Approximately 38% of public elementary school students in Iowa are eligible for free lunch (2024-25).
The public elementary schools with the highest eligible for free lunch are listed below (where sufficient data available).
The public elementary school with the highest percentage of students eligible for free lunch in Iowa is Meskwaki Settlement School with 99% of students eligible.
Eligible for Free Lunch Range: 76%
99%
Avg. Eligible for Free Lunch: 84%
Public Elementary Schools Eligible For Free Lunch in Iowa (2024-25)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Eligible for Free Lunch
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
Meskwaki Settlement School
Magnet School
Eligible for Free Lunch: 99%
Grades: K-12
1608 305th St
Tama, IA 52339
(641) 484-9000
Tama, IA 52339
(641) 484-9000
Rank: #22.
Woodward Academy
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 97%
Grades: 5-12
1251 334th St
Woodward, IA 50276
(515) 438-3150
Woodward, IA 50276
(515) 438-3150
Rank: #33.
Edmunds Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 96%
Grades: K-5
950 15th Street
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 243-1174
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 243-1174
Rank: #44.
Moulton Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 93%
Grades: PK-5
1541 8th Street
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 242-8427
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 242-8427
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
King Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 92%
Grades: K-5
1849 Forest Ave
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 242-8417
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 242-8417
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Monroe Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 92%
Grades: K-5
2250 30th St
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-8425
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-8425
Rank: #77.
Capitol View Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 89%
Grades: PK-5
320 E. 16th
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-8402
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-8402
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Carver Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 88%
Grades: K-5
705 E University Ave
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-8418
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-8418
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Hiatt Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 88%
Grades: 6-8
1430 E. University Ave
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-7774
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-7774
Rank: #1010.
Irving Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 85%
Grades: K-5
901 Floyd Blvd
Sioux City, IA 51105
(712) 279-6834
Sioux City, IA 51105
(712) 279-6834
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Madison Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 84%
Grades: K-5
806 E Hoffman St
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-8420
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-8420
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Prairie Edge
Magnet School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 84%
Grades: K-12
401 76th Ave Sw
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
(319) 298-3406
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
(319) 298-3406
Rank: #13 - 1513. - 15.
Mckinley Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 83%
Grades: PK-5
1610 Se 6th Street
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8423
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8423
Rank: #13 - 1513. - 15.
South Union Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 83%
Grades: K-5
4201 South Union
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8409
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8409
Rank: #13 - 1513. - 15.
Willard Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 83%
Grades: K-5
2941 Dean Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8439
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8439
Rank: #16 - 2216. - 22.
Cedar Rapids Virtual Academy Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 82%
Grades: K-5
2500 Edgewood Rd
Cedar Rapids, IA 52405
(319) 558-3427
Cedar Rapids, IA 52405
(319) 558-3427
Rank: #16 - 2216. - 22.
Cunningham School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 82%
Grades: PK-5
1224 Mobile St
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2600
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2600
Rank: #16 - 2216. - 22.
Harding Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 82%
Grades: 6-8
203 E Euclid Ave
Des Moines, IA 50313
(515) 242-8445
Des Moines, IA 50313
(515) 242-8445
Rank: #16 - 2216. - 22.
Irving Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 82%
Grades: K-5
1115 W. 5th Street
Waterloo, IA 50702
(319) 433-2800
Waterloo, IA 50702
(319) 433-2800
Rank: #16 - 2216. - 22.
Lovejoy Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 82%
Grades: K-5
801 E Kenyon Ave
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8419
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8419
Rank: #16 - 2216. - 22.
Oak Park
Magnet School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 82%
Grades: K-5
3928 6th Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50313
(515) 242-8428
Des Moines, IA 50313
(515) 242-8428
Rank: #16 - 2216. - 22.
Studebaker Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 82%
Grades: K-5
300 E County Line Rd
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8436
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8436
Rank: #23 - 2523. - 25.
Findley Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 81%
Grades: K-5
3025 Oxford Street
Des Moines, IA 50313
(515) 242-8407
Des Moines, IA 50313
(515) 242-8407
Rank: #23 - 2523. - 25.
Garton Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 81%
Grades: K-5
2820 E 24th St
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8408
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8408
Rank: #23 - 2523. - 25.
River Woods Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 81%
Grades: K-5
2929 Se 22nd St
Des Moines, IA 50320
(515) 242-8433
Des Moines, IA 50320
(515) 242-8433
Rank: #2626.
Stowe Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 80%
Grades: K-5
1411 E 33rd St
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8435
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8435
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
George Washington Carver Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 79%
Grades: 6-8
1505 Logan Ave
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2500
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2500
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
Morris Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 79%
Grades: K-5
1401 Geil Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8421
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8421
Rank: #29 - 3029. - 30.
Howe Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 78%
Grades: K-5
2900 Indianola
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8413
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-8413
Rank: #29 - 3029. - 30.
Lincoln Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 78%
Grades: PK-5
302 Cedar Bend St
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-1990
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-1990
Rank: #31 - 3231. - 32.
Cattell Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 77%
Grades: K-5
3101 E 12th St
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-8403
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-8403
Rank: #31 - 3231. - 32.
Central Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 77%
Grades: 6-8
1350 Katoski Dr
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2100
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2100
Rank: #33 - 4033. - 40.
Brubaker Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 76%
Grades: K-5
2900 E 42nd Street
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8405
Des Moines, IA 50317
(515) 242-8405
Rank: #33 - 4033. - 40.
Highland Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 76%
Grades: PK-5
812 Idaho St
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2630
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2630
Rank: #33 - 4033. - 40.
Hunt Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 76%
Grades: PK-5
1114 W. 27th St
Sioux City, IA 51103
(712) 279-6833
Sioux City, IA 51103
(712) 279-6833
Show 100 more public schools in IA (out of 937 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Iowa average of public elementary schools students eligible for free lunch?
The Iowa average of public elementary schools students eligible for free lunch is 38%% for 2024-25.
What are the public elementary schools with the highest percentage of students eligible for free lunch in Iowa?
The best top ranked public elementary schools in Iowa include Meskwaki Settlement School, Woodward Academy and Edmunds Elementary School.
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