Best Middle Schools in Iowa (2025-26)

Ranked middle schools

229

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+	Denver Middle School	Denver	Denver Comm School District	95%	79%	Exceeds Expectations	207
#2	A+	Gilbert Middle School	Gilbert	Gilbert Comm School District	94%	80%	Meets Expectations	409
#3	A+	Treynor Middle School	Treynor	Treynor Comm School District	93%	82%	Meets Expectations	213
#4	A+	Mediapolis Middle School	Mediapolis	Mediapolis Comm School District	92%	70%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	227
#5	A+	Van Meter Middle School	Van Meter	Van Meter Comm School District	92%	84%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	227
#6	A+	Mount Vernon Middle School	Mount Vernon	Mount Vernon Comm School District	91%	75%	Exceeds Expectations	397
#7	A+	Pleasant Valley Junior High School	Leclaire	Pleasant Valley Comm School District	91%	76%	Meets Expectations	856
#8	A+	Waukon Middle School	Waukon	Allamakee Comm School District	91%	72%	Exceeds Expectations	270
#9	A+	Pella Middle School	Pella	Pella Comm School District	90%	64%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	382
#10	A+	Solon Middle School	Solon	Solon Comm School District	90%	78%	Meets Expectations	345
#11	A+	Adm Middle School	Adel	Adel DeSoto Minburn Comm School District	89%	68%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	343
#12	A+	Maquoketa Valley Middle School	Delhi	Maquoketa Valley Comm School District	89%	65%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	159
#13	A+	North Polk Middle School	Alleman	North Polk Comm School District	89%	71%	Exceeds Expectations	455
#14	A+	Alburnett Middle School	Alburnett	Alburnett Comm School District	88%	77%	Meets Expectations	188
#15	A+	Sergeant Bluff Luton Middle School	Sergeant Bluff	Sergeant Bluff-Luton Comm School District	88%	68%	Exceeds Expectations	369
#16	A+	Center Point Urbana Middle School Center	Point	Center Point-Urbana Comm School District	87%	77%	Meets Expectations	337
#17	A+	Dike New Hartford Junior High School	New Hartford	Dike-New Hartford Comm School District	87%	73%	Meets Expectations	215
#18	A+	Grundy Center Middle School Grundy Center	Grundy Center	Grundy Center Comm School District	87%	64%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	212
#19	A+	Nodaway Valley Middle School	Fontanelle	Nodaway Valley Comm School District	87%	64%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	132
#20	A	Dc G Oak View	Grimes	Dallas Center-Grimes Comm School District	87%	70%	Exceeds Expectations	578
#21	A	Ballard Middle School	Huxley	Ballard Comm School District	86%	77%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	432
#22	A	Decorah Middle School	Decorah	Decorah Community School District	86%	72%	Meets Expectations	461
#23	A	Glenwood Middle School	Glenwood	Glenwood Comm School District	86%	51%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	451
#24	A	Moc Floyd Valley Middle School	Alton	MOC-Floyd Valley Comm School District	86%	73%	Meets Expectations	329
#25	A	Parkview Middle School	Ankeny	Ankeny Comm School District	86%	71%	Meets Expectations	867
#26	A	St Ansgar Middle School	St Ansgar	St Ansgar Comm School District	86%	73%	Meets Expectations	117
#27	A	Waukee Middle School	Waukee	Waukee Comm School District	86%	74%	Meets Expectations	1,069
#28	A	Aplington Parkersburg Middle School	Aplington	Aplington-Parkersburg Comm School District	85%	71%	Meets Expectations	179
#29	A	Holmes Junior High School	Cedar Falls	Cedar Falls Comm School District	85%	74%	Meets Expectations	639
#30	A	Lake Mills Middle School	Lake Mills	Lake Mills Comm School District	85%	45%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	145
#31	A	Lynnville Sully Middle School	Sully	Lynnville-Sully Comm School District	85%	77%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	117
#32	A	Mfl Marmac Middle School	Mcgregor	MFL MarMac Comm School District	85%	66%	Exceeds Expectations	187
#33	A	Roland Story Middle School	Roland	Roland-Story Comm School District	85%	75%	Meets Expectations	317
#34	A	Union Middle School	Dysart	Union Comm School District	85%	69%	Meets Expectations	201
#35	A	West Marshall Middle School State Center	State Center	West Marshall Comm School District	85%	67%	Exceeds Expectations	195
#36	A	Peet Junior High School	Cedar Falls	Cedar Falls Comm School District	84%	74%	Meets Expectations	670
#37	A-	Albia Middle School	Albia	Albia Comm School District	84%	69%	Meets Expectations	164
#38	A-	Lansing Middle School	Lansing	Eastern Allamakee Comm School District	84%	67%	Exceeds Expectations	76
#39	A-	Nevada Middle School	Nevada	Nevada Comm School District	84%	60%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	443
#40	A-	North Iowa Middle School Buffalo Center	Buffalo Center	North Iowa Comm School District	84%	64%	Exceeds Expectations	107
#41	A-	Prairie Ridge Middle School	Ankeny	Ankeny Comm School District	84%	73%	Meets Expectations	1,025
#42	A-	Underwood Middle School	Underwood	Underwood Comm School District	84%	80%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	194
#43	A-	Vinton Shellsburg Middle School	Vinton	Vinton-Shellsburg Comm School District	84%	62%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	318
#44	A-	West Delaware Middle School	Manchester	West Delaware County Comm School District	84%	70%	Meets Expectations	377
#45	A-	Akron Westfield Middle School	Akron	Akron Westfield Comm School District	83%	55%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	139
#46	A-	Garner Hayfield Ventura Middle School	Garner	Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Comm School District	83%	61%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	258
#47	A-	Oak Ridge School	Marion	Linn-Mar Comm School District	83%	75%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	526
#48	A-	Sheldon Middle School	Sheldon	Sheldon Comm School District	83%	54%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	320
#49	A-	Summit Middle School	Johnston	Johnston Comm School District	83%	74%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	1,112
#50	A-	Lewis Central Middle School	Council Bluffs	Lewis Central Comm School District	82%	65%	Exceeds Expectations	742
#51	A-	West Central Valley Middle School	Redfield	West Central Valley Comm School District	82%	52%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	184
#52	A-	West Lyon Junior High School	Inwood	West Lyon Comm School District	82%	72%	Meets Expectations	133
#53	B+	Madrid Junior High School	Madrid	Madrid Comm School District	82%	57%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	153
#54	B+	Pierson Middle School	Pierson	Kingsley-Pierson Comm School District	82%	67%	Meets Expectations	139
#55	B+	Clear Creek Amana Middle School	Tiffin	Clear Creek Amana Comm School District	81%	53%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	640
#56	B+	Forest City Middle School	Forest City	Forest City Comm School District	81%	64%	Exceeds Expectations	330
#57	B+	Harlan Community Middle School	Harlan	Harlan Comm School District	81%	68%	Meets Expectations	342
#58	B+	Humboldt Middle School	Humboldt	Humboldt Comm School District	81%	63%	Exceeds Expectations	440
#59	B+	Jesup Middle School	Jesup	Jesup Comm School District	81%	63%	Exceeds Expectations	252
#60	B+	New Hampton Middle School	New Hampton	New Hampton Comm School District	81%	62%	Exceeds Expectations	279
#61	B+	North Scott Junior High School	Eldridge	North Scott Comm School District	81%	51%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	541
#62	B+	Riverbend Middle School	Iowa Falls	Iowa Falls Comm School District	81%	59%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	288
#63	B+	South Middle School	Waukee	Waukee Comm School District	81%	71%	Meets Expectations	909
#64	B+	Waverly Shell Rock Middle School	Waverly	Waverly-Shell Rock Comm School District	81%	76%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	699
#65	B+	Alta Aurelia Middle Sch	Aurelia	Alta-Aurelia Comm School District	80%	61%	Exceeds Expectations	231
#66	B+	Benton Community Middle School	Van Horne	Benton Comm School District	80%	68%	Meets Expectations	235
#67	B+	Clayton Ridge Middle School	Guttenberg	Clayton Ridge Comm School District	80%	64%	Exceeds Expectations	125
#68	B+	Montezuma Junior High School	Montezuma	Montezuma Comm School District	80%	64%	Exceeds Expectations	112
#69	B	Northview Middle School	Ankeny	Ankeny Comm School District	85%	70%	Meets Expectations	1,065
#70	B	Woodward Granger Middle School	Woodward	Woodward-Granger Comm School District	80%	77%	Underperforms Expectations	208
#71	B	Adair Casey JR High School	Adair	Adair-Casey Comm School District	79%	54%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	103
#72	B	Bondurant-farrar Junior High	Bondurant		79%	76%	Underperforms Expectations	440
#73	B	Cherokee Middle School	Cherokee	Cherokee Comm School District	79%	62%	Exceeds Expectations	355
#74	B	Denison Middle School	Denison	Denison Comm School District	79%	42%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	502
#75	B	Drexler Middle School	Farley	Western Dubuque Comm School District	79%	73%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	655
#76	B	Excelsior Middle School	Marion	Linn-Mar Comm School District	79%	74%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	617
#77	B	George Little Rock Middle School	George	George-Little Rock Comm School District	79%	61%	Exceeds Expectations	60
#78	B	Indian Hills Junior High School	Clive	West Des Moines Comm School District	79%	59%	Exceeds Expectations	696
#79	B	Lamoni Middle School	Lamoni	Lamoni Comm School District	79%	51%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	70
#80	B	Le Mars Middle School	Le Mars	Le Mars Comm School District	79%	60%	Exceeds Expectations	488
#81	B	Monticello Middle School	Monticello	Monticello Comm School District	79%	70%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	299
#82	B	North Linn Middle School	Troy Mills	North Linn Comm School District	79%	76%	Underperforms Expectations	95
#83	B	Norwalk Middle School	Norwalk	Norwalk Comm School District	79%	72%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	787
#84	B	Schaller Crestland Ridge View Middle School	Early	Schaller-Crestland Comm School District	79%	63%	Exceeds Expectations	171
#85	B	South Winneshiek Middle School	Ossian	South Winneshiek Comm School District	79%	68%	Meets Expectations	129
#86	B	Spencer Middle School	Spencer	Spencer Comm School District	79%	65%	Meets Expectations	514
#87	B	Spring Creek 6th Grade	Pleasant Hill	Southeast Polk Comm School District	79%	69%	Meets Expectations	535
#88	B	West Hancock Middle School	Kanawha	West Hancock Comm School District	79%	46%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	165
#89	B-	Southview Middle School	Ankeny	Ankeny Comm School District	83%	69%	Meets Expectations	896
#90	B-	Algona Middle School	Algona	Algona Comm School District	79%	71%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	440
#91	B-	Clear Lake Middle School	Clear Lake	Clear Lake Comm School District	78%	62%	Meets Expectations	334
#92	B-	Earlham Middle School	Earlham	Earlham Comm School District	78%	53%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	132
#93	B-	East Buchanan Middle School	Winthrop	East Buchanan Comm School District	78%	73%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	88
#94	B-	Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School	Dubuque	Dubuque Comm School District	78%	69%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	1,093
#95	B-	Emmetsburg Middle School	Emmetsburg	Emmetsburg Comm School District	78%	68%	Meets Expectations	225
#96	B-	Harding Middle School	Cedar Rapids	Cedar Rapids Comm School District	78%	63%	Meets Expectations	713
#97	B-	Indianola Middle School	Indianola	Indianola Comm School District	78%	75%	Underperforms Expectations	849
#98	B-	North Union Middle School	Swea City	North Kossuth Comm School District	78%	64%	Meets Expectations	128
#99	B-	Osage Middle School	Osage	Osage Comm School District	78%	64%	Meets Expectations	268
#100	B-	Sioux Central Middle School	Sioux Rapids	Sioux Central Comm School District	78%	61%	Exceeds Expectations	141
#101	B-	Starmont Middle School	Arlington	Starmont Comm School District	78%	57%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	129
#102	B-	West Fork Middle School	Sheffield	West Fork Comm School District	78%	65%	Meets Expectations	155
#103	B-	Ames Middle School	Ames	Ames Comm School District	77%	71%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	1,002
#104	B-	Okoboji Middle School	Milford	Okoboji Comm School District	77%	69%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	346
#105	B-	Webster City Middle School	Webster City	Webster City Comm School District	76%	57%	Exceeds Expectations	455
#106	C+	Agwsr Middle School	Wellsburg	AGWSR Comm School District	76%	68%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	161
#107	C+	Anamosa Middle School	Anamosa	Anamosa Comm School District	76%	64%	Meets Expectations	344
#108	C+	Atlantic Middle School	Atlantic	Atlantic Comm School District	76%	63%	Meets Expectations	329
#109	C+	Charter Oak Ute Junior High School Charter	Oak	Charter Oak-Ute Comm School District	76%	61%	Meets Expectations	57
#110	C+	Creston Middle School	Creston	Creston Comm School District	76%	65%	Meets Expectations	291
#111	C+	Mid Prairie Middle School	Kalona	Mid-Prairie Comm School District	76%	60%	Meets Expectations	430
#112	C+	Newell Fonda Middle Sch	Newell	Newell-Fonda Comm School District	76%	60%	Meets Expectations	123
#113	C+	North Central Junior High School	North Liberty	Iowa City Comm School District	76%	66%	Meets Expectations	622
#114	C+	Remsen Union Middle School	Remsen	Remsen-Union Comm School District	76%	68%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	174
#115	C+	Sioux Center Middle School Sioux Center	Sioux Center	Sioux Center Comm School District	76%	63%	Meets Expectations	350
#116	C+	Tri Center Middle School	Neola	Tri-Center Comm School District	76%	49%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	162
#117	C+	West Monona Middle Sch	Onawa	West Monona Comm School District	76%	60%	Meets Expectations	105
#118	C+	Chariton Middle School	Chariton	Chariton Comm School District	75%	62%	Meets Expectations	285
#119	C+	Hartley Melvin Sanborn Middle School	Sanborn	Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District	75%	58%	Exceeds Expectations	174
#120	C+	Missouri Valley Middle School	Missouri Valley	Missouri Valley Comm School District	75%	64%	Meets Expectations	158
#121	C+	North Fayette Valley Middle School	Elgin	North Fayette Valley Comm School District	75%	59%	Exceeds Expectations	237
#122	C+	Sumner Fredericksburg Middle School	Fredericksburg	Sumner-Fredericksburg Comm School District	75%	71%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	224
#123	C+	West Branch Middle School	West Branch	West Branch Comm School District	75%	69%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	257
#124	C	Johnston Middle School	Johnston	Johnston Comm School District	81%	71%	Meets Expectations	1,166
#125	C	Spirit Lake Middle School	Spirit Lake	Spirit Lake Comm School District	75%	71%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	358
#126	C	Vernon Middle School	Marion	Marion Independent School District	75%	65%	Meets Expectations	668
#127	C	West Bend Mallard Middle School	West Bend	West Bend-Mallard Comm School District	75%	64%	Meets Expectations	111
#128	C	Woodbury Central Middle School	Moville	Woodbury Central Comm School District	75%	74%	Underperforms Expectations	120
#129	C	Northwest Junior High School	Coralville	Iowa City Comm School District	74%	59%	Meets Expectations	730
#130	C	Ogden Middle School	Ogden	Ogden Comm School District	74%	70%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	165
#131	C	Pcm Middle School	Prairie City	PCM Comm School District	74%	70%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	247
#132	C	Rock Valley Middle School	Rock Valley	Rock Valley Comm School District	74%	46%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	174
#133	C	Southeast Polk Junior High	Pleasant Hill	Southeast Polk Comm School District	74%	54%	Exceeds Expectations	1,088
#134	C	Southeast Webster Grand Southeast Valley Middle	Burnside	Southeast Valley Community School District	74%	57%	Exceeds Expectations	324
#135	C	Winterset Junior High School	Winterset	Winterset Comm School District	74%	66%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	247
#136	C	Bettendorf Middle School	Bettendorf	Bettendorf Comm School District	73%	65%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	987
#137	C	Central Dewitt Middle School	De Witt	Central DeWitt School District	73%	65%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	230
#138	C	Central Lee Middle School	Donnellson	Central Lee Comm School District	73%	64%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	267
#139	C	Clarion Goldfield Dows Middle School	Clarion	Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Comm School District	73%	47%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	193
#140	C	Merrill Middle School	Des Moines	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	73%	61%	Meets Expectations	634
#141	C-	Mount Pleasant Middle School	Mount Pleasant	Mount Pleasant Comm School District	73%	49%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	406
#142	C-	Tipton Middle School	Tipton	Tipton Comm School District	73%	56%	Exceeds Expectations	292
#143	C-	Camanche Middle School	Camanche	Camanche Comm School District	72%	55%	Exceeds Expectations	282
#144	C-	Cardinal Junior High	Eldon	Cardinal Comm School District	72%	53%	Exceeds Expectations	284
#145	C-	Columbus Community Junior High School	Columbus Junction	Columbus Comm School District	72%	37%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	101
#146	C-	East Middle School	Sioux City	Sioux City Comm School District	72%	47%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	1,067
#147	C-	Highland Middle School	Riverside	Highland Comm School District	72%	64%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	111
#148	C-	Hoover Middle School	Waterloo	Waterloo Comm School District	72%	60%	Meets Expectations	883
#149	C-	Keokuk Middle School	Keokuk	Keokuk Comm School District	72%	56%	Exceeds Expectations	377
#150	C-	Mvao Middle School	Anthon	Maple Valley-Anthon Oto Comm School District	72%	50%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	128
#151	C-	Odebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove Middle School	Odebolt	Odebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove Comm School District	72%	61%	Meets Expectations	214
#152	C-	Oskaloosa Middle School	Oskaloosa	Oskaloosa Comm School District	72%	71%	Underperforms Expectations	454
#153	C-	Perry Middle School	Perry	Perry Comm School District	72%	46%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	367
#154	C-	Stilwell Junior High School	West Des Moines	West Des Moines Comm School District	72%	63%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	684
#155	C-	Susan Clark Junior High	Muscatine	Muscatine Comm School District	72%	52%	Exceeds Expectations	662
#156	C-	Taft Middle School	Cedar Rapids	Cedar Rapids Comm School District	72%	58%	Meets Expectations	578
#157	C-	Urbandale Middle School	Urbandale	Urbandale Comm School District	72%	59%	Meets Expectations	894
#158	C-	Grinnell Community Middle School	Grinnell	Grinnell-Newburg Comm School District	71%	57%	Meets Expectations	457
#159	C-	Southwest Valley Middle School	Villisca	Villisca Comm School District	71%	59%	Meets Expectations	149
#160	D+	Carlisle Middle School	Carlisle	Carlisle Comm School District	71%	66%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	543
#161	D+	Fairfield Middle School	Fairfield	Fairfield Comm School District	71%	56%	Meets Expectations	438
#162	D+	Pleasantville Middle School	Pleasantville	Pleasantville Comm School District	71%	73%	Underperforms Expectations	114
#163	D+	Sibley Ocheyedan Middle School	Sibley	Sibley-Ocheyedan Comm School District	71%	59%	Meets Expectations	199
#164	D+	Walcott Intermediate	Walcott	Davenport Comm School District	71%	64%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	204
#165	D+	Bcluw Middle School	Union	BCLUW Comm School District	70%	65%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	150
#166	D+	East Marshall Middle School	Gilman	East Marshall Comm School District	70%	54%	Exceeds Expectations	165
#167	D+	Knoxville Middle School	Knoxville	Knoxville Comm School District	70%	67%	Underperforms Expectations	368
#168	D+	Schleswig Middle School	Schleswig	Schleswig Comm School District	70%	55%	Meets Expectations	54
#169	D+	Southeast Junior High School	Iowa City	Iowa City Comm School District	70%	60%	Meets Expectations	812
#170	D+	West Sioux Middle School	Hawarden	West Sioux Comm School District	70%	42%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	168
#171	D+	Boone Middle School	Boone	Boone Comm School District	69%	72%	Underperforms Expectations	582
#172	D+	Carroll Middle School	Carroll	Carroll Comm School District	69%	61%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	489
#173	D+	Charles City MS	Charles City	Charles City Comm School District	69%	54%	Meets Expectations	423
#174	D+	Estherville Lincoln Central Middle School	Estherville	Estherville Lincoln Central Com Sch Dist	69%	52%	Exceeds Expectations	312
#175	D+	Prairie Point	Cedar Rapids	College Comm School District	68%	55%	Meets Expectations	1,324
#176	D	Shenandoah Middle School	Shenandoah	Shenandoah Comm School District	68%	49%	Exceeds Expectations	296
#177	D	South Hardin Middle School	Hubbard	Hubbard-Radcliffe Comm School District	68%	61%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	193
#178	D	Wapello Junior High School	Wapello	Wapello Comm School District	68%	53%	Meets Expectations	109
#179	D	Washington Middle School	Washington	Washington Comm School District	68%	60%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	350
#180	D	Davis County Middle School	Bloomfield	Davis County Comm School District	67%	55%	Meets Expectations	356
#181	D	George Washington Middle School	Dubuque	Dubuque Comm School District	67%	49%	Exceeds Expectations	624
#182	D	Hampton Dumont Middle School	Hampton	Hampton-Dumont Comm School District	67%	51%	Meets Expectations	363
#183	D	Gerald W Kirn Middle School	Council Bluffs	Council Bluffs Comm School District	66%	47%	Exceeds Expectations	956
#184	D	Greene County Middle School	Jefferson	Greene County Comm School District	66%	62%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	346
#185	D	Graettinger Terril Middle School	Graettinger	Graettinger-Terril Comm School District	64%	57%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	79
#186	D	Howar Middle School	Centerville	Centerville Comm School District	64%	53%	Meets Expectations	299
#187	D	John Adams Middle School	Mason City	Mason City Comm School District	64%	49%	Meets Expectations	480
#188	D	Woodside Middle School	Des Moines	Saydel Comm School District	64%	40%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	359
#189	D	Clarke Middle School	Osceola	Clarke Comm School District	63%	39%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	305
#190	D	Clinton Middle School	Clinton	Clinton Comm School District	63%	39%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	749
#191	D	South Tama County Middle School	Toledo	South Tama County	63%	43%	Exceeds Expectations	423
#192	D	West Middle School	Sioux City	Sioux City Comm School District	63%	32%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	864
#193	D-	Timberline School	Waukee	Waukee Comm School District	76%	67%	Meets Expectations	889
#194	D-	North Middle School	Sioux City	Sioux City Comm School District	62%	43%	Exceeds Expectations	1,224
#195	D-	Berg Middle School	Newton	Newton Comm School District	61%	61%	Underperforms Expectations	841
#196	D-	Sudlow Intermediate	Davenport	Davenport Comm School District	61%	50%	Meets Expectations	524
#197	D-	Fort Dodge Middle School	Fort Dodge	Fort Dodge Comm School District	60%	53%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	759
#198	D-	Panorama Middle School	Panora	Panorama Comm School District	60%	59%	Underperforms Expectations	161
#199	D-	Franklin Middle School	Cedar Rapids	Cedar Rapids Comm School District	59%	43%	Meets Expectations	537
#200	D-	Bunger Middle School	Evansdale	Waterloo Comm School District	58%	32%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	431
#201	D-	West Liberty Middle School	West Liberty	West Liberty Comm School District	58%	44%	Meets Expectations	399
#202	D-	Woodrow Wilson Middle School	Council Bluffs	Council Bluffs Comm School District	58%	32%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	900
#203	D-	B R Miller Middle School	Marshalltown	Marshalltown Comm School District	57%	39%	Exceeds Expectations	782
#204	D-	Liberty Elementary School	Ottumwa	Ottumwa Comm School District	57%	42%	Meets Expectations	430
#205	D-	Maquoketa Middle School	Maquoketa	Maquoketa Comm School District	57%	63%	Underperforms Expectations	315
#206	D-	Mckinley Steam Academy	Cedar Rapids	Cedar Rapids Comm School District	57%	38%	Exceeds Expectations	448
#207	D-	Evans Middle School	Ottumwa	Ottumwa Comm School District	55%	44%	Meets Expectations	1,047
#208	D-	Robert Blue School	Eagle Grove	Eagle Grove Comm School District	55%	41%	Meets Expectations	271
#209	D-	Mccombs Middle School	Des Moines	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	54%	36%	Exceeds Expectations	654
#210	D-	Wood Intermediate	Davenport	Davenport Comm School District	54%	48%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	438
#211	D-	Meredith Middle School	Des Moines	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	53%	40%	Meets Expectations	664
#212	D-	Oelwein Middle School	Oelwein	Oelwein Comm School District	53%	45%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	359
#213	F	George Washington Carver Academy	Waterloo	Waterloo Comm School District	52%	22%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	442
#214	F	Brody Middle School	Des Moines	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	51%	40%	Meets Expectations	603
#215	F	Edward Stone Middle School	Burlington	Burlington Comm School District	51%	43%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	489
#216	F	Roosevelt Creative Corridor Business Academy	Cedar Rapids	Cedar Rapids Comm School District	51%	38%	Meets Expectations	510
#217	F	Hamburg Middle School	Hamburg	Hamburg Comm School District	50%	47%	Underperforms Expectations	40
#218	F	Central Middle School	Waterloo	Waterloo Comm School District	49%	32%	Exceeds Expectations	471
#219	F	Thomas Jefferson Middle School	Dubuque	Dubuque Comm School District	49%	34%	Meets Expectations	459
#220	F	Callanan Middle School	Des Moines	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	48%	38%	Meets Expectations	507
#221	F	Williams Intermediate	Davenport	Davenport Comm School District	46%	34%	Meets Expectations	423
#222	F	Storm Lake Middle School	Storm Lake	Storm Lake Comm School District	45%	34%	Meets Expectations	787
#223	F	Goodrell Middle School	Des Moines	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	44%	38%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	523
#224	F	Hoyt Middle School	Des Moines	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	44%	41%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	486
#225	F	Weeks Middle School	Des Moines	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	44%	31%	Meets Expectations	684
#226	F	Wilson Middle School	Cedar Rapids	Cedar Rapids Comm School District	41%	32%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	395
#227	F	Harding Middle School	Des Moines	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	40%	26%	Meets Expectations	655
#228	F	Hiatt Middle School	Des Moines	Des Moines Independent Comm School District	39%	26%	Meets Expectations	529
#229	F	Frank L Smart Intermediate	Davenport	Davenport Comm School District	31%	22%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	313

How Iowa's middle schools compare

A: 52B: 53C: 54D: 53F: 17

46% of the 229 ranked middle schools in Iowa earn an A or B (52 A grades, 53 B, 54 C, 53 D, 17 F), against 46% of middle schools nationwide. 171 schools meet or beat the proficiency projected from their student context (75% here, 70% nationally), and 85 exceed it. On average 74% of tested students meet the state bar against a projected 59% (national averages: 45% actual, 38% projected).

The biggest overperformers, by actual proficiency above projection: Lake Mills Middle School (85% against 45%, A), Denison Middle School (79% against 42%, B), Glenwood Middle School (86% against 51%, A), Columbus Community Junior High School (72% against 37%, C-), West Hancock Middle School (79% against 46%, B).

Districts with the most schools in the top quarter (the top 58): Ankeny Comm School District (2), Cedar Falls Comm School District (2).

Cities with the most ranked middle schools: Des Moines (11, 0 at A or B), Cedar Rapids (7, 1 at A or B), Ankeny (4, 4 at A or B), Davenport (4, 0 at A or B), Waukee (3, 2 at A or B).

The largest ranked middle schools: Prairie Point (1,324 students, D+, #175), North Middle School (1,224 students, D-, #194), Johnston Middle School (1,166 students, C, #124).

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.

D- Iowa Connections Academy Middle School, Anita

Not yet graded (3)

Our source data has no school-level proficiency results for these schools, so they carry no SchoolGrade yet.

Cam Middle School, Massena
Cedar Rapids Virtual Academy, Cedar Rapids
Interstate 35 Middle School, Truro

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?

Denver Middle School in Denver ranks first among the 229 ranked middle schools in Iowa with a SchoolGrade of A+, 95% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 79%.

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 233 public middle schools in Iowa; 229 are ranked here and 4 are listed as not ranked.