The most improved public schools in Iowa are South Page Elementary School, Essex Junior-senior High School and Sioux Central Middle School.
A school's improvement is based on a its total rise in ranking spots during the last five years (2020-25).
Improved Rank Range: 650
1,021
Avg. Improved Rank: 760
Most Improved Public Schools in Iowa (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Ranking Change (2020-25)
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
South Page Elementary School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Rank Change: +1021
(from 1,295 to 274)
(from 1,295 to 274)
Grades: PK-8
606 Iowa Ave
College Springs, IA 51637
(712) 582-3212
College Springs, IA 51637
(712) 582-3212
Rank: #22.
Essex Junior-senior High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Rank Change: +1007
(from 1,183 to 176)
(from 1,183 to 176)
Grades: 6-12
111 Forbes St
Essex, IA 51638
(712) 379-3115
Essex, IA 51638
(712) 379-3115
Rank: #33.
Sioux Central Middle School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Rank Change: +871
(from 1,126 to 255)
(from 1,126 to 255)
Grades: 6-8
4440 U.s. Hwy 71
Sioux Rapids, IA 50585
(712) 283-2571
Sioux Rapids, IA 50585
(712) 283-2571
Rank: #44.
Vinton-shellsburg Middle School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Rank Change: +860
(from 982 to 122)
(from 982 to 122)
Grades: 6-8
212 W. 15th St.
Vinton, IA 52349
(319) 436-4728
Vinton, IA 52349
(319) 436-4728
Rank: #55.
Whittier Elementary School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
Rank Change: +835
(from 854 to 19)
(from 854 to 19)
Grades: K-5
1310 2nd Ave S
Clinton, IA 52732
(563) 243-3230
Clinton, IA 52732
(563) 243-3230
Rank: #66.
West Hancock Middle School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Rank Change: +825
(from 914 to 89)
(from 914 to 89)
Grades: 5-8
423 E. 5th St.
Kanawha, IA 50447
(641) 762-3261
Kanawha, IA 50447
(641) 762-3261
Rank: #77.
North Iowa Elementary Buffalo Center
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Rank Change: +815
(from 1,032 to 217)
(from 1,032 to 217)
Grades: PK-5
111 3rd Ave Nw
Buffalo Center, IA 50424
(641) 562-2525
Buffalo Center, IA 50424
(641) 562-2525
Rank: #88.
Ballard High School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Rank Change: +812
(from 947 to 135)
(from 947 to 135)
Grades: 9-12
701 Ballard Drive
Huxley, IA 50124
(515) 597-2971
Huxley, IA 50124
(515) 597-2971
Rank: #99.
Highland Middle School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Rank Change: +800
(from 1,160 to 360)
(from 1,160 to 360)
Grades: 6-8
1715 Vine Avenue
Riverside, IA 52327
(319) 648-2891
Riverside, IA 52327
(319) 648-2891
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
St. Ansgar High School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Rank Change: +792
(from 857 to 65)
(from 857 to 65)
Grades: 9-12
206 East 8th Street
Saint Ansgar, IA 50472
(641) 713-4720
Saint Ansgar, IA 50472
(641) 713-4720
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Lewis Central Middle School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
Rank Change: +792
(from 1,195 to 403)
(from 1,195 to 403)
Grades: 6-8
3820 Harry Langdon Blvd.
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
(712) 366-8252
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
(712) 366-8252
Rank: #1212.
Penn Elementary School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Rank Change: +791
(from 911 to 120)
(from 911 to 120)
Grades: PK-6
230 N Dubuque St
North Liberty, IA 52317
(319) 688-1150
North Liberty, IA 52317
(319) 688-1150
Rank: #1313.
West Burlington Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Rank Change: +778
(from 995 to 217)
(from 995 to 217)
Grades: PK-5
545 Ramsey St
West Burlington, IA 52655
(319) 752-8747
West Burlington, IA 52655
(319) 752-8747
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Pleasantville Middle School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Rank Change: +777
(from 1,032 to 255)
(from 1,032 to 255)
Grades: 7-8
415 Jones St
Pleasantville, IA 50225
(515) 848-0528
Pleasantville, IA 50225
(515) 848-0528
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Westwood Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Rank Change: +777
(from 1,032 to 255)
(from 1,032 to 255)
Grades: PK-6
1000 Rebel Way
Sloan, IA 51055
(712) 428-3200
Sloan, IA 51055
(712) 428-3200
Rank: #1616.
Clayton Ridge Middle School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
Rank Change: +775
(from 804 to 29)
(from 804 to 29)
Grades: 6-8
131. S. River Park Drive
Guttenberg, IA 52052
(563) 252-1747
Guttenberg, IA 52052
(563) 252-1747
Rank: #1717.
Coon Rapids-bayard 6-12 Attendance Center
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Rank Change: +771
(from 947 to 176)
(from 947 to 176)
Grades: 6-12
905 North Street
Coon Rapids, IA 50058
(712) 999-2208
Coon Rapids, IA 50058
(712) 999-2208
Rank: #1818.
Aplington-parkersburg Middle School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Rank Change: +770
(from 914 to 144)
(from 914 to 144)
Grades: 6-8
215 10th St
Aplington, IA 50604
(319) 347-6621
Aplington, IA 50604
(319) 347-6621
Rank: #1919.
West Hancock Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Rank Change: +732
(from 892 to 160)
(from 892 to 160)
Grades: PK-4
510 9th Ave Sw
Britt, IA 50423
(641) 843-3833
Britt, IA 50423
(641) 843-3833
Rank: #2020.
Central Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Rank Change: +730
(from 947 to 217)
(from 947 to 217)
Grades: PK-6
400 1st Street Nw
Elkader, IA 52043
(563) 245-1472
Elkader, IA 52043
(563) 245-1472
Rank: #21 - 2221. - 22.
Jesup Middle School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Rank Change: +728
(from 1,028 to 300)
(from 1,028 to 300)
Grades: 5-8
531 Prospect
Jesup, IA 50648
(319) 827-1700
Jesup, IA 50648
(319) 827-1700
Rank: #21 - 2221. - 22.
Schaller-crestland Elementary School
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Rank Change: +728
(from 1,032 to 304)
(from 1,032 to 304)
Grades: PK-5
300 S Berwick
Schaller, IA 51053
(712) 275-4267
Schaller, IA 51053
(712) 275-4267
Rank: #2323.
West Hancock High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Rank Change: +713
(from 857 to 144)
(from 857 to 144)
Grades: 9-12
420 9th Ave Sw
Britt, IA 50423
(641) 843-3863
Britt, IA 50423
(641) 843-3863
Rank: #2424.
East Mills Jr/sr High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Rank Change: +708
(from 884 to 176)
(from 884 to 176)
Grades: 7-12
1505 E 15th Street
Hastings, IA 51540
(712) 624-8645
Hastings, IA 51540
(712) 624-8645
Rank: #2525.
Denison Middle School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
Rank Change: +697
(from 1,155 to 458)
(from 1,155 to 458)
Grades: 6-8
1201 North 16th Street
Denison, IA 51442
(712) 263-9393
Denison, IA 51442
(712) 263-9393
Rank: #2626.
Clarksville High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Rank Change: +692
(from 947 to 255)
(from 947 to 255)
Grades: 7-12
318 N. Mather St.
Clarksville, IA 50619
(319) 278-4273
Clarksville, IA 50619
(319) 278-4273
Rank: #2727.
Sylvia Enarson Elementary School
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
Rank Change: +683
(from 1,207 to 524)
(from 1,207 to 524)
Grades: PK-5
219 Central Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
(712) 826-5982
Villisca, IA 50864
(712) 826-5982
Rank: #2828.
Woodward-granger High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Rank Change: +681
(from 857 to 176)
(from 857 to 176)
Grades: 9-12
306 W 3rd St
Woodward, IA 50276
(515) 438-2115
Woodward, IA 50276
(515) 438-2115
Rank: #2929.
Albia Middle School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Rank Change: +679
(from 1,015 to 336)
(from 1,015 to 336)
Grades: 7-8
505 C Ave E
Albia, IA 52531
(641) 932-2161
Albia, IA 52531
(641) 932-2161
Rank: #30 - 3130. - 31.
Moravia Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Rank Change: +672
(from 1,032 to 360)
(from 1,032 to 360)
Grades: PK-5
507 N Trussell Ave
Moravia, IA 52571
(641) 724-3241
Moravia, IA 52571
(641) 724-3241
Rank: #30 - 3130. - 31.
Sidney Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Rank Change: +672
(from 1,032 to 360)
(from 1,032 to 360)
Grades: PK-6
1004 Illinois St
Sidney, IA 51652
(712) 374-2647
Sidney, IA 51652
(712) 374-2647
Rank: #3232.
Central Lee High School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
Rank Change: +658
(from 1,088 to 430)
(from 1,088 to 430)
Grades: 9-12
2642 Highway 218
Donnellson, IA 52625
(319) 835-9510
Donnellson, IA 52625
(319) 835-9510
Rank: #3333.
J C Hoglan Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
Rank Change: +654
(from 1,220 to 566)
(from 1,220 to 566)
Grades: PK-4
2306 S 3rd Ave
Marshalltown, IA 50158
(641) 754-1060
Marshalltown, IA 50158
(641) 754-1060
Rank: #3434.
Underwood Middle School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
Rank Change: +653
(from 682 to 29)
(from 682 to 29)
Grades: 6-8
601 Third Street
Underwood, IA 51576
(712) 566-2332
Underwood, IA 51576
(712) 566-2332
Rank: #3535.
Tri-center Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Rank Change: +650
(from 794 to 144)
(from 794 to 144)
Grades: PK-5
33980 310th St
Neola, IA 51559
(712) 485-2211
Neola, IA 51559
(712) 485-2211
Show 100 more public schools in IA (out of 1,202 total schools)
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