IAIowa rankings

Towns with the best public schools in Iowa

Ranked by how far each town's public schools score above or below the Iowa average in math and reading proficiency, weighted by enrollment. 139 towns with 2,500+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-yearTest scores SY2020–21

Iowa · Best schools

Johnston ranks #20 of 139

+12.0 pts vs. the IA average in math + reading · Visit Johnston →

1 Mitchellville +23.5 pts Math 92% · Reading 87% 2 Polk City +21.0 pts Math 92% · Reading 82% 3 Orange City +20.3 pts Math 85.4% · Reading 87.2%

#Townvs. state averageMathReading

MitchellvilleSoutheast Polk Comm School District +23.5 pts 92% 87%

2 Polk CityNorth Polk Comm School District +21.0 pts 92% 82%

3 Orange CityMOC-Floyd Valley Comm School District +20.3 pts 85.4% 87.2%

SolonSolon Comm School District +18.2 pts 84.2% 84.3%

5 Le ClairePleasant Valley Comm School District +18.1 pts 86.5% 81.8%

Mount VernonMount Vernon Comm School District +17.6 pts 83.6% 83.6%

7 PellaPella Comm School District +16.9 pts 84.1% 81.8%

8 DecorahDecorah Community School District +16.9 pts 80.7% 85.2%

Story CityRoland-Story Comm School District +16.6 pts 82.8% 82.4%

AdelAdel DeSoto Minburn Comm School District +16.4 pts 79.6% 85.3%

Rock RapidsCentral Lyon Comm School District +16.2 pts 79.7% 84.7%

12 Grundy CenterGrundy Center Comm School District +15.5 pts 79.8% 83.2%

13 GrimesDallas Center-Grimes Comm School District +14.5 pts 78.8% 82.2%

14 AnkenyAnkeny Comm School District +14.1 pts 79.9% 80.3%

EldridgeNorth Scott Comm School District +14.0 pts 77.6% 82.5%

16 Center PointCenter Point-Urbana Comm School District +13.7 pts 78.4% 81%

17 BettendorfBettendorf Comm School District +12.9 pts 79.5% 78.3%

18 WaukeeWaukee Comm School District +12.9 pts 78.8% 79%

WilliamsburgWilliamsburg Comm School District +12.5 pts 77.5% 79.5%

20 JohnstonJohnston Comm School District +12.0 pts 78.7% 77.4%

21 GrinnellGrinnell-Newburg Comm School District +12.0 pts 76.3% 79.7%

22 HuxleyBallard Comm School District +12.0 pts 76.4% 79.7%

23 Cedar FallsCedar Falls Comm School District +11.6 pts 76.2% 78.9%

24 GlenwoodGlenwood Comm School District +11.4 pts 78.8% 76%

25 MilfordOkoboji Comm School District +11.4 pts 78% 76.8%

26 SheldonSheldon Comm School District +11.2 pts 77.9% 76.5%

Sergeant BluffSergeant Bluff-Luton Comm School District +11.0 pts 71.3% 82.6%

VintonVinton-Shellsburg Comm School District +10.9 pts 79% 74.8%

29 WaverlyWaverly-Shell Rock Comm School District +9.8 pts 77.3% 74.2%

NorwalkNorwalk Comm School District +9.7 pts 76.5% 74.9%

31 TiffinClear Creek Amana Comm School District +9.1 pts 72.6% 77.5%

Spirit LakeSpirit Lake Comm School District +9.1 pts 75% 75.3%

33 UrbandaleUrbandale Comm School District +8.9 pts 74.5% 75.3%

34 HarlanHarlan Comm School District +8.9 pts 72.5% 77.3%

DeWittCentral DeWitt School District +8.7 pts 73% 76.3%

GarnerGarner-Hayfield-Ventura Comm School District +8.7 pts 73.9% 75.6%

HudsonHudson Comm School District +8.7 pts 76.6% 72.8%

AltoonaSoutheast Polk Comm School District +8.6 pts 76.8% 72.3%

39 JesupJesup Comm School District +8.6 pts 76.5% 72.6%

40 MarionLinn-Mar Comm School District +8.5 pts 74% 75.1%

41 ManchesterWest Delaware County Comm School District +8.2 pts 70.8% 77.5%

42 North LibertyIowa City Comm School District +8.1 pts 73.7% 74.4%

43 IndependenceIndependence Comm School District +7.8 pts 73% 74.6%

44 WaukonAllamakee Comm School District +7.8 pts 71.5% 76.1%

SibleySibley-Ocheyedan Comm School District +7.6 pts 74.4% 72.8%

HumboldtHumboldt Comm School District +7.4 pts 75.6% 71.3%

47 WiltonWilton Comm School District +7.3 pts 71.7% 74.8%

48 MarengoIowa Valley Comm School District +6.8 pts 70.7% 75%

AlbiaAlbia Comm School District +6.7 pts 68% 77.4%

CarrollCarroll Comm School District +6.6 pts 72.2% 72.9%

51 West BurlingtonWest Burlington Ind School District +6.5 pts 66.1% 78.8%

52 BondurantBondurant-Farrar Comm School District +6.4 pts 68.7% 76%

53 West Des MoinesWest Des Moines Comm School District +6.1 pts 71% 73.1%

54 SpencerSpencer Comm School District +6.1 pts 72.5% 71.7%

55 Le MarsLe Mars Comm School District +6.1 pts 72.9% 71.2%

56 IndianolaIndianola Comm School District +6.0 pts 74.2% 69.9%

57 Rock ValleyRock Valley Comm School District +5.8 pts 69.9% 73.6%

58 MonticelloMonticello Comm School District +4.9 pts 67.9% 74%

59 Forest CityForest City Comm School District +4.7 pts 65.3% 76.2%

AmesAmes Comm School District +4.5 pts 69.6% 71.4%

61 OsageOsage Comm School District +4.2 pts 68.2% 72.3%

62 Clear LakeClear Lake Comm School District +4.1 pts 65.5% 74.7%

63 NevadaNevada Comm School District +3.9 pts 67.9% 72%

WintersetWinterset Comm School District +3.8 pts 75.1% 64.5%

New HamptonNew Hampton Comm School District +3.8 pts 73.6% 66.1%

66 Sioux CenterSioux Center Comm School District +3.7 pts 69.8% 69.7%

67 DyersvilleWestern Dubuque Comm School District +3.5 pts 72% 67%

KalonaMid-Prairie Comm School District +3.5 pts 68% 71%

69 EmmetsburgEmmetsburg Comm School District +3.4 pts 66.1% 72.6%

CliveWest Des Moines Comm School District +3.0 pts 68.3% 69.8%

71 Pleasant HillSoutheast Polk Comm School District +2.0 pts 65.5% 70.5%

72 AlgonaAlgona Comm School District +0.7 pts 64.6% 68.9%

73 Iowa FallsIowa Falls Comm School District +0.7 pts 62% 71.4%

74 AtlanticAtlantic Comm School District +0.6 pts 68.4% 64.9%

75 CrescoHoward-Winneshiek Comm School District +0.5 pts 62.5% 70.5%

76 CoralvilleIowa City Comm School District +0.4 pts 64.7% 68.1%

77 ShenandoahShenandoah Comm School District +0.3 pts 67% 65.7%

78 Missouri ValleyMissouri Valley Comm School District +0.3 pts 60.9% 71.6%

Windsor HeightsWest Des Moines Comm School District −0.1 pts 63.6% 68.3%

80 West BranchWest Branch Comm School District −0.1 pts 66.8% 65%

81 TiptonTipton Comm School District −0.6 pts 61.8% 69%

82 CamancheCamanche Comm School District −1.2 pts 63% 66.6%

83 Iowa CityIowa City Comm School District −1.3 pts 61.7% 67.6%

CrestonCreston Comm School District −1.5 pts 62.4% 66.7%

OskaloosaOskaloosa Comm School District −1.9 pts 62.7% 65.5%

BelmondBelmond-Klemme Comm School District −2.0 pts 62% 66.1%

87 CherokeeCherokee Comm School District −2.2 pts 63% 64.5%

88 DubuqueDubuque Comm School District −2.4 pts 63.3% 63.9%

89 MadridMadrid Comm School District −2.9 pts 60.6% 65.6%

90 BooneBoone Comm School District −3.2 pts 58.7% 66.8%

91 AnamosaAnamosa Comm School District −3.4 pts 61.2% 63.9%

92 Mount PleasantMount Pleasant Comm School District −3.7 pts 61.2% 63.5%

KnoxvilleKnoxville Comm School District −3.8 pts 61.6% 62.8%

OnawaWest Monona Comm School District −4.0 pts 55.2% 68.8%

95 EldoraEldora-New Providence Comm School District −4.0 pts 59.5% 64.4%

HawardenWest Sioux Comm School District −4.4 pts 59.9% 63.2%

FairfieldFairfield Comm School District −4.5 pts 55.4% 67.6%

98 JeffersonGreene County Comm School District −4.6 pts 59% 63.7%

CentervilleCenterville Comm School District −4.8 pts 57.3% 65%

100 ClarindaClarinda Comm School District −5.0 pts 62.3% 59.6%

101 CharitonChariton Comm School District −5.0 pts 56.6% 65.3%

102 EsthervilleEstherville Lincoln Central Comm School District −5.1 pts 57% 64.8%

103

CarlisleCarlisle Comm School District −5.4 pts 63.5% 57.6%

104 ClarionClarion-Goldfield-Dows Comm School District −5.5 pts 61.3% 59.7%

105

BloomfieldDavis County Comm School District −5.8 pts 58.8% 61.7%

106

NewtonNewton Comm School District −6.5 pts 59.7% 59.4%

107 HamptonHampton-Dumont Comm School District −6.5 pts 54.8% 64.1%

108 Webster CityWebster City Comm School District −7.2 pts 58.7% 58.9%

109 Cedar RapidsCedar Rapids Comm School District −7.9 pts 54.7% 61.5%

110 Red OakRed Oak Comm School District −8.1 pts 59.2% 56.5%

111

WashingtonWashington Comm School District −8.3 pts 52.9% 62.5%

112

MuscatineMuscatine Comm School District −8.7 pts 55.4% 59.2%

113

Council BluffsCouncil Bluffs Comm School District −8.8 pts 56.2% 58.1%

114 DenisonDenison Comm School District −8.8 pts 57.4% 57.1%

115 Charles CityCharles City Comm School District −9.1 pts 52% 61.8%

116 MaquoketaMaquoketa Comm School District −9.7 pts 53.7% 58.9%

117 PerryPerry Comm School District −9.8 pts 53.2% 59.2%

118 Sioux CitySioux City Comm School District −10.4 pts 54.7% 56.5%

119

ClintonClinton Comm School District −10.7 pts 54% 56.5%

120

Mason CityMason City Comm School District −11.1 pts 51.6% 58.2%

121 HiawathaCedar Rapids Comm School District −11.5 pts 52% 57%

122

Fort MadisonFort Madison Comm School District −12.0 pts 48% 60%

123

OttumwaOttumwa Comm School District −12.6 pts 52.4% 54.5%

124 EvansdaleWaterloo Comm School District −13.1 pts 54.3% 51.5%

125

KeokukKeokuk Comm School District −13.8 pts 48.9% 55.4%

126 OsceolaClarke Comm School District −14.1 pts 47.5% 56.3%

127

MarshalltownMarshalltown Comm School District −14.3 pts 51.1% 52.3%

128 WaterlooWaterloo Comm School District −14.9 pts 49% 53.2%

129

OelweinOelwein Comm School District −15.1 pts 47.1% 54.6%

130 Eagle GroveEagle Grove Comm School District −15.3 pts 50.7% 50.7%

131 Storm LakeStorm Lake Comm School District −15.9 pts 46.9% 53.4%

132 BurlingtonBurlington Comm School District −16.1 pts 44.7% 55.1%

133

West LibertyWest Liberty Comm School District −16.6 pts 45.9% 53%

134

Fort DodgeFort Dodge Comm School District −18.2 pts 44.9% 50.7%

135

PostvillePostville Comm School District −18.6 pts 42.9% 51.9%

136

DavenportDavenport Comm School District −19.9 pts 42% 50.1%

137 Des MoinesDes Moines Independent Comm School District −20.3 pts 44.2% 47.2%

138 TamaSouth Tama County −21.3 pts 42.3% 47.1%

139

Carter LakeCouncil Bluffs Comm School District −26.5 pts 42% 37%

How this ranking works

For every public school in a town we take its latest math and reading proficiency and subtract the Iowa average for the same test. The town’s score is the average of those gaps, weighted by each school’s enrollment, so a big high school counts more than a small annex. Private schools aren’t included.

Each state writes its own tests, so these scores compare towns within Iowa only. We don’t rank a town unless at least 150 students in its schools were tested. Test data: EDFacts via Urban Institute Education Data Portal (SY2020-21).

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

Same ranking in other states

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