Best Schools in Iowa
Iowa has a total of 1,531 schools including 405 high schools, 279 middle schools and 832 elementary schools. A total of 552,942 students attend Iowa schools. On average, schools in Iowa score 61% on their proficiency tests, and we project an average score of 53% on those same proficiency tests. Comparing the differences, on average, schools in Iowa greatly exceed expectations.
Best High Schools in Iowa
Iowa has 405 high schools with 189,852 students. Below are the top high schools based on their actual test performance displayed alongside our projected performance for their socioeconomic status and the Teacher Grade we assign based on expected performance. On average, high schools in Iowa score 64% on their proficiency tests, and we project and average score of 56% on those same proficiency tests. Comparing the differences, on average, high schools in Iowa greatly exceed expectations.
1. Gilbert High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Gilbert Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 537 Students
2. Van Meter High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Van Meter Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 292 Students
3. Decorah High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Decorah Community School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 576 Students
4. Denver Senior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Denver Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 262 Students
5. Pella High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pella Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 764 Students
6. West Lyon High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
West Lyon Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 307 Students
7. Solon High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Solon Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 475 Students
8. Cascade Junior-senior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Western Dubuque Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 12 • 395 Students
9. North Polk High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Polk Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 647 Students
10. Pleasant Valley High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pleasant Valley Comm School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1658 Students
Best Middle Schools in Iowa
Iowa has 279 middle schools with 105,243 students. Below are the top middle schools based on their actual test performance displayed alongside our projected performance for their socioeconomic status and the Teacher Grade we assign based on expected performance. On average, middle schools in Iowa score 63% on their proficiency tests, and we project and average score of 55% on those same proficiency tests. Comparing the differences, on average, middle schools in Iowa greatly exceed expectations.
1. Pella Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pella Comm School District • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 382 Students
2. Denver Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Denver Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 207 Students
3. Gilbert Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Gilbert Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 409 Students
4. Van Meter Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Van Meter Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 227 Students
5. Pleasant Valley Junior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pleasant Valley Comm School District • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 856 Students
6. Solon Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Solon Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 345 Students
7. North Polk Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Polk Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 455 Students
8. Ballard Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ballard Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 432 Students
9. Dike-new Hartford Junior High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Dike-new Hartford Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 215 Students
10. Prairie Ridge Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ankeny Comm School District • Public • Grades 6 - 7 • 1025 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Iowa
Iowa has 832 elementary schools with 256,556 students. Below are the top elementary schools based on their actual test performance displayed alongside our projected performance for their socioeconomic status and the Teacher Grade we assign based on expected performance. On average, elementary schools in Iowa score 59% on their proficiency tests, and we project and average score of 50% on those same proficiency tests. Comparing the differences, on average, elementary schools in Iowa greatly exceed expectations.
1. West Bend-mallard Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
West Bend-mallard Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 170 Students
2. Hopewell Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pleasant Valley Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 6 • 698 Students
3. Pleasant View Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Pleasant Valley Comm School District • Public • Grades KG - 6 • 659 Students
4. Remsen-union Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Remsen-union Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 136 Students
5. Orange City Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Moc-floyd Valley Comm School District • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 457 Students
6. La Porte City Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Union Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 273 Students
7. Turkey Valley Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Turkey Valley Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 6 • 192 Students
8. Treynor Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Treynor Comm School District • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 330 Students
9. Wickham Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Iowa City Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 6 • 383 Students
10. Cowles Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Des Moines Independent Comm School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 8 • 391 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Iowa
State-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Iowa has a total population of 3,190,369 with 25% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 93%, and 32% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Iowa
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Iowa.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
16.53 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
3.05 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
13.48 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Iowa.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Iowa.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Iowa Internet Health Assessment.
Best Schools in Cities Near Iowa
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual Test Scores: 36%
- Projected Test Scores: 38%
- Teacher Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 41%
- Projected Test Scores: 39%
- Teacher Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 23%
- Projected Test Scores: 27%
- Teacher Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 36%
- Projected Test Scores: 37%
- Teacher Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 46%
- Projected Test Scores: 43%
- Teacher Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 37%
- Projected Test Scores: 38%
- Teacher Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 32%
- Projected Test Scores: 33%
- Teacher Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 36%
- Projected Test Scores: 38%
- Teacher Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 32%
- Projected Test Scores: 33%
- Teacher Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual Test Scores: 29%
- Projected Test Scores: 33%
- Teacher Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations