5069 Raintree Dr
West Des Moines, IA 50265

Bullying is a problem, band teacher horrible, counselors not there to answer questions or help, if your student has health and/or learning differences do not send your student here!!!

We moved into the district in June of 2013 with our four children. Two of our children (straight A students who have scored in the 90% on the Iowa Assessment) attend Stilwell Junior High School. Let me preface my review by telling you that due to several job transfers this is our 5th school district and our second junior high/middle school. We've had our kids in private schools, public schools and one of the lost sought after pubiic charter schools in the country. Stilwell Junior High is an amazing institution, the administration (Tim Miller, Eric Boyle) is amazing! For a large district, they are getting it right. Our children do not have any special needs or deciplinary issues. They are leaders and are well-respected among their peers. I cannot speak to their special needs program.

Great school had 4 kids go there

I’ve been disappointed in our experience with Western Hills. It’s our neighborhood school, and I was excited to enroll my children in the Dual Language Spanish Immersion Program. While my children are learning, there’s no real communication or coordination - it does not operate like an organized “program.” The classes are full, with 26-28 students, in an older building with seemingly little space. There are some wonderful teachers, but they don’t always have the resources they need (while dealing with large classes and teaching in two languages). I haven’t been able with to identify a communication standard - some teachers are great communicators and others aren’t (and, this appears to be accepted). A “typical” student might do ok, but one that needs additional support, from gifted and talented to a 504 plan/IEP, may struggle to receive it. It’s been such a mixed bag, with the assigned teacher making a big impact on the overall experience. Overall test scores for the school as a whole are low, and I’ve heard a lot of reasons for this but no concrete action plan on how to support students. If it were not for the Spanish Immersion program, I would open enroll my children in another school within the district.