Urbandale High School
Urbandale, IA 50322
Phone: (515) 457-6800
District: Urbandale Community School District
GreatSchools Rating
public • Grades 9-12 • 1269 students
Urbandale High School serves grades 9-12 in the Urbandale Community School District. Based on its state test results, it has received a GreatSchools Rating of 4 out of 10.
Urbandale High School is a public school located in Urbandale, IA. 1269 students attend Urbandale High School.
School Ratings
| Category | Rating | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Test Scores | 6/10 | The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 Iowa Assessment data from Iowa Department of Education. |
| College Readiness | 10/10 | The College Readiness Rating uses this high school's graduation rates, college entrance exam participation and performance, or AP, IB, or Dual Enrollment participation to determine how well schools are preparing students for success in college and beyond. The College Readiness Rating was created using the following data from the 2021 Civil Rights Data Collection: percentage of students enrolled in IB, AP or Dual Enrollment classes in grades 9-12, using 2024 4-year high school graduation rate data from Iowa Department of Education, using 2025 Average ACT score data from Iowa Department of Education, and using 2026 demographic data from Iowa Department of Education. |
| Student Growth | 9/10 | The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from Iowa Department of Education. |
Posted: March 16, 2023
Lots of fights in the hallways, students skipping class and causing disruptions for others that are trying to get work done in the classroom, disproportionate funding goes to athletics instead of the arts, and teachers are not given much respect from administrators.
Failing students often form gangs and wreak havoc on all school property. The bathrooms are typically only partially functional on any given day and are poorly maintained. On the bright side, there's many excellent teachers, but of course there's a few stinkers as you'll have at any school.
There are hundreds of kids failing multiple classes, and they seem to only feel apathy towards it. The school environment (if you can't do yourself a favor and go to class) really doesn't do these kids any favors as it's impossible for staff to keep the 50-60 people that always skip class from escaping and causing problems. Lots of these kids don't have great home lives and the school doesn't do much to make an environment where they must do the right thing to continue being there.
3/5 stars, average high school experience.
Posted: March 16, 2023
Posted: March 16, 2023
Posted: March 16, 2023
Posted: March 16, 2023
Posted: March 16, 2023
Posted: March 16, 2023
Posted: March 16, 2023
Posted: June 16, 2020
0/10 I would never want my children to go here.
Posted: June 16, 2020
They only use busy work and dont focus on core subjects
Posted: June 16, 2020
Posted: June 16, 2020
Posted: June 16, 2020
Posted: June 16, 2020
Posted: January 22, 2019
Posted: January 22, 2019
I am a substitute teacher at the middle school and high school and I am always finding that the teachers go out of their way to give the kids that need extra help or encouragement what they need.
Posted: January 22, 2019
Posted: January 22, 2019
All 4 of my children attended Olmsted Elementary and the middle school. Two have graduated and have gone on to be very successful in college. One will graduate this year and one is in the middle school still. I would give Urbandale School district extremely high marks in almost all areas. They have all been involved in Student Government, Athletics and the music departments. Fabulous coaches, teachers directors all around. I can not say enough positive things about the staff at all of the schools. It continues to stay small enough that the kids feel like they know everyone at their school and genuinely care about one another.
Posted: January 22, 2019
At the middle school & high school, the kids always know, if they don't get it done in class, they have to bring it home and work on it. It is communicated all of the time.
Posted: January 22, 2019
I love how my children's teachers communicate via email if my son is ever missing an assignment and I am always encouraged to reach out to them if I every have an questions or issues.
Posted: January 22, 2019
Posted: January 21, 2019
Posted: January 21, 2019
Posted: January 21, 2019
Character counts starts at Elementary school, they encourage the kids as they get older to volunteer in the community so that they can earn a silver cord when they graduate. This requires a certain number of volunteer hours. The arts programs at the school are top-notch and the educators in those areas teach the kids how to present their best selves when visiting other schools, or performing in public.
Posted: January 21, 2019
I can speak to the High School, Middle School, Karen Acres and Olmsted - they have outstanding leaders there.
Posted: January 21, 2019
I don't have experience in this area, but I do know that they have many mainstream programs.
Posted: January 21, 2019
I don't know that anyone can get around this issue, but I would say that it is not encouraged and that all of the teachers and administrators care about the students.
Posted: January 21, 2019
I would give it a TEN. My third child is getting ready to graduate from Urbandale High School. All three started in pre-K with Olmstead as well as Kindergarten. They attended Karen Acres from 1st through 5th and then on to the middle school and the high school. Urbandale has a great deal of dual credit and AP opportunities for the kids. My three kids are all different but the oldest started at ISU with 78 transferable credit hours, our middle son had 59, and our daughter will also have 59. This has allowed them to graduate from college sooner (3.5 years for the oldest with a degree in computer science), saving us money. Our second son has opted to be involved in vocal music while also pursuing an engineering degree and our youngest is going to use her additional credit hours to study abroad for a semester while still graduating in four years. While no school is perfect Urbandale is great because of it's size. There are 1,200 students in 9 to 12th grade, and there are opportunities for everyone. My oldest wasn't as involved in activities, but we didn't feel that he was penalized for that in any way. The other two were very active in sports and vocal music which has built great character and taught them that hard work yields great results. I am a pick mother and if I had it to do all over again, I'd go the exact same route. Top notch education opportunities at Urbandale High School.
Posted: January 21, 2019
Teachers offer several ways to complete and turn in homework
Posted: January 21, 2019
UHS has many caring and talented teachers! Most of them really motivate a student to want to learn.
Posted: January 21, 2019
Our students are always noticed at extracurricular events for being kind and respectful
Posted: January 21, 2019
Posted: January 21, 2019
Posted: January 21, 2019
Posted: January 21, 2019
I have seen many of the teachers go above and beyond to make learning exciting at Urbandale HS! The support of the fine arts is TOP NOTCH and it shows in our music programs!
Posted: January 9, 2018
Not every child has access at internet at home to do power school assignments.
Posted: January 9, 2018
Bullying and segregation runs ramped at this school. Teachers have favorite students and many are singled out
Posted: January 9, 2018
Drugs and bullying are major issues at this school. Some teachers are very disrespectful to students and if a student responds in the same attitude, they get suspended, which also counts against their attendance.
Posted: January 9, 2018
Communication to parents can be non existent until an issue is inflated because it was aloud to continue without parents knowledge
Posted: January 9, 2018
Posted: January 9, 2018
Posted: January 9, 2018
Unless you are a very wealthy family that can volunteer and be involved with the programs the administrators think are important, expect unfair treatment, lack of communication, bullying, and the possibility of your child being targeted.
Posted: January 10, 2016
They have no problem allowing, encouraging, & even sanctioning bullying. They do it blatantly knowing that no one will stop them.
Posted: January 10, 2016
Posted: January 10, 2016
They encourage bullying & show blatant bias in whom they let speak at their schools despite the wishes of the students.
Posted: January 10, 2016
They show blatant bias in how they treat their students. They encouraging bullying for one. Another is they show bias for conservative speakers but refuse to allow liberal ones. Rather than letting students hear both sides & make up their own minds they are encouraging indoctrination.
Posted: May 16, 2015
Urbandale High School has provided our student with an exceptional educational environment. In addition to academics our student has excelled in both sports and the arts. We love how coaches and directors (choral and instrumental) work together so that students can be well rounded, explore possibilities, and make the most of their talents.
Posted: May 11, 2015
We cannot say enough good things about Urbandale!! What a great school, administration and teachers. Our kids are in the fine arts (show choir, chorus) and we have been so happy. Urbandale is unique in that there is full support behind all of their programs.
Posted: May 10, 2015
Urbandale is a great overall school. There is a nice balance between academics and extracurricular activities. The administrators take the time to know the students and develop an interest in them. The relationship with DMACC is also a huge benefit for the students - they can earn college credits while still in high school and also get a feel for what college expectations are.
Posted: September 6, 2013
Urbandale High School has been so welcoming for my sons and our family. This is a new school district for us and the move was much easier than we expected. Counselors and teachers are highly accessible, as is the superintendent (he even greeted us in person!). We home schooled our children up through 8th grade so it was important to us that we find a stable, caring environment for our kids' high school experience. I also like it that UHS works so closely with DMACC for college prep.
Posted: July 17, 2013
They have a horrible problem with bullying at this school. Unless your child is involved in sports do not expect to fit in with their cliques.
Reviews provided by GreatSchools™
| # | Name | Type | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Copper Creek | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Pleasant Hill | IA | 10.4 mi |
| # | Name | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|
| Base | Distance |
|---|---|
| Camp Dodge | 3.9 mi. |
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