 97.6%
2023 93.31 4th 336 98.8%
2024 91.92 5th 338 98.5%
See the entire list of Iowa High School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Iowa Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Van Meter High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    





Data source: Iowa Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Van Meter High School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 169 0 3 0 0 n/a n/a 0 172
1989 162 0 3 0 0 n/a n/a 0 165
1990 166 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 166
1991 172 1 0 0 0 n/a n/a 0 173
1992 191 1 2 0 0 n/a n/a 0 194
1993 184 1 2 0 0 n/a n/a 0 187
1994 182 0 3 1 0 n/a n/a 0 186
1995 203 0 4 5 0 n/a n/a 0 212
1996 203 0 4 5 0 n/a n/a 0 212
1997 208 0 3 0 0 n/a n/a 0 211
1998 197 0 3 8 0 n/a n/a 0 208
1999 219 0 3 4 0 n/a n/a 0 226
2000 219 0 2 3 0 n/a n/a 0 224
2001 222 1 4 5 1 n/a n/a 0 233
2002 221 5 2 4 1 n/a n/a 0 233
2003 221 5 2 4 1 n/a n/a 0 233
2004 213 3 3 3 2 n/a n/a 0 224
2005 225 2 2 3 1 n/a n/a 0 233
2006 243 3 3 1 0 n/a n/a 0 250
2007 247 4 4 2 0 n/a n/a 0 257
2008 270 5 5 1 0 n/a n/a 0 281
2009 281 5 6 4 1 n/a n/a 0 297
2010 298 1 0 5 1 3 0 0 308
2011 304 1 1 5 1 3 1 0 316
2012 347 2 0 5 0 4 1 0 359
2013 352 2 1 7 0 3 2 0 367
2014 359 2 3 8 0 0 2 0 374
2015 369 3 2 9 1 0 2 0 386
2016 381 3 2 10 1 0 0 0 397
2017 391 2 1 10 2 0 1 0 407
2018 242 1 1 5 2 0 0 0 251
2019 239 0 0 5 2 0 1 0 247
2020 230 0 0 8 2 0 2 0 242
2021 239 1 0 7 2 0 2 0 251
2022 267 1 1 7 2 0 5 0 283
2023 272 3 1 11 0 0 5 0 292

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Van Meter High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 172 15.5 11.0 31.4
1989 165 1.6 103.1 16.4
1990 166 15.6 10.6 0
1991 173 17.6 9.8 12.1
1992 194 21.0 9.2 9.3
1993 187 17.8 10.5 10.7
1994 186 17.8 10.4 14.5
1995 212 20.7 10.2 11.8
1996 212 20.7 10.2 11.8
1997 211 18.3 11.5 11.4
1998 208 22.3 9.3 11.1
1999 226 22.4 10.1 10.2
2000 224 20.5 10.9 8.5
2001 233 20.8 11.2 8.2
2002 233 20.0 11.7 6.9
2003 233 20.0 11.7 6.9
2004 224 20.0 11.2 4.9
2005 233 19.7 11.8 6.9
2006 250 20.9 12.0 9.2
2007 257 22.4 11.5 8.2
2008 281 22.9 12.3 12.1
2009 297 24.2 12.3 10.4
2010 308 20.9 14.7 11.4
2011 316 20.0 15.8 12.7
2012 359 21.7 16.5 15
2013 367 23.0 15.9 14.7
2014 374 25.3 14.7 13.4
2015 386 27.0 14.2 10.6
2016 397 26.0 15.2 11.6
2017 407 29.3 13.8 10.3
2018 251 29.1 8.6 9.2
2019 247 25.5 9.6 10.5
2020 242 22.7 10.6 9.1
2021 251 21.6 11.6 9.2
2022 283 20.3 13.9 4.6
2023 292 21.3 13.7 7.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Van Meter High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 172 15.5 11.0 31.4
1989 165 1.6 103.1 16.4
1990 166 15.6 10.6 0
1991 173 17.6 9.8 12.1
1992 194 21.0 9.2 9.3
1993 187 17.8 10.5 10.7
1994 186 17.8 10.4 14.5
1995 212 20.7 10.2 11.8
1996 212 20.7 10.2 11.8
1997 211 18.3 11.5 11.4
1998 208 22.3 9.3 11.1
1999 226 22.4 10.1 10.2
2000 224 20.5 10.9 8.5
2001 233 20.8 11.2 8.2
2002 233 20.0 11.7 6.9
2003 233 20.0 11.7 6.9
2004 224 20.0 11.2 4.9
2005 233 19.7 11.8 6.9
2006 250 20.9 12.0 9.2
2007 257 22.4 11.5 8.2
2008 281 22.9 12.3 12.1
2009 297 24.2 12.3 10.4
2010 308 20.9 14.7 11.4
2011 316 20.0 15.8 12.7
2012 359 21.7 16.5 15
2013 367 23.0 15.9 14.7
2014 374 25.3 14.7 13.4
2015 386 27.0 14.2 10.6
2016 397 26.0 15.2 11.6
2017 407 29.3 13.8 10.3
2018 251 29.1 8.6 9.2
2019 247 25.5 9.6 10.5
2020 242 22.7 10.6 9.1
2021 251 21.6 11.6 9.2
2022 283 20.3 13.9 4.6
2023 292 21.3 13.7 7.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Van Meter High School

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $514 (3.5%) $14,033 (96.5%) $14,547

Data source: Iowa Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Van Meter High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 38th of 327 High schoolsRanks 4th of 336 High schools
 10.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
10th Grade English Language Arts (Van Meter High School)88.793.4
 4.7%
   10th Grade English Language Arts (Van Meter Community School District)88.793.4
 4.7%
   10th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)74.372.9
 1.4%
10th Grade Mathematics (Van Meter High School)67.990.8
 22.9%
   10th Grade Mathematics (Van Meter Community School District)67.990.8
 22.9%
   10th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)67.167
 0.1%
11th Grade English Language Arts (Van Meter High School)87.188.8
 1.7%
   11th Grade English Language Arts (Van Meter Community School District)87.188.8
 1.7%
   11th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)71.468.7
 2.7%
11th Grade Mathematics (Van Meter High School)85.586.3
 0.8%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Van Meter Community School District)85.586.3
 0.8%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)66.967.3
 0.4%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students247292
 18.2%
African American03
American Indian20
 100%
Asian01
Hispanic511
 120%
Pacific Islander00
White239272
 13.8%
Two or More Races15
 400%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients10.5%7.5%
 3%


Schools Near Van Meter High School









Frequently Asked Questions about Van Meter High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 292 students attended Van Meter High School.

Students at Van Meter High School are 93% White, 4% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 1% African American.

Yes! Van Meter High School is one of the best high schools in the state. It ranks 5th of 338 Iowa high schools.

Van Meter High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Van Meter Elementary School
Middle : Van Meter Middle School


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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.





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