Waukee Schools acquires land for possible 3rd high school

WAUKEE, Iowa – As the state’s fastest-growing school district prepares to open its 11th elementary school this week, it is already looking ahead to whether another high school will be needed soon.

Just three years ago, the Waukee School District opened Waukee Northwest High School. Last week, the district bought 110 acres of land on the western edge of West Des Moines to be the eventual home of a possible third high school in the district.

While they aren’t building on the land right away the head of the district says it’s not far off.

“The way that works here is we have about 1,050 to 1,100 students in each class in grades K through four. We would need to get to more like 1,400 or 1,500 in those classes before we would need to make that move. So, we’re several years out and depending on our rate of growth, so we’ve averaged 450 to 500. If that persists, then I hate to say a number, but maybe a decade. If that slows, then longer. If it were to speed up then,” said Superintendent Dr. Brad Buck.

The land that was purchased is south of I-80, just east of Grand Prairie Parkway.

Dr. Buck did note that when the district was looking for a location for Northwest High School a decade ago, they were considering the same tract of land.

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