Iowa Schools

Iowa's education system

Iowa is best known as the place where the high school movement began in the United States. Around 1910, secondary schools as we know them today were established throughout the state. This was unprecedented at the time. When the high school movement gathered momentum and crossed Iowa, there was clear evidence that more time spent in school meant more income.

The four-year high school graduation rate was 87.2% in 2009. The state has the third highest graduation rate in the nation. Iowa consistently ranks in the top three for ACT and SAT scores. In 2009, Iowa ranked #1 in the nation for average SAT scores per student and #2 in the nation for average ACT scores per student. Iowa has 365 school districts with 13.8 students per teacher and 12th highest student-teacher ratio. However, it ranks 42nd for teacher salaries, with an average salary of $39,284.

The Iowa Board of Education, in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Education, works with all public elementary and secondary schools, state-accredited nonpublic schools, community institutions, community colleges, and teacher preparation programs. The State Commission consists of 10 members. The nine voting members are appointed by the Governor for six-year terms, subject to Senate approval. One student member is also appointed by the Governor to serve a one-year non-voting term.

Iowa's Famous Schools

There are many schools in Iowa that are known for their academic excellence, extracurricular programs, and community involvement. Here are a few examples of schools in Iowa that are considered to be well-regarded.

Ames High School: This is a public high school in Ames, Iowa, known for its strong academic program, extracurricular activities, and community involvement.

Iowa City High School: This is a public high school in Iowa City, Iowa, known for its strong academic program, extracurricular activities, and community involvement.

Valley High School: This is a public high school in West Des Moines, Iowa, known for its strong academic program, extracurricular activities, and community involvement.

Wahlert Catholic High School: This is a private, Catholic, college preparatory school in Dubuque, Iowa, known for its strong academic program, extracurricular activities, and community involvement.

Dowling Catholic High School: This is a private, Catholic, college preparatory school in West Des Moines, Iowa, known for its strong academic program, extracurricular activities, and community involvement.

It's worth noting that these schools are not the only notable schools in Iowa, and there are many other schools that are considered to be well-regarded and have a good reputation. Additionally, Iowa also has some of the most prestigious universities and colleges in the country, such as the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, which are also known for their academic excellence, research, and community involvement.