Best Middle Schools in Iowa (2025-26)

Ranked middle schools

227

Listed, not ranked

Every ranked middle school in Iowa, ordered by SchoolGrade. A grade rewards actual test performance against the projection for each school's student context, so a B in a high-poverty school can outrank an A- elsewhere on impact. Click a column heading to sort, or filter by school, city or district.

Iowa rankings: High Schools · Middle Schools · Elementary Schools

Iowa middle schools ranked

Rank	Grade	School	City	District	Actual	Projected	Impact	Students
#1	A+	Pella Middle School	Pella	Pella Comm School District	90%	76%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	382
#2	A+	Denver Middle School	Denver	Denver Comm School District	88%	76%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	207
#3	A+	Gilbert Middle School	Gilbert	Gilbert Comm School District	87%	67%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	409
#4	A+	Pleasant Valley Junior High School	Leclaire	Pleasant Valley Comm School District	86%	73%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	856
#5	A+	Van Meter Middle School	Van Meter	Van Meter Comm School District	86%	76%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	227
#6	A+	Solon Middle School	Solon	Solon Comm School District	85%	76%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	345
#7	A+	Ballard Middle School	Huxley	Ballard Comm School District	84%	71%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	432
#8	A+	Dike New Hartford Junior High School	New Hartford	Dike-New Hartford Comm School District	84%	70%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	215
#9	A+	North Polk Middle School	Alleman	North Polk Comm School District	84%	73%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	455
#10	A+	Northview Middle School	Ankeny	Ankeny Comm School District	83%	67%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	1,065
#11	A+	Prairie Ridge Middle School	Ankeny	Ankeny Comm School District	83%	75%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	1,025
#12	A+	Dc G Oak View	Grimes	Dallas Center-Grimes Comm School District	82%	64%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	578
#13	A+	Moc Floyd Valley Middle School	Alton	MOC-Floyd Valley Comm School District	82%	55%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	329
#14	A+	St Ansgar Middle School	St Ansgar	St Ansgar Comm School District	82%	74%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	117
#15	A+	Treynor Middle School	Treynor	Treynor Comm School District	82%	60%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	213
#16	A+	Waukee Middle School	Waukee	Waukee Comm School District	82%	75%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	1,069
#17	A+	Grundy Center Middle School Grundy Center	Grundy Center	Grundy Center Comm School District	81%	67%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	212
#18	A+	Roland Story Middle School	Roland	Roland-Story Comm School District	81%	73%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	317
#19	A+	Vinton Shellsburg Middle School	Vinton	Vinton-Shellsburg Comm School District	81%	73%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	318
#20	A+	Woodward Granger Middle School	Woodward	Woodward-Granger Comm School District	81%	65%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	208
#21	A+	Adm Middle School	Adel	Adel DeSoto Minburn Comm School District	80%	66%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	343
#22	A+	Mount Vernon Middle School	Mount Vernon	Mount Vernon Comm School District	80%	73%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	397
#23	A+	Okoboji Middle School	Milford	Okoboji Comm School District	80%	72%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	346
#24	A+	Parkview Middle School	Ankeny	Ankeny Comm School District	80%	69%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	867
#25	A+	Peet Junior High School	Cedar Falls	Cedar Falls Comm School District	80%	70%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	670
#26	A+	Sergeant Bluff Luton Middle School	Sergeant Bluff	Sergeant Bluff-Luton Comm School District	80%	61%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	369
#27	A+	Southview Middle School	Ankeny	Ankeny Comm School District	80%	61%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	896
#28	A+	Central Dewitt Middle School	De Witt	Central DeWitt School District	79%	63%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	230
#29	A+	Central Lee Middle School	Donnellson	Central Lee Comm School District	79%	62%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	267
#30	A+	North Scott Junior High School	Eldridge	North Scott Comm School District	79%	69%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	541
#31	A+	Summit Middle School	Johnston	Johnston Comm School District	79%	68%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	1,112
#32	A+	West Delaware Middle School	Manchester	West Delaware County Comm School District	79%	60%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	377
#33	A+	Decorah Middle School	Decorah	Decorah Community School District	78%	73%	Exceeds Expectations	461
#34	A+	Holmes Junior High School	Cedar Falls	Cedar Falls Comm School District	78%	69%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	639
#35	A+	Johnston Middle School	Johnston	Johnston Comm School District	78%	63%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	1,166
#36	A+	South Middle School	Waukee	Waukee Comm School District	78%	71%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	909
#37	A+	Akron Westfield Middle School	Akron	Akron Westfield Comm School District	77%	46%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	139
#38	A+	Albia Middle School	Albia	Albia Comm School District	77%	59%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	164
#39	A+	Lansing Middle School	Lansing	Eastern Allamakee Comm School District	77%	63%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	76
#40	A+	Lynnville Sully Middle School	Sully	Lynnville-Sully Comm School District	77%	68%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	117
#41	A+	Maquoketa Valley Middle School	Delhi	Maquoketa Valley Comm School District	77%	53%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	159
#42	A+	Mediapolis Middle School	Mediapolis	Mediapolis Comm School District	77%	62%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	227
#43	A+	Oak Ridge School	Marion	Linn-Mar Comm School District	77%	71%	Exceeds Expectations	526
#44	A+	Prairieview School	Waukee	Waukee Comm School District	77%	70%	Exceeds Expectations	1,039
#45	A+	Underwood Middle School	Underwood	Underwood Comm School District	77%	68%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	194
#46	A+	Sibley Ocheyedan Middle School	Sibley	Sibley-Ocheyedan Comm School District	76%	60%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	199
#47	A+	Center Point Urbana Middle School Center	Point	Center Point-Urbana Comm School District	75%	69%	Exceeds Expectations	337
#48	A+	Drexler Middle School	Farley	Western Dubuque Comm School District	75%	70%	Exceeds Expectations	655
#49	A+	Indianola Middle School	Indianola	Indianola Comm School District	75%	72%	Exceeds Expectations	849
#50	A+	New Hampton Middle School	New Hampton	New Hampton Comm School District	75%	67%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	279
#51	A+	Timberline School	Waukee	Waukee Comm School District	75%	66%	Exceeds Expectations	889
#52	A+	Waverly Shell Rock Middle School	Waverly	Waverly-Shell Rock Comm School District	75%	67%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	699
#53	A+	West Lyon Junior High School	Inwood	West Lyon Comm School District	75%	67%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	133
#54	A+	Clarion Goldfield Dows Middle School	Clarion	Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Comm School District	74%	65%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	193
#55	A+	Clear Creek Amana Middle School	Tiffin	Clear Creek Amana Comm School District	74%	59%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	640
#56	A+	Forest City Middle School	Forest City	Forest City Comm School District	74%	64%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	330
#57	A+	Garner Hayfield Ventura Middle School	Garner	Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Comm School District	74%	57%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	258
#58	A+	Harlan Community Middle School	Harlan	Harlan Comm School District	74%	66%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	342
#59	A+	Spencer Middle School	Spencer	Spencer Comm School District	74%	52%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	514
#60	A+	Union Middle School	Dysart	Union Comm School District	74%	57%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	201
#61	A+	West Marshall Middle School State Center	State Center	West Marshall Comm School District	74%	65%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	195
#62	A+	Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School	Dubuque	Dubuque Comm School District	73%	69%	Exceeds Expectations	1,093
#63	A+	Glenwood Middle School	Glenwood	Glenwood Comm School District	73%	70%	Exceeds Expectations	451
#64	A+	Norwalk Middle School	Norwalk	Norwalk Comm School District	73%	62%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	787
#65	A+	Ogden Middle School	Ogden	Ogden Comm School District	73%	67%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	165
#66	A+	Panorama Middle School	Panora	Panorama Comm School District	73%	66%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	161
#67	A+	Bettendorf Middle School	Bettendorf	Bettendorf Comm School District	72%	64%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	987
#68	A+	Earlham Middle School	Earlham	Earlham Comm School District	72%	66%	Exceeds Expectations	132
#69	A+	Excelsior Middle School	Marion	Linn-Mar Comm School District	72%	68%	Exceeds Expectations	617
#70	A+	Humboldt Middle School	Humboldt	Humboldt Comm School District	72%	65%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	440
#71	A+	North Linn Middle School	Troy Mills	North Linn Comm School District	72%	70%	Exceeds Expectations	95
#72	A+	Osage Middle School	Osage	Osage Comm School District	72%	66%	Exceeds Expectations	268
#73	A+	Pleasantville Middle School	Pleasantville	Pleasantville Comm School District	72%	61%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	114
#74	A+	Tri Center Middle School	Neola	Tri-Center Comm School District	72%	68%	Exceeds Expectations	162
#75	A+	Woodbury Central Middle School	Moville	Woodbury Central Comm School District	72%	65%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	120
#76	A+	Grinnell Community Middle School	Grinnell	Grinnell-Newburg Comm School District	71%	64%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	457
#77	A+	Lewis Central Middle School	Council Bluffs	Lewis Central Comm School District	71%	58%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	742
#78	A+	Adair Casey JR High School	Adair	Adair-Casey Comm School District	70%	57%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	103
#79	A+	Alburnett Middle School	Alburnett	Alburnett Comm School District	70%	67%	Exceeds Expectations	188
#80	A+	Aplington Parkersburg Middle School	Aplington	Aplington-Parkersburg Comm School District	70%	63%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	179
#81	A+	Mid Prairie Middle School	Kalona	Mid-Prairie Comm School District	70%	67%	Exceeds Expectations	430
#82	A+	Nodaway Valley Middle School	Fontanelle	Nodaway Valley Comm School District	70%	64%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	132
#83	A+	Rock Valley Middle School	Rock Valley	Rock Valley Comm School District	70%	53%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	174
#84	A+	Southeast Polk Junior High	Pleasant Hill	Southeast Polk Comm School District	70%	56%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	1,088
#85	A+	Spirit Lake Middle School	Spirit Lake	Spirit Lake Comm School District	70%	68%	Exceeds Expectations	358
#86	A+	Stilwell Junior High School	West Des Moines	West Des Moines Comm School District	70%	63%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	684
#87	A+	West Branch Middle School	West Branch	West Branch Comm School District	70%	63%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	257
#88	A+	West Central Valley Middle School	Redfield	West Central Valley Comm School District	70%	54%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	184
#89	A+	Winterset Junior High School	Winterset	Winterset Comm School District	70%	62%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	247
#90	A+	Algona Middle School	Algona	Algona Comm School District	69%	66%	Exceeds Expectations	440
#91	A+	Ames Middle School	Ames	Ames Comm School District	69%	64%	Exceeds Expectations	1,002
#92	A+	Clear Lake Middle School	Clear Lake	Clear Lake Comm School District	69%	67%	Exceeds Expectations	334
#93	A+	East Marshall Middle School	Gilman	East Marshall Comm School District	69%	62%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	165
#94	A+	North Central Junior High School	North Liberty	Iowa City Comm School District	69%	69%	Meets Expectations	622
#95	A+	Sheldon Middle School	Sheldon	Sheldon Comm School District	69%	55%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	320
#96	A+	South Hardin Middle School	Hubbard	Hubbard-Radcliffe Comm School District	69%	62%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	193
#97	A+	Urbandale Middle School	Urbandale	Urbandale Comm School District	69%	57%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	894
#98	A+	Waukon Middle School	Waukon	Allamakee Comm School District	69%	63%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	270
#99	A+	Alta Aurelia Middle Sch	Aurelia	Alta-Aurelia Comm School District	68%	60%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	231
#100	A+	Atlantic Middle School	Atlantic	Atlantic Comm School District	68%	65%	Exceeds Expectations	329
#101	A+	Carroll Middle School	Carroll	Carroll Comm School District	68%	65%	Exceeds Expectations	489
#102	A+	Chariton Middle School	Chariton	Chariton Comm School District	68%	51%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	285
#103	A+	Denison Middle School	Denison	Denison Comm School District	68%	57%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	502
#104	A+	Highland Middle School	Riverside	Highland Comm School District	68%	63%	Exceeds Expectations	111
#105	A+	Hoover Middle School	Waterloo	Waterloo Comm School District	68%	55%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	883
#106	A+	Madrid Junior High School	Madrid	Madrid Comm School District	68%	64%	Exceeds Expectations	153
#107	A+	North Fayette Valley Middle School	Elgin	North Fayette Valley Comm School District	68%	61%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	237
#108	A+	Northwest Junior High School	Coralville	Iowa City Comm School District	68%	63%	Exceeds Expectations	730
#109	A+	Odebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove Middle School	Odebolt	Odebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove Comm School District	68%	61%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	214
#110	A+	Sioux Center Middle School Sioux Center	Sioux Center	Sioux Center Comm School District	68%	57%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	350
#111	A+	West Hancock Middle School	Kanawha	West Hancock Comm School District	68%	61%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	165
#112	A	Benton Community Middle School	Van Horne	Benton Comm School District	67%	70%	Meets Expectations	235
#113	A	Clayton Ridge Middle School	Guttenberg	Clayton Ridge Comm School District	67%	50%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	125
#114	A	George Little Rock Middle School	George	George-Little Rock Comm School District	67%	53%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	60
#115	A	Indian Hills Junior High School	Clive	West Des Moines Comm School District	67%	60%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	696
#116	A	Le Mars Middle School	Le Mars	Le Mars Comm School District	67%	64%	Exceeds Expectations	488
#117	A	Oskaloosa Middle School	Oskaloosa	Oskaloosa Comm School District	67%	65%	Exceeds Expectations	454
#118	A	Pcm Middle School	Prairie City	PCM Comm School District	67%	65%	Exceeds Expectations	247
#119	A	Pierson Middle School	Pierson	Kingsley-Pierson Comm School District	67%	62%	Exceeds Expectations	139
#120	A	Remsen Union Middle School	Remsen	Remsen-Union Comm School District	67%	62%	Exceeds Expectations	174
#121	A	West Bend Mallard Middle School	West Bend	West Bend-Mallard Comm School District	67%	52%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	111
#122	A	Fairfield Middle School	Fairfield	Fairfield Comm School District	66%	58%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	438
#123	A	Prairie Point	Cedar Rapids	College Comm School District	66%	54%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	1,324
#124	A	Tipton Middle School	Tipton	Tipton Comm School District	66%	59%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	292
#125	A	Carlisle Middle School	Carlisle	Carlisle Comm School District	65%	59%	Exceeds Expectations	543
#126	A	Cherokee Middle School	Cherokee	Cherokee Comm School District	65%	61%	Exceeds Expectations	355
#127	A	Jesup Middle School	Jesup	Jesup Comm School District	65%	59%	Exceeds Expectations	252
#128	A	Monticello Middle School	Monticello	Monticello Comm School District	65%	64%	Meets Expectations	299
#129	A	Mount Pleasant Middle School	Mount Pleasant	Mount Pleasant Comm School District	65%	53%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	406
#130	A	Sioux Central Middle School	Sioux Rapids	Sioux Central Comm School District	65%	62%	Exceeds Expectations	141
#131	A	Harding Middle School	Cedar Rapids	Cedar Rapids Comm School District	64%	62%	Exceeds Expectations	713
#132	A	Southeast Junior High School	Iowa City	Iowa City Comm School District	64%	59%	Exceeds Expectations	812
#133	A	Vernon Middle School	Marion	Marion Independent School District	64%	61%	Exceeds Expectations	668
#134	A	Creston Middle School	Creston	Creston Comm School District	63%	56%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	291
#135	A	Emmetsburg Middle School	Emmetsburg	Emmetsburg Comm School District	63%	59%	Exceeds Expectations	225
#136	A	Hartley Melvin Sanborn Middle School	Sanborn	Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District	63%	58%	Exceeds Expectations	174
#137	A	Knoxville Middle School	Knoxville	Knoxville Comm School District	63%	63%	Meets Expectations	368
#138	A	Nevada Middle School	Nevada	Nevada Comm School District	63%	58%	Exceeds Expectations	443
#139	A	North Union Middle School	Swea City	North Kossuth Comm School District	63%	62%	Meets Expectations	128
#140	A	Schaller Crestland Ridge View Middle School	Early	Schaller-Crestland Comm School District	63%	46%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	171
#141	A	Shenandoah Middle School	Shenandoah	Shenandoah Comm School District	63%	52%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	296
#142	A	Sumner Fredericksburg Middle School	Fredericksburg	Sumner-Fredericksburg Comm School District	63%	64%	Meets Expectations	224
#143	A	Agwsr Middle School	Wellsburg	AGWSR Comm School District	62%	62%	Meets Expectations	161
#144	A	Anamosa Middle School	Anamosa	Anamosa Comm School District	62%	52%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	344
#145	A	East Middle School	Sioux City	Sioux City Comm School District	62%	53%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	1,067
#146	A	George Washington Middle School	Dubuque	Dubuque Comm School District	62%	49%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	624
#147	A	Hamburg Middle School	Hamburg	Hamburg Comm School District	62%	43%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	40
#148	A	Merrill Middle School	Des Moines	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	62%	59%	Exceeds Expectations	634
#149	A	Mvao Middle School	Anthon	Maple Valley-Anthon Oto Comm School District	62%	60%	Exceeds Expectations	128
#150	A	West Liberty Middle School	West Liberty	West Liberty Comm School District	62%	52%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	399
#151	A	Southeast Webster Grand Southeast Valley Middle	Burnside	Southeast Valley Community School District	61%	63%	Meets Expectations	324
#152	A	Taft Middle School	Cedar Rapids	Cedar Rapids Comm School District	61%	60%	Meets Expectations	578
#153	A	Bcluw Middle School	Union	BCLUW Comm School District	60%	56%	Exceeds Expectations	150
#154	A	Greene County Middle School	Jefferson	Greene County Comm School District	60%	57%	Exceeds Expectations	346
#155	A	Montezuma Junior High School	Montezuma	Montezuma Comm School District	60%	58%	Exceeds Expectations	112
#156	A	Newell Fonda Middle Sch	Newell	Newell-Fonda Comm School District	60%	54%	Exceeds Expectations	123
#157	A	West Monona Middle Sch	Onawa	West Monona Comm School District	60%	40%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	105
#158	A	Camanche Middle School	Camanche	Camanche Comm School District	59%	56%	Exceeds Expectations	282
#159	A	Davis County Middle School	Bloomfield	Davis County Comm School District	59%	56%	Exceeds Expectations	356
#160	A	Hampton Dumont Middle School	Hampton	Hampton-Dumont Comm School District	59%	54%	Exceeds Expectations	363
#161	A	Mfl Marmac Middle School	Mcgregor	MFL MarMac Comm School District	59%	58%	Meets Expectations	187
#162	A	Riverbend Middle School	Iowa Falls	Iowa Falls Comm School District	59%	60%	Meets Expectations	288
#163	A-	Charter Oak Ute Junior High School Charter	Oak	Charter Oak-Ute Comm School District	58%	54%	Exceeds Expectations	57
#164	A-	East Buchanan Middle School	Winthrop	East Buchanan Comm School District	58%	59%	Meets Expectations	88
#165	A-	Howar Middle School	Centerville	Centerville Comm School District	58%	54%	Exceeds Expectations	299
#166	A-	Lake Mills Middle School	Lake Mills	Lake Mills Comm School District	58%	60%	Meets Expectations	145
#167	A-	South Winneshiek Middle School	Ossian	South Winneshiek Comm School District	58%	63%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	129
#168	A-	Starmont Middle School	Arlington	Starmont Comm School District	58%	58%	Meets Expectations	129
#169	A-	Berg Middle School	Newton	Newton Comm School District	57%	44%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	841
#170	A-	Missouri Valley Middle School	Missouri Valley	Missouri Valley Comm School District	57%	54%	Exceeds Expectations	158
#171	A-	Southwest Valley Middle School	Villisca	Villisca Comm School District	57%	51%	Exceeds Expectations	149
#172	A-	Walcott Intermediate	Walcott	Davenport Comm School District	57%	54%	Exceeds Expectations	204
#173	A-	West Sioux Middle School	Hawarden	West Sioux Comm School District	57%	48%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	168
#174	A-	Estherville Lincoln Central Middle School	Estherville	Estherville Lincoln Central Com Sch Dist	56%	54%	Exceeds Expectations	312
#175	A-	Washington Middle School	Washington	Washington Comm School District	56%	46%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	350
#176	A-	Webster City Middle School	Webster City	Webster City Comm School District	56%	52%	Exceeds Expectations	455
#177	A-	Cardinal Junior High	Eldon	Cardinal Comm School District	55%	44%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	284
#178	A-	Charles City MS	Charles City	Charles City Comm School District	55%	52%	Exceeds Expectations	423
#179	A-	Columbus Community Junior High School	Columbus Junction	Columbus Comm School District	55%	41%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	101
#180	A-	Robert Blue School	Eagle Grove	Eagle Grove Comm School District	55%	45%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	271
#181	A-	West Fork Middle School	Sheffield	West Fork Comm School District	55%	55%	Meets Expectations	155
#182	A-	Franklin Middle School	Cedar Rapids	Cedar Rapids Comm School District	54%	48%	Exceeds Expectations	537
#183	A-	Gerald W Kirn Middle School	Council Bluffs	Council Bluffs Comm School District	54%	51%	Exceeds Expectations	956
#184	A-	Sudlow Intermediate	Davenport	Davenport Comm School District	54%	44%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	524
#185	A-	West Middle School	Sioux City	Sioux City Comm School District	54%	50%	Exceeds Expectations	864
#186	A-	Boone Middle School	Boone	Boone Comm School District	53%	59%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	582
#187	A-	Susan Clark Junior High	Muscatine	Muscatine Comm School District	53%	51%	Exceeds Expectations	662
#188	B+	Graettinger Terril Middle School	Graettinger	Graettinger-Terril Comm School District	52%	48%	Exceeds Expectations	79
#189	B+	Lamoni Middle School	Lamoni	Lamoni Comm School District	52%	49%	Exceeds Expectations	70
#190	B+	North Iowa Middle School Buffalo Center	Buffalo Center	North Iowa Comm School District	52%	51%	Meets Expectations	107
#191	B+	Perry Middle School	Perry	Perry Comm School District	52%	38%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	367
#192	B+	Schleswig Middle School	Schleswig	Schleswig Comm School District	52%	52%	Meets Expectations	54
#193	B+	Woodrow Wilson Middle School	Council Bluffs	Council Bluffs Comm School District	51%	48%	Exceeds Expectations	900
#194	B+	Clarke Middle School	Osceola	Clarke Comm School District	50%	36%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	305
#195	B+	Maquoketa Middle School	Maquoketa	Maquoketa Comm School District	50%	54%	Meets Expectations	315
#196	B+	Wood Intermediate	Davenport	Davenport Comm School District	50%	46%	Exceeds Expectations	438
#197	B+	B R Miller Middle School	Marshalltown	Marshalltown Comm School District	49%	45%	Exceeds Expectations	782
#198	B+	Clinton Middle School	Clinton	Clinton Comm School District	48%	46%	Exceeds Expectations	749
#199	B+	Evans Middle School	Ottumwa	Ottumwa Comm School District	48%	47%	Exceeds Expectations	1,047
#200	B+	Fort Dodge Middle School	Fort Dodge	Fort Dodge Comm School District	48%	45%	Exceeds Expectations	759
#201	B+	Oelwein Middle School	Oelwein	Oelwein Comm School District	48%	46%	Exceeds Expectations	359
#202	B	Bunger Middle School	Evansdale	Waterloo Comm School District	47%	34%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	431
#203	B	John Adams Middle School	Mason City	Mason City Comm School District	47%	53%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	480
#204	B	Mckinley Steam Academy	Cedar Rapids	Cedar Rapids Comm School District	47%	45%	Exceeds Expectations	448
#205	B	North Middle School	Sioux City	Sioux City Comm School District	47%	41%	Exceeds Expectations	1,224
#206	B	Thomas Jefferson Middle School	Dubuque	Dubuque Comm School District	47%	44%	Exceeds Expectations	459
#207	B	Brody Middle School	Des Moines	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	46%	44%	Exceeds Expectations	603
#208	B	Callanan Middle School	Des Moines	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	46%	41%	Exceeds Expectations	507
#209	B	Keokuk Middle School	Keokuk	Keokuk Comm School District	46%	44%	Exceeds Expectations	377
#210	B	South Tama County Middle School	Toledo	South Tama County	46%	40%	Exceeds Expectations	423
#211	B	Storm Lake Middle School	Storm Lake	Storm Lake Comm School District	45%	38%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	787
#212	B	Wilson Middle School	Cedar Rapids	Cedar Rapids Comm School District	45%	41%	Exceeds Expectations	395
#213	B	Central Middle School	Waterloo	Waterloo Comm School District	43%	37%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	471
#214	B-	Edward Stone Middle School	Burlington	Burlington Comm School District	41%	36%	Exceeds Expectations	489
#215	B-	Weeks Middle School	Des Moines	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	41%	29%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	684
#216	B-	Wapello Junior High School	Wapello	Wapello Comm School District	40%	54%	Underperforms Expectations	109
#217	B-	Woodside Middle School	Des Moines	Saydel Comm School District	40%	42%	Meets Expectations	359
#218	B-	Mccombs Middle School	Des Moines	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	39%	37%	Exceeds Expectations	654
#219	B-	Roosevelt Creative Corridor Business Academy	Cedar Rapids	Cedar Rapids Comm School District	39%	37%	Exceeds Expectations	510
#220	C+	Meredith Middle School	Des Moines	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	38%	34%	Exceeds Expectations	664
#221	C+	Hoyt Middle School	Des Moines	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	36%	35%	Meets Expectations	486
#222	C+	Williams Intermediate	Davenport	Davenport Comm School District	36%	38%	Meets Expectations	423
#223	C+	Goodrell Middle School	Des Moines	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	35%	35%	Meets Expectations	523
#224	C	George Washington Carver Academy	Waterloo	Waterloo Comm School District	35%	30%	Exceeds Expectations	442
#225	C-	Hiatt Middle School	Des Moines	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	30%	27%	Exceeds Expectations	529
#226	C-	Frank L Smart Intermediate	Davenport	Davenport Comm School District	29%	31%	Meets Expectations	313
#227	C-	Harding Middle School	Des Moines	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	29%	29%	Meets Expectations	655

How Iowa's middle schools compare

A: 187B: 32C: 8

96% of the 227 ranked middle schools in Iowa earn an A or B (187 A grades, 32 B, 8 C, 0 D, 0 F), against 47% of middle schools nationwide. 223 schools meet or beat the proficiency projected from their student context (98% here, 71% nationally), and 199 exceed it. On average 65% of tested students meet the state bar against a projected 58% (national averages: 39% actual, 38% projected).

The biggest overperformers, by actual proficiency above projection: Akron Westfield Middle School (77% against 46%, A+), Moc Floyd Valley Middle School (82% against 55%, A+), Maquoketa Valley Middle School (77% against 53%, A+), Treynor Middle School (82% against 60%, A+), Spencer Middle School (74% against 52%, A+).

Districts with the most schools in the top quarter (the top 57): Ankeny Comm School District (4), Waukee Comm School District (4), Cedar Falls Comm School District (2), Johnston Comm School District (2).

Cities with the most ranked middle schools: Des Moines (11, 6 at A or B), Cedar Rapids (7, 7 at A or B), Ankeny (4, 4 at A or B), Waukee (4, 4 at A or B), Davenport (4, 2 at A or B).

The largest ranked middle schools: Prairie Point (1,324 students, A, #123), North Middle School (1,224 students, B, #205), Johnston Middle School (1,166 students, A+, #35).

Middle schools in Iowa that are not ranked

4 graded middle schools are listed here rather than ranked, each for the reason given. Every one has its own page with its full SchoolGrade report.

Fully online schools (1)

Statewide virtual schools draw students from everywhere, so a place ranking is not a fair comparison.

A+ Iowa Connections Academy Middle School, Anita

Closed schools (2)

NCES lists these schools as closed or inactive since their last graded year.

A- Cam Middle School, Massena
A Interstate 35 Middle School, Truro

Not yet graded (1)

Too little test data to grade.

Cedar Rapids Virtual Academy, Cedar Rapids

About this ranking

Scope: every public middle school in Iowa.
Order: SchoolGrade, then actual proficiency, then name; schools with the same grade and score share a rank.
Ranked: regular public schools that NCES lists as open, not fully online, with at least 30 students. Others are listed with the reason.
Tags: Magnet and Charter from the NCES school directory; K-12 marks schools serving every grade that are ranked with the middle schools.
Grades are the 2025-26 SchoolGrade model. How SchoolGrade works

Questions about middle schools in Iowa

What is the best middle school in Iowa?

Pella Middle School in Pella ranks first among the 227 ranked middle schools in Iowa with a SchoolGrade of A+, 90% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 76%.

How are middle schools in Iowa ranked?

By SchoolGrade, the 2025-26 model that scores each school's actual test proficiency against the level projected for its student context, then by actual proficiency to break ties. Regular public schools that are open, not fully online and have at least 30 students are ranked; the rest are listed below the table with the reason.

How many middle schools does Iowa have?

SchoolGrade grades 231 public middle schools in Iowa; 227 are ranked here and 4 are listed as not ranked.