We welcome you and your family to Indian Hills Junior High School, and we look forward to the opportunity of working with you.

Indian Hills Junior High serves about 700 students in grades 7 and 8. We have created smaller learning communities within Indian Hills: three seventh-grade and three eighth-grade teams of about 115 students. While a junior high is built to be in departments, we practice middle school philosophy, which focuses on teaming, relationships, the developmental needs of the students, and critical thinking skills used in an interdisciplinary approach.

The mission of the Indian Hills staff is to provide a well-rounded education for all students in a safe, supportive learning community using a team-oriented approach to promote lifelong learning.  The collaborative purpose of the building is to create “GRIT” — Growth mindset, Relationships, Innovation, and Teamwork — for all staff and students. To support this purpose, Indian Hills is a PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) school.  Our school-wide expectations for PBIS are Show your Tiger Pride: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Ready, and Be Resilient.

We welcome your questions, concerns, and suggestions. By working together in partnership, we will provide Indian Hills students with the best education possible.

Indian Hills Junior High opened its doors on Nov. 22, 1977. The formal dedication was held Sunday, April 16, 1978.

The current Indian Hills building has an interesting history. A labor strike had delayed the opening of the building, and a parent group was organized to help with moving equipment and supplies. The final move began at 6:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 20, and was to be completed that same weekend. Trucks, station wagons, shuttle buses, and cars were all used in the move. Each student helped carry an item into the building. By 6 p.m., all equipment and supplies had been delivered to the new building. A picnic supper was held in the student center. Students arrived for the first day of classes two days later, Monday, Nov. 22. The parent group that organized the move still exists and has been an integral part of the Indian Hills program.

Indian Hills sits on 22 acres of land in the Indian Hills subdivision of Clive, Iowa. Although located in Clive, the building is part of the West Des Moines Community School District and serves students in four communities: Clive, West Des Moines, Windsor Heights, and Urbandale.

Indian Hills originally had 28 classrooms, a spacious auditorium, a gymnasium and student center, preparation kitchens, and main offices. An additional 17 classrooms, one computer lab, two sciences rooms, a band room, and a second gym were added in 1993 during extensive remodeling. A complete renovation in 2009 included a kitchen makeover, new heating and air condition systems, new lockers, classroom technology upgrades, improvements to the athletic fields and entryway, and new carpet, tile, and paint throughout the building. Renovations continued in 2010, with the addition of a CAD lab, restroom upgrades, new paint and curtains for the auditorium, and new paint in the gym. The grounds provide three tennis courts, a softball field, three soccer fields, two baseball diamonds, a prairie area, outdoor classrooms, and parking for cars and bikes.

Indian Hills provides a curriculum with a strong basic program and a blend of elective exploratory programs necessary at the junior high level. Constant review of the curriculum has always taken place by the staff and administration to provide the best total educational program to the students. With strong parent support and student involvement, we plan to continue that tradition.