West Des Moines Community Schools
West Des Moines Community Schools is a public K-12 district serving approximately 9,163 students across 14 schools in West Des Moines, Clive, and Windsor Heights, Iowa. Funded primarily by property taxes and state per-pupil aid, it operates PK-12 academic programs, dual language immersion, multilingual family services, and community education offerings.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1893
- HeadquartersWest Des Moines, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What West Des Moines Community Schools does
West Des Moines Community Schools (WDMCS) is a public school district organized as a political subdivision of the State of Iowa, serving approximately 9,163 PK-12 students across 14 schools in West Des Moines, Clive, and Windsor Heights. Founded in 1893 as the Valley Junction Independent School District and renamed in 1938, the district operates 8 elementary schools (PK-6), 2 junior high schools (grades 7-8), Valley Southwoods Freshman High School (grade 9), Valley High School (grades 10-12), and Walnut Creek Campus (alternative high school, grades 9-12). The district serves a demographically diverse population with 57.38% low-income students, 14% English Learners representing 70+ languages, 12% special education students, and 617 gifted/talented students (2022-23). WDMCS is led by Superintendent Dr. Matt Adams (since 2022) with 1,581 total staff including 712 licensed educators.
The district's core technology stack is built on Canvas LMS (Instructure) for curriculum delivery, assignments, and parent communication; Infinite Campus for student information management; Securly for Chromebook web filtering; Panorama Education for social-emotional learning surveys; and Google Workspace for Education. Specialized curriculum tools include ALEKS, IXL, Savvas enVision, HMH Into Reading, and Xello for career exploration. Multilingual family engagement is supported through RTT ELSA phone interpretation (180+ languages), TransACT translation, and a dedicated Multilingual Family Engagement Specialists team. The district administers state-required Panorama SEL surveys (twice annually, grades 3-12) and Conditions for Learning surveys (annually, grades 3-12) as part of Every Student Succeeds Act compliance.
WDMCS operates as a tax-funded public institution rather than a commercial enterprise. Revenue is derived primarily from local property taxes and Iowa state per-pupil aid (weighted for special education, ELL, and other categorical programs), supplemented by federal Title I funding and modest fee-based revenue from Tiger Cubs Preschool, Kids West childcare, summer programs, and facility rentals. Standard PK-12 education is tuition-free to district residents, with enrollment managed through geographic attendance zones and a district online enrollment portal. Fee-based services, athletics/activities (Tiger Athletics), and Community Education programs provide ancillary revenue. The district partners with DMACC for concurrent college enrollment (Class of 2026 earned 182 DMACC degrees and certificates before graduation) and the Food Bank of Iowa for nutrition support across eight food pantry locations.
West Des Moines Community Schools firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- West Des Moines Community Schools
- Legal name
- West Des Moines Community Schools
- Website
- https://wdmcs.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1893
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- West Des Moines Community Schools is a public K-12 district serving approximately 9,163 students across 14 schools in West Des Moines, Clive, and Windsor Heights, Iowa. Funded primarily by property taxes and state per-pupil aid, it operates PK-12 academic programs, dual language immersion, multilingual family services, and community education offerings.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
West Des Moines Community Schools industry classification
Industry- Product category
- K-12 Public Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Virtual & Blended Learning Programs (District-Run) (EDAJAAAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- English Learner (EL/ESL/ELL) & Bilingual Education Programs (EDAJAGAB), Newcomer & Refugee Student Support Programs (EDAJAGAH), Specialized Inclusive / Co-Taught Special Education Programs (EDAKAAAK)
Keywords
Where West Des Moines Community Schools is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- West Des Moines
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices14 records
Markets served
West Des Moines Community Schools business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Property Tax Revenue: Local property taxes constitute primary funding source for the school district, supporting general operations, facilities, and educational programs.
- State Funding (Per-Pupil Aid): State of Iowa provides per-pupil funding based on certified enrollment (student count on October 1 each year). Includes weighting for students in special programs such as English language learning.
- Federal Title Program Funding: Title I funding for schools with high concentrations of low-income students to ensure equitable educational opportunities and reduce achievement gaps.
- Fee-Based Services: Revenue from before/after school programs, summer programs, childcare (Tiger Cubs), food service, and facility rentals to supplement educational services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Others | Free Public Education (K-12) |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Tiger Cubs Preschool/Childcare |
| Unit Pricing | Per program | Summer Programs |
| Subscription | Monthly | Employee Benefits (Internal) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
West Des Moines Community Schools product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WDMCS provides free public K-12 education to approximately 9,163 students across 14 schools in West Des Moines, Clive, and Windsor Heights, Iowa. The district offers a customized learning experience through academic programs including Dual Language Spanish Immersion, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Gifted and Talented, Special Education, Title I, and the Home School Assistance Program, supplemented by Tiger Cubs Preschool, Transitional Kindergarten, and Community Education fee-based services.
Product overview
West Des Moines Community Schools (WDMCS) is a public school district offering a comprehensive PK-12 educational ecosystem. The district operates as a unified platform centered around Canvas LMS for learning management and Infinite Campus for student information, supplemented by extensive academic programs including Dual Language Spanish Immersion, ESOL, Gifted and Talented, Special Education, and Title I programs. The district serves approximately 9,163 students across 14 schools (8 elementary, 2 junior high, 2 high schools plus an alternative campus), with additional programs including Tiger Cubs Preschool, Transitional Kindergarten, Home School Assistance Program, and extensive Community Education offerings. Student assessment tools include Panorama SEL surveys and state-required Conditions for Learning surveys. The district provides student support services including transportation, nutrition, health services, counseling, and athletics/activities through Tiger Athletics.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Free Public K-12 Education (PK-12 Enrollment)
- Canvas Learning Management System
- Infinite Campus Student Information System
- 8 Elementary Schools (PK-6)
- 2 Junior High Schools (Grades 7-8)
- Valley High School (Grades 10-12)
- Valley Southwoods Freshman High School (Grade 9)
- Walnut Creek Campus (Alternative High School)
- Dual Language Spanish Immersion Program
- English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
- Gifted and Talented Program
- Special Education Services
- Title I Programs
- Home School Assistance Program (HSAP)
- Tiger Cubs Preschool
- Transitional Kindergarten
- Panorama Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Survey
- Conditions for Learning Survey
- Seal of Biliteracy
- Community Education
- Tiger Athletics and Activities
- Student and Family Services
Companies that use West Des Moines Community Schools
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
West Des Moines Community Schools technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration30 records
Feature4 records
West Des Moines Community Schools partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Food Bank of IowacoreWDMCS partners with the Food Bank of Iowa to provide nutrition support to students and families through food pantries at eight buildings across the district. This addresses food insecurity among the 57.38% low-income student population.
- Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC)coreValley High School students can earn college credits and credentials through DMACC concurrent enrollment. Class of 2026 earned 182 DMACC degrees and certificates before graduation.
- RTT ELSA (Interpretation Services)coreWDMCS utilizes RTT ELSA phone interpretation service offering over 180 languages to support communication with non-English speaking families during parent-teacher conferences, registration, and other school communications.
- Panorama EducationcoreContracted vendor for administering Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) surveys to students in grades 3-12 twice annually. Panorama provides reports and data protection for student survey responses.
- Canvas (by Instructure)coreOfficial Learning Management System (LMS) used district-wide for managing curriculum, assignments, grades, and parent/guardian communication. Canvas platform serves as the primary digital classroom environment.
- Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of IowacoreDistrict provides health insurance benefits to employees through Wellmark with multiple plan options (HDHP, POS, PPO). Coverage period July 1 - June 30 annually.
- Delta Dental of IowacoreDistrict provides single dental coverage to all eligible employees through Delta Dental PPO plan. Employees can visit any dentist with lower out-of-pocket costs when using in-network providers.
- Employee and Family Resources (EFR)coreEFR provides confidential counseling services, financial consultation, legal consultation, life coaching, and child/eldercare resources to district employees. First three sessions are free for employees.
- Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (IPERS)coreMandatory retirement plan for all full and part-time employees. Employee contribution 6.29%, district contribution 9.44%, total 15.73% of pre-tax pay.
- Madison National Life InsurancecoreDistrict offers group-term life insurance and long-term disability coverage through Madison National. Employees may purchase supplemental life and AD&D insurance.
- beBetter HealthminorPartner for employee wellness program offering health activities, challenges, and programs. Employees on WDMCS health plan can earn up to $275 in payroll incentives for wellness participation.
- Iowa Department of EducationcoreWDMCS operates under Iowa Department of Education oversight and participates in state accountability systems including Iowa School Performance Profiles and Every Student Succeeds Act compliance.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights7 records
West Des Moines Community Schools competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Iowa City Community School District: Another large Iowa public district with strong ESOL/ELL programs and a similar political-subdivision structure, but located in a different region of the state with no direct enrollment overlap.
- Linn-Mar Community School District: Cedar Rapids-area district with similar K-12 offerings and funding model; comparable in operating structure but geographically distinct from WDMCS.
- Cedar Rapids Community School District: Large Iowa public district comparable in scale and program breadth (Dual Language, GT, Special Education), serving a separate geographic market from WDMCS.
Direct peers
- Ankeny Community School District: Adjacent suburban Des Moines metro district of similar scale with PK-12 academic programs, comparable demographics, and direct open-enrollment competition with WDMCS.
- Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District: Western Des Moines suburb district that shares geographic catchment overlap with WDMCS and operates a comparable K-12 program portfolio.
- Des Moines Public Schools: Largest Iowa district, also offering ESOL, Dual Language, GT, and Special Education with extensive wraparound services; the primary urban peer in the same metropolitan area.
- Urbandale Community School District: Inner-ring Des Moines suburb with similar enrollment scale, ELL programs, and concurrent-enrollment partnerships with DMACC, mirroring WDMCS's academic model.
- Waukee Community School District: One of the fastest-growing Des Moines suburbs; operates K-12 schools with comparable programs and competes for enrollment growth in the same metro corridor as WDMCS.
- Johnston Community School District: Suburban Des Moines district with overlapping K-12 programs, ELL services, and similar per-pupil funding dynamics; competes for open-enrollment students in the same labor market.
- Southeast Polk Community School District: Des Moines metro district of similar size offering K-12 education including ELL and special education, with comparable budget structure funded through Iowa per-pupil aid and property taxes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
West Des Moines Community Schools social profiles
Digital presenceWest Des Moines Community Schools financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
West Des Moines Community Schools leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles22 records
West Des Moines Community Schools funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
West Des Moines Community Schools M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about West Des Moines Community Schools
What does West Des Moines Community Schools do?
WDMCS provides free public K-12 education to approximately 9,163 students across 14 schools in West Des Moines, Clive, and Windsor Heights, Iowa. The district offers a customized learning experience through academic programs including Dual Language Spanish Immersion, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Gifted and Talented, Special Education, Title I, and the Home School Assistance Program, supplemented by Tiger Cubs Preschool, Transitional Kindergarten, and Community Education fee-based services.
Is West Des Moines Community Schools a public or private company?
West Des Moines Community Schools is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was West Des Moines Community Schools founded?
West Des Moines Community Schools was founded in 1893. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is West Des Moines Community Schools based?
West Des Moines Community Schools is headquartered in West Des Moines, United States, in the North America region.
How does West Des Moines Community Schools make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Property Tax Revenue is the primary driver. The others are state Funding (Per-Pupil Aid), federal Title Program Funding and fee-Based Services.
Who are West Des Moines Community Schools's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Iowa City Community School District, Linn-Mar Community School District and Cedar Rapids Community School District. Direct peers are Ankeny Community School District, Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District, Des Moines Public Schools, Urbandale Community School District, Waukee Community School District, Johnston Community School District and Southeast Polk Community School District.
Does West Des Moines Community Schools have an API?
No public API is recorded for West Des Moines Community Schools.
What industry is West Des Moines Community Schools in?
West Des Moines Community Schools's product category is K-12 Public Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAAAI, Public Virtual & Blended Learning Programs (District-Run), with a secondary code of EDAJAGAB, English Learner (EL/ESL/ELL) & Bilingual Education Programs. Its NAICS code is 611110 and its SIC code is 8200.