Saydel High School
Des Moines, IA 50313
Phone: (515) 262-9325
District: Saydel Community School District
GreatSchools Rating
public • Grades 9-12 • 434 students
Des Moines's Saydel High School serves grades 9-12 in the Saydel Community School District. Based on its state test results, it has received a GreatSchools Rating of 1 out of 10.
Saydel High School is a public school located in Des Moines, IA. 434 students attend Saydel High School.
School Ratings
| Category | Rating | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Test Scores | 1/10 | 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 | 1/10 | 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 | 4/10 | 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: November 29, 2020
Exception special education program. Students will be successful in it if parents take on more responsibility with their childs education if they get involved as well.
Posted: November 29, 2020
As a parent of a student soaring academically, athletically, musically and socially I cant agree with the low scoring on this site. Saydel is a fantastic school district for families that are looking for smaller class sizes and the opportunity to participate in many different activities. Unfortunately many families living in this low property tax area leave the district due to the things theyve heard about it in the past. Many of the families leaving have kids like mine that are academically sound and athletically driven and that hurts our schools scores on website such as Great Schools. Saydel is known for its wonderful special education programs and working well with high risk students and I feel that those wonderful programs are in need in more school districts is what hurts ours.
Fall 2020, the families the Saydel district passed a bond referendum to continue school building improvements such as additional classroom spaces, updates to the library and cafeteria, a new music wing and many more additions and updates. Many students thrive far beyond the Saydel walls as well. Many take advance classes at the DMACC Ankeny Campus and end up graduating from high school with not only their high school diploma, but the two year AA degree, shortening their four year college degree work.
Saydel is a very well hidden secret in the Des Moines metro. We moved here to start our family and to give our kids opportunities they would not get if attending larger school such as Johnston, Ankeny, Southeast Polk, Des Moines and several others. Give Saydel a chance and see what so many of us in this district already see and experience.
Posted: November 29, 2020
Posted: November 29, 2020
Posted: November 29, 2020
Posted: November 29, 2020
Posted: November 29, 2020
Posted: November 29, 2020
Posted: December 6, 2010
I agree that this is a well kept secret in Des Moines. Perfect size of school where most extracurricular activities are offered and everyone gets to participate. Class sizes average around 100. Safe school with top notch facilities. Competitive in all extracurricular activities with the exception of football. Largest negative is school is annual basement dweller in this activity but great school if you're not dreaming of sending your kid to the NFL. :)
Posted: June 5, 2008
Reviews provided by GreatSchools™
| # | Name | Type | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Copper Creek | Neighborhood/Subdivision | Pleasant Hill | IA | 5.8 mi |
| # | Name | City | State | Overall Rating | Distance |
|---|
| Base | Distance |
|---|---|
| Camp Dodge | 5.6 mi. |
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