West High School

Summary:

West High School is a public high school in Sioux City, Iowa, serving 1,252 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Sioux City Community School District, which is ranked 269 out of 309 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

West High School has a significantly higher percentage of Hispanic students (42.49%) compared to nearby schools, which range from 2.25% to 24.21% Hispanic students. The school consistently underperforms the state and district averages in ISASP test scores for English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. For example, in 2023-2024, the school's 10th-grade proficiency rates were 66.9% in ELA, 56.9% in Math, and 52.6% in Science, compared to the state averages of 73.8%, 66%, and 59.5%, respectively. Additionally, West High School has a very high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 73.72% to 76.04% over the past three school years, significantly higher than the 15.95% to 64.08% range at other nearby schools.

While West High School faces challenges, the data suggests there are opportunities for improvement. The school's student-teacher ratio is relatively low compared to other nearby schools, which could be an asset in addressing student needs. Additionally, the nearby Woodbury Central Community School District, Lawton-Bronson Community School District, Hinton Community School District, and Sergeant Bluff-Luton Community School District all have significantly higher test scores and state rankings than West High School, suggesting potential for the school to learn from their practices and strategies.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 2001 Casselman
       Sioux City, IA  51103


(712) 279-6772

District: Sioux City Community School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
303rd of 338 Iowa High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $13,862 Help


Feeder schools for West High School:

Elementary:    Liberty Elementary School
    Loess Hills Elementary
    Riverside Elementary School
Middle:    West Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  15.8 Help
Number of students:  1,308

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
43.3%
White:
34.1%
Two or more races:
7.4%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  71.2% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details West High School ranks worse than 89.6% of high schools in Iowa. It also ranks last among 3 ranked high schools in the Sioux City Community School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 15.54. (See more...)
Help
The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at West 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.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details West High School has the smallest high school student body size in the Sioux City Community School District. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (43.3%), White (34.1%), two or more races (7.4%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 71.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Sioux City Community School District. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at West High School is 15.8, which is the lowest among 3 high schools in the Sioux City Community School District! (See more...)
Help
Compare West High School employs 82.7 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at West High School is $13,862. 1 high schools in the Sioux City Community School District spend more per student.
Schooldigger Rankings:

West High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks West High School 303rd of 338 Iowa public high schools. (See West High School in the ranking list.)

Sioux City Community School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Sioux City Community School District 269th of 309 Iowa school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for West High School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IA State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2012 24.46 308th 351 12.3%
2013 32.27 290th 351 17.4%
2014 20.75 282nd 322 12.4%
2015 23.40 272nd 324 16.0%
2016 20.26 272nd 320 15.0%
2017 20.29 284th 325 12.6%
2018 26.06 271st 320 15.3%
2019 15.98 300th 327 8.3%
2021 10.81 304th 327 7.0%
2022 10.96 308th 332 7.2%
2023 7.87 315th 336 6.3%
2024 15.54 303rd 338 10.4%
See the entire list of Iowa High School Rankings!

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

West 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 West 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 971 50 0 10 34 n/a n/a 0 1065
1989 902 68 5 21 30 n/a n/a 0 1026
1990 951 63 9 22 24 n/a n/a 0 1069
1991 856 54 3 28 33 n/a n/a 0 974
1992 848 74 4 29 73 n/a n/a 0 1028
1993 897 71 8 25 59 n/a n/a 0 1060
1994 908 72 16 34 53 n/a n/a 0 1083
1995 978 102 25 61 72 n/a n/a 0 1238
1996 978 102 25 61 72 n/a n/a 0 1238
1997 962 84 47 95 57 n/a n/a 0 1245
1998 1024 87 47 119 56 n/a n/a 0 1333
1999 986 109 71 169 69 n/a n/a 0 1404
2000 954 137 70 183 60 n/a n/a 0 1404
2001 885 123 62 197 76 n/a n/a 0 1343
2002 810 108 55 248 77 n/a n/a 0 1298
2003 810 108 55 248 77 n/a n/a 0 1298
2004 833 103 50 254 96 n/a n/a 0 1336
2005 777 95 47 222 86 n/a n/a 0 1227
2006 802 110 51 252 85 n/a n/a 0 1300
2007 789 108 40 282 73 n/a n/a 0 1292
2008 719 98 37 291 73 n/a n/a 0 1218
2009 659 103 39 309 67 n/a n/a 0 1177
2010 706 100 38 339 67 3 35 0 1288
2011 713 89 44 332 51 3 7 0 1239
2012 672 80 60 326 37 3 6 0 1184
2013 654 78 53 339 39 5 5 0 1173
2014 604 77 56 371 46 13 7 0 1174
2015 573 87 70 386 51 0 15 0 1182
2016 539 69 57 393 40 1 67 0 1166
2017 533 69 52 423 43 1 71 0 1192
2018 514 65 51 473 46 9 71 0 1229
2019 526 75 44 477 50 6 70 0 1248
2020 523 79 41 507 61 10 72 0 1293
2021 514 86 44 519 48 7 75 0 1293
2022 491 98 45 516 49 12 75 0 1286
2023 453 87 33 532 52 21 74 0 1252
2024 446 96 33 566 44 26 97 0 1308

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 West High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1065 67.7 15.7 15.7
1989 1026 63.6 16.1 15.6
1990 1069 61.9 17.2 0
1991 974 61.5 15.8 17.8
1992 1028 59.0 17.4 18.7
1993 1060 64.4 16.5 18.7
1994 1083 67.0 16.2 18.6
1995 1238 62.9 19.7 16.6
1996 1238 62.9 19.7 16.6
1997 1245 85.4 14.6 20.7
1998 1333 71.2 18.7 22.4
1999 1404 72.4 19.4 27.4
2000 1404 76.9 18.3 26.9
2001 1343 81.2 16.5 26.7
2002 1298 76.8 16.9 32.4
2003 1298 76.8 16.9 32.4
2004 1336 72.9 18.3 42.8
2005 1227 74.8 16.4 39.8
2006 1300 74.3 17.5 47.6
2007 1292 82.0 15.8 39.2
2008 1218 83.7 14.6 52.1
2009 1177 82.5 14.3 44.3
2010 1288 83.8 15.3 55
2011 1239 81.6 15.1 49
2012 1184 78.6 15.0 51.9
2013 1173 75.4 15.5 56.4
2014 1174 73.3 16.0 63.5
2015 1182 72.0 16.4 71.2
2016 1166 69.0 16.8 75
2017 1192 67.0 17.7 68.8
2018 1229 67.6 18.1 69.3
2019 1248 79.0 15.7 72.8
2020 1293 78.5 16.4 71.8
2021 1293 82.8 15.6 75.3
2022 1286 83.2 15.4 73.7
2023 1252 83.3 15.0 76
2024 1308 82.7 15.8 71.2

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 West High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1065 67.7 15.7 15.7
1989 1026 63.6 16.1 15.6
1990 1069 61.9 17.2 0
1991 974 61.5 15.8 17.8
1992 1028 59.0 17.4 18.7
1993 1060 64.4 16.5 18.7
1994 1083 67.0 16.2 18.6
1995 1238 62.9 19.7 16.6
1996 1238 62.9 19.7 16.6
1997 1245 85.4 14.6 20.7
1998 1333 71.2 18.7 22.4
1999 1404 72.4 19.4 27.4
2000 1404 76.9 18.3 26.9
2001 1343 81.2 16.5 26.7
2002 1298 76.8 16.9 32.4
2003 1298 76.8 16.9 32.4
2004 1336 72.9 18.3 42.8
2005 1227 74.8 16.4 39.8
2006 1300 74.3 17.5 47.6
2007 1292 82.0 15.8 39.2
2008 1218 83.7 14.6 52.1
2009 1177 82.5 14.3 44.3
2010 1288 83.8 15.3 55
2011 1239 81.6 15.1 49
2012 1184 78.6 15.0 51.9
2013 1173 75.4 15.5 56.4
2014 1174 73.3 16.0 63.5
2015 1182 72.0 16.4 71.2
2016 1166 69.0 16.8 75
2017 1192 67.0 17.7 68.8
2018 1229 67.6 18.1 69.3
2019 1248 79.0 15.7 72.8
2020 1293 78.5 16.4 71.8
2021 1293 82.8 15.6 75.3
2022 1286 83.2 15.4 73.7
2023 1252 83.3 15.0 76
2024 1308 82.7 15.8 71.2

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 West High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $375 (2.7%) $13,487 (97.3%) $13,862

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

Impact of COVID-19 on West 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 300th of 327 High schoolsRanks 315th of 336 High schools
 2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
10th Grade English Language Arts (West High School)63.557.1
 6.4%
   10th Grade English Language Arts (Sioux City Community School District)66.460.7
 5.7%
   10th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)74.372.9
 1.4%
10th Grade Mathematics (West High School)55.452.2
 3.2%
   10th Grade Mathematics (Sioux City Community School District)59.555.5
 4%
   10th Grade Mathematics (Iowa)67.167
 0.1%
11th Grade English Language Arts (West High School)5745.8
 11.2%
   11th Grade English Language Arts (Sioux City Community School District)59.452.4
 7%
   11th Grade English Language Arts (Iowa)71.468.7
 2.7%
11th Grade Mathematics (West High School)46.944
 2.9%
   11th Grade Mathematics (Sioux City Community School District)49.952.3
 2.4%
   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 Students12481252
 0.3%
African American7587
 16%
American Indian5052
 4%
Asian4433
 25%
Hispanic477532
 11.5%
Pacific Islander621
 250%
White526453
 13.9%
Two or More Races7074
 5.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients72.8%76%
 3.2%


Schools Near West High School









Frequently Asked Questions about West High School

West High School ranks in the bottom 10.4% of Iowa high schools.

West High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Liberty Elementary School
Elementary : Loess Hills Elementary
Elementary : Riverside Elementary School
Middle : West Middle School

Students at West High School are 43% Hispanic, 34% White, 7% Two or more races, 7% African American, 3% American Indian, 3% Asian, 2% Pacific Islander.

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,308 students attended West High 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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