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: 35%
100%
Avg. Statewide: 69%
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: #6-76 - 7.
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: #6-76 - 7.
60%
(3 out of 5)
(3 out of 5)
Rank: #88.
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: #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.
35%
(6 out of 17)
(6 out of 17)
Recent Articles
Preventing Suicide in Schools: 2026 Guide for Educators
Learn updated 2026 strategies for preventing suicide in schools, including warning signs, intervention plans, and school-wide mental health support.
The Impact of Social Media on Students (2026 Update)
Explore the impact of social media on students in 2026, including academic, mental health, and safety insights for parents and educators.
Building a Summer Reading Plan That Keeps Kids Engaged
Learn how to build a summer reading plan that keeps kids engaged, motivated, and improving literacy skills throughout the break.