For the 2024-25 school year, there are 61 blue ribbon public elementary schools serving 21,192 students in Iowa.
Blue ribbon schools have been recognized by the Department of Education for achieving superior standards of academic excellence. Read more about this national school awards program and how blue ribbon schools work.
The top ranked blue ribbon public elementary schools in Iowa are Hospers Elementary School, Prairie Trail Elementary School and Northeast Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Iowa blue ribbon public elementary schools have an average math proficiency score of 78% (versus the Iowa public elementary school average of 66%), and reading proficiency score of 77% (versus the 69% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 22% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Iowa public elementary school average of 28% (majority Hispanic).
Best Blue Ribbon Public Elementary Schools in Iowa (2024-25)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Hospers Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
201 4th Ave S
Hospers, IA 51238
(712) 752-8480
Hospers, IA 51238
(712) 752-8480
Grades: K-5
| 216 students
Rank: #22.
Prairie Trail Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 92% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1850 Sw College Ave
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9605
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9605
Grades: K-5
| 571 students
Rank: #33.
Northeast Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1705 Ne Trilein Dr
Ankeny, IA 50021
(515) 965-9620
Ankeny, IA 50021
(515) 965-9620
Grades: K-5
| 655 students
Rank: #44.
Webster Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
12955 Aurora Avenue
Urbandale, IA 50323
(515) 331-8600
Urbandale, IA 50323
(515) 331-8600
Grades: PK-5
| 510 students
Rank: #5 - 85. - 8.
East Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
501 Normal College Ave
Sheldon, IA 51201
(712) 324-4337
Sheldon, IA 51201
(712) 324-4337
Grades: PK-4
| 450 students
Rank: #5 - 85. - 8.
Mitchellville Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
308 Elm Ave Nw
Mitchellville, IA 50169
(515) 967-4274
Mitchellville, IA 50169
(515) 967-4274
Grades: PK-5
| 242 students
Rank: #5 - 85. - 8.
Taft Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
612 2nd Ave North
Humboldt, IA 50548
(515) 332-3216
Humboldt, IA 50548
(515) 332-3216
Grades: 1-4
| 396 students
Rank: #5 - 85. - 8.
Whittier Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1310 2nd Ave S
Clinton, IA 52732
(563) 243-3230
Clinton, IA 52732
(563) 243-3230
Grades: K-5
| 354 students
Rank: #99.
Bess Streeter Aldrich Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 92%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2526 Ashworth Drive
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 553-2901
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 553-2901
Grades: PK-6
| 485 students
Rank: #1010.
Grundy Center Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1006 M Ave
Grundy Center, IA 50638
(319) 825-5464
Grundy Center, IA 50638
(319) 825-5464
Grades: 5-8
| 212 students
Rank: #1111.
North Kossuth Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
203 5th Street North
Swea City, IA 50590
(515) 272-4361
Swea City, IA 50590
(515) 272-4361
Grades: PK-5
| 130 students
Rank: #1212.
Helen A Hansen Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
616 Holmes Dr
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 553-2775
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 553-2775
Grades: PK-6
| 591 students
Rank: #13 - 1713. - 17.
Bedford Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
906 Pennsylvania St
Bedford, IA 50833
(712) 523-2116
Bedford, IA 50833
(712) 523-2116
Grades: PK-5
| 292 students
Rank: #13 - 1713. - 17.
Bryant Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1280 Rush St
Dubuque, IA 52003
(563) 552-3400
Dubuque, IA 52003
(563) 552-3400
Grades: PK-5
| 314 students
Rank: #13 - 1713. - 17.
Delwood Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
311 Delmar Ave
Delmar, IA 52037
(563) 674-4164
Delmar, IA 52037
(563) 674-4164
Grades: PK-6
| 165 students
Rank: #13 - 1713. - 17.
Runnells Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
6575 Se 116th Street
Runnells, IA 50237
(515) 966-2068
Runnells, IA 50237
(515) 966-2068
Grades: PK-5
| 269 students
Rank: #13 - 1713. - 17.
West Cedar Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
221 15th St Nw
Waverly, IA 50677
(319) 352-2754
Waverly, IA 50677
(319) 352-2754
Grades: K-4
| 230 students
Rank: #1818.
Summit Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
9500 Windsor Parkway
Johnston, IA 50131
(515) 986-0318
Johnston, IA 50131
(515) 986-0318
Grades: 6-7
| 1,112 students
Rank: #1919.
Vinton-shellsburg Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
212 W. 15th St.
Vinton, IA 52349
(319) 436-4728
Vinton, IA 52349
(319) 436-4728
Grades: 6-8
| 318 students
Rank: #2020.
Maquoketa Valley Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
112 Third Street
Delhi, IA 52223
(563) 922-9411
Delhi, IA 52223
(563) 922-9411
Grades: 6-8
| 159 students
Rank: #2121.
Franklin Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
400 3rd Ave Se
Le Mars, IA 51031
(712) 546-4185
Le Mars, IA 51031
(712) 546-4185
Grades: K-5
| 282 students
Rank: #2222.
Davis Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
818 Hamilton Avenue
Grinnell, IA 50112
(641) 236-2790
Grinnell, IA 50112
(641) 236-2790
Grades: 3-4
| 215 students
Rank: #23 - 2623. - 26.
Altoona Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
301 6th St Sw
Altoona, IA 50009
(515) 967-3771
Altoona, IA 50009
(515) 967-3771
Grades: PK-5
| 419 students
Rank: #23 - 2623. - 26.
Indian Creek Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2900 Indian Creek Rd
Marion, IA 52302
(319) 447-3270
Marion, IA 52302
(319) 447-3270
Grades: K-4
| 411 students
Rank: #23 - 2623. - 26.
Mount Ayr Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
607 E Jefferson
Mount Ayr, IA 50854
(641) 464-0537
Mount Ayr, IA 50854
(641) 464-0537
Grades: PK-6
| 339 students
Rank: #23 - 2623. - 26.
Okoboji Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
705 N Ave
Milford, IA 51351
(712) 338-2458
Milford, IA 51351
(712) 338-2458
Grades: PK-4
| 533 students
Rank: #2727.
Sunnyside Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2700 S Maple St
Sioux City, IA 51106
(712) 274-4047
Sioux City, IA 51106
(712) 274-4047
Grades: 3-5
| 262 students
Rank: #2828.
Norman Borlaug Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1000 Kennedy Parkway
Coralville, IA 52241
(319) 688-1155
Coralville, IA 52241
(319) 688-1155
Grades: PK-6
| 417 students
Rank: #29 - 3029. - 30.
John Glenn Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
308 N. Main St.
Donahue, IA 52746
(563) 282-9627
Donahue, IA 52746
(563) 282-9627
Grades: K-6
| 192 students
Rank: #29 - 3029. - 30.
Pocahontas Area Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
208 1st Ave Sw
Pocahontas, IA 50574
(712) 335-4642
Pocahontas, IA 50574
(712) 335-4642
Grades: K-6
| 283 students
Rank: #3131.
South Central Calhoun Elementary Building
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
330 Brower Street
Rockwell City, IA 50579
(712) 297-8621
Rockwell City, IA 50579
(712) 297-8621
Grades: PK-3
| 311 students
Rank: #3232.
Westside Junior-senior High School
Magnet School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
108 Clinton St
Westside, IA 51467
(712) 663-4312
Westside, IA 51467
(712) 663-4312
Grades: 6-12
| 106 students
Rank: #3333.
Herbert Hoover Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
3223 South Hampton Drive
Bettendorf, IA 52722
(563) 332-8636
Bettendorf, IA 52722
(563) 332-8636
Grades: K-5
| 405 students
Rank: #34 - 3534. - 35.
Southeast Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
809 4th St Se
Waverly, IA 50677
(319) 352-3582
Waverly, IA 50677
(319) 352-3582
Grades: K-4
| 164 students
Rank: #34 - 3534. - 35.
Tilford Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
308 E 13th St
Vinton, IA 52349
(319) 436-4728
Vinton, IA 52349
(319) 436-4728
Grades: PK-4
| 578 students
Show 26 more public schools in Iowa (out of 61 total schools)
Loading...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked blue ribbon public elementary schools in Iowa?
The top ranked blue ribbon public elementary schools in Iowa include Hospers Elementary School, Prairie Trail Elementary School and Northeast Elementary School.
How many blue ribbon public elementary schools are located in Iowa?
61 blue ribbon public elementary schools are located in Iowa.
What is the racial composition of students in Iowa?
Iowa blue ribbon public elementary schools minority enrollment is 22% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Iowa public elementary schools average of 28% (majority Hispanic).
Recent Articles
Vouchers for Special Education: Are They a Good Idea?
The article examines the pros and cons of using school vouchers for special education students. It discusses how vouchers can provide more educational options for families but also raises concerns about accountability, funding for public schools, and the implementation of special education laws in private school settings.
What is the Connection Between Home Values and School Performance?
This article explores the relationship between school performance and home values in neighborhoods. It discusses studies showing correlations between school expenditures, ratings, and housing prices, highlighting how this connection affects families' choices and contributes to educational disparities between communities.
September 27, 2024
Understanding RubricsThis article explores the fundamental principles of rubrics in education, focusing on their role as assessment tools. It breaks down the key components of rubrics, including criteria, performance levels, and descriptors. The piece also delves into the two main types of rubrics - holistic and analytic - providing authoritative definitions and explaining their unique applications in educational settings.
