2025 Compare Cities Education:
West Des Moines, IA vs Lancaster, CA

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Highlights
- Lancaster spends 21.9% more per student than West Des Moines.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 40.8% higher in Lancaster than in West Des Moines. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Lancaster had 15.5% fewer residents who had graduated High School compared to West Des Moines
 West Des Moines, IALancaster, CAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$17,429$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$11,894  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$8,492$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio15.53  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock65654573
 Students per Counselor362  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock8.3%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.2.1%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock81.7%88.9%
 Some College Educ.17.1%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock9.3%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.53.7%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock6.1%9.3%
 Professional Degree4.1%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock0.3%1.5%
Reviews for West Des Moines    4 Reviews

Over 16 years ago

I just moved here from out-of-state a few months ago and have been pleasantly surprised by the broad range of activities and amenities available in this medium sized IA  More

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Over 16 years ago

Am contemplating a move to WDM from the East Coast (NYC). Might there be anyone out there that may have experienced this and could offer guidance or comment. Thanks.   More

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We just moved to West Des Moines and we love it here! We moved here three months ago and every weekend we have been able to do something different and fun. There is  More

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Reviews for Lancaster    48 Reviews

Worse than even Compton in some ways... worse than hell overall. This place is so bad you will want to off yourself every day just by being here, but probably not too  More

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Over 5 years ago

I was born here, then grew up here for 17 years and joined the Army as a teen, but constantly went back to visit my parents and friends. I lived there again for 4 years  More

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Over 7 years ago

Moved to the Eastside of Lancaster. I have target, lowes, the whole wheatery, homedepot, bank of America, wells Fargo, Walmart, traders Joe's, Carl's jr, burger king,  More

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