On May 30, 1864, a committee consisting of Messrs. Leas, McClelland, and Dickerson was appointed to report on the advisability of establishing a high school to be separate and independent of the grade school in instructors, class rooms and curriculum.  This was to be opened that fall.  On July 1, the committee reported with a favorable decision, and it was decided to establish it at 6th and School Street - most of us will remember the building as the old Crocker Elementary School, or what was at that time, the Fourth Ward Building. 
Early in the fall of 1864, on the second floor of a little brick school house at Sixth and School, West High first came into existence.  There were only a few pupils and a single teacher, who had classes in all branches of education, from spelling to astronomy, from singing to surveying.
By certain accounts, the first year was "not an entire success" - which compelled the school to surrender the second floor to "larger primary classes."  The school fought  for existence for four years, gaining students very slowly and gradually establishing a standard among the citizens of West Des Moines (the West Des Moines School District - not to be confused with what we now know as W. Des Moines - formally Valley Junction on the west side of Des Moines corporate limits).
The first graduation class exercises from the West Des Moines Public Schools was in 1868.  There were four members of the class, one boy and three girls.  This matter of the girls outnumbers the boys continued throughout most of the 1800's.
The first encouragement for West High came in 1868, when the school was removed to the old Third Ward building which formerly stood on the corner of Ninth and Locust.  The building, though comparatively large, was poorly constructed and one morning the plastering fell from the ceiling onto the heads of the pupils.  For this and other reasons, it was decided to give up the third floor of the new Lincoln building to the high school.
Even this place was not without its drawbacks, for the heating was very poor and at times the gas was lighted that some sensation of warmth might be gained by the shivering students.  However, the accommodations were the best the school had yet enjoyed and she was quick to seize her opportunity and entered into her first era of prosperity.
The course of study, though somewhat different from the original one, still made the same requirements from all students and included such advanced subjects as trigonometry and calculus.  The faculty had increased to three and from time to time during the stay in this building new members were added and new studies included.  Science was made a specialty and one of the three high school rooms was given up to it. 
It was here also that West High first began to have other interests than studies.  Literary societies flourished, and declamatory or oratorical contests were very popular.  In these contests, representatives from West Des Moines several times captured the gold medal offered by the state association.  Debating became quite popular, and the first school paper known as the "High School Herald" was published.  Students began to take pride in their school and the first evidence of general enthusiasm and "school spirit" made itself felt by the rapid growth.

In just 20 years, attendance at West High had grown so much, that overcrowding was again an issue.  Coupled with the condition of the old Lincoln High building, once again it was found that history repeats itself.  In 1888, it was decided that a new building should be erected at Fifteenth and Center streets and that the "High School in a garret," name which the pupils all resented, should be abandoned.  The splendid new brick building was dedicated April 19, 1889, with imposing ceremonies, music, speeches, and a silk flag presentation by the members of the Grand Army of the Republic.  One of the speakers remarked: "We now have a new building capable of furnishing room enough for the next twenty years."
The West High School's newspaper, "The Tatler", of 1903, quotes a paper in 1888: "The building is beautifully located and is of magnificent proportion.  Its artistic appearance, the beauty of its architecture, the perfection of finish, the complete adaptability to its intended use, could not be known before."
The plans by architects Foster and Liebbe, included the placing of a huge clock in the tower, that would strike every quarter-hour.  However, the neighboring residents strenuously objected and the clock works were never installed.  Nevertheless, the four sides of the timepiece were adorned with the idle faces of the clock.  After a fire, the tower was razed.
It is interesting to note that they called this building: "West High and Industrial School".
As those patrons of education proudly and confidently proclaimed that this new structure could easily house the succeeding student bodies of West Des Moines,  little did they know that the within the next ten years the building would  be utilized to it's full capacity.  A scant 15 years since the 1888 proposal, a new addition was added to the "castle on the hill". 
The new addition had a magnificent assembly room, gymnasium and science laboratories.  The courses of study were again revised and propelled West High as  having the highest of all Iowa Schools in equipment, in reputation, and in standards of education. The new addition, which was occupied for the first time in October, 1903.
In West High School's 1909 Annual, The Tatler, it describes the educational programs and benefits this way:  "For those who wish to supplement high school with a college course, a diploma from the Latin course secures admission wherever any high school diplomas are accepted...
For others, the scientific course furnishes the best possible foundation for further pursuit of science, and in itself give a liberal education.
In the Modern Language course excellent instruction is offered in German and French and moreover splendid preparation for college work is included.
For those students who cannot expect a college education, the Manual Training and Commercial courses are excellent preparation for business life.  Heretofore it has been nearly impossible to supply even the local demand for graduates from these courses and a graduate can always demand a much higher salary than a person without such preparation."
Enrolment at West eclipsed the 1,000 mark in the 1910-11 school year with 1,075 students, and thirty-five teachers in regular daily classes.  

Des Moines opened two new high schools, the new Lincoln High School on S.W. 9th Street, and Roosevelt High School.  Roosevelt served the West Des Moines school district as the area high school along with North High School.  West's final senior class graduated in June of 1928.  West High School's function was changed to serve younger students as West Junior High School, in 1928.  A year later, a portion of the building was used as West Elementary School.