2025 Best School Districts in Iowa
Iowa is known for its strong commitment to education, and several school districts stand out as top performers in 2025. Here are the highest-ranked school districts in the Hawkeye State:
- Iowa City Community School District
- Location: Iowa City
- Highlights:
- High academic achievement across all grade levels
- Strong emphasis on STEM education
- Diverse extracurricular offerings
- Ames Community School District
- Location: Ames
- Highlights:
- Close partnership with Iowa State University
- Innovative technology integration
- Strong focus on sustainability and environmental education
- Ankeny Community School District
- Location: Ankeny
- Highlights:
- Rapidly growing district with new, state-of-the-art facilities
- Comprehensive career and technical education programs
- Strong community support and involvement
- Waukee Community School District
- Location: Waukee
- Highlights:
- High graduation rates
- Innovative APEX program for real-world learning experiences
- Emphasis on personalized learning
- Pleasant Valley Community School District
- Location: Bettendorf
- Highlights:
- Consistently high test scores
- Strong fine arts programs
- Emphasis on character education and leadership development
These rankings take into account factors such as academic performance, teacher quality, extracurricular offerings, and college readiness. While these districts are top-ranked, it’s important to note that many other Iowa school districts also provide excellent educational opportunities.
When considering school options, families should look beyond rankings to consider factors such as location, specific programs of interest, and the individual needs of the student. Iowa’s commitment to education is evident across the state, with many districts offering unique and valuable educational experiences.
