The ranking below is based on the percentage of schools within a town or city which have placed in the top 10% of all schools statewide.
A school's overall rank is based on its combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking. Schools are ranked and compared within their own state only.
Statewide Range: 33%
100%
Avg. Statewide: 68%
Top-Ranked Cities With Best Public Schools in Iowa (2026)
City
% of Schools in
Top 10% Statewide
Top 10% Statewide
Top-Ranked Schools
(Math Proficiency % | Reading Proficiency %)
(Math Proficiency % | Reading Proficiency %)
Rank: #1-31 - 3.
100%
(4 out of 4)
(4 out of 4)
Rank: #1-31 - 3.
100%
(3 out of 3)
(3 out of 3)
- Pleasant Valley Junior High School
Rank: #91 of 1,223 (Top 5%)
(Math: 89% | Reading: 88%) - Cody Elementary School
Rank: #101 of 1,223 (Top 5%)
(Math: 92% | Reading: 86%) - Bridgeview Elementary School
Rank: #118 of 1,223 (Top 5%)
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89%) - View Full List of Top-Ranked Le Claire, IA Schools
Rank: #1-31 - 3.
100%
(3 out of 3)
(3 out of 3)
Rank: #4-54 - 5.
75%
(3 out of 4)
(3 out of 4)
Rank: #4-54 - 5.
75%
(3 out of 4)
(3 out of 4)
Rank: #66.
60%
(3 out of 5)
(3 out of 5)
- Denver Senior High School
Rank: #15 of 1,223 (Top 1%)
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 90-94%) - Denver Elementary School - Lincoln Street Building
Rank: #30 of 1,223 (Top 1%)
(Math: 95% | Reading: 91%) - Denver Middle School
Rank: #38 of 1,223 (Top 1%)
(Math: 91% | Reading: 90-94%) - View Full List of Top-Ranked Denver, IA Schools
Rank: #7-87 - 8.
50%
(6 out of 12)
(6 out of 12)
- Hopewell Elementary School
Rank: #4 of 1,223 (Top 1%)
(Math: 98% | Reading: 93%) - Pleasant View Elementary School
Rank: #33 of 1,223 (Top 1%)
(Math: 92% | Reading: 91%) - Forest Grove Elementary School
Rank: #59 of 1,223 (Top 5%)
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 85-89%) - View Full List of Top-Ranked Bettendorf, IA Schools
Rank: #7-87 - 8.
50%
(3 out of 6)
(3 out of 6)
Rank: #99.
40%
(4 out of 10)
(4 out of 10)
- Bess Streeter Aldrich Elementary School
Rank: #55 of 1,223 (Top 5%)
(Math: 89% | Reading: 92%) - Helen A Hansen Elementary School
Rank: #98 of 1,223 (Top 5%)
(Math: 88% | Reading: 88%) - Southdale Elementary School
Rank: #196 of 1,223 (Top 10%)
(Math: 84% | Reading: 90%) - View Full List of Top-Ranked Cedar Falls, IA Schools
Rank: #1010.
33%
(6 out of 18)
(6 out of 18)
Recent Articles
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.