The most improved public high schools in Iowa are Paton-churdan Jr-sr High School, Essex Junior-senior High School and Columbus Community High School.
A school's improvement is based on a its total rise in ranking spots during the last five years (2020-25).
Improved Rank Range: 75
426
Avg. Improved Rank: 181
Most Improved Public High Schools in Iowa (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Ranking Change (2020-25)
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
Paton-churdan Jr-sr High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Rank Change: +426
(from 715 to 289)
(from 715 to 289)
Grades: 6-12
606 Adrian St
Churdan, IA 50050
(515) 389-3111
Churdan, IA 50050
(515) 389-3111
Rank: #22.
Essex Junior-senior High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Rank Change: +339
(from 645 to 306)
(from 645 to 306)
Grades: 6-12
111 Forbes St
Essex, IA 51638
(712) 379-3115
Essex, IA 51638
(712) 379-3115
Rank: #33.
Columbus Community High School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
Rank Change: +321
(from 1,124 to 803)
(from 1,124 to 803)
Grades: 9-12
1004 Colton St
Columbus Junction, IA 52738
(319) 728-2231
Columbus Junction, IA 52738
(319) 728-2231
Rank: #44.
Clarinda High School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
Rank Change: +301
(from 958 to 657)
(from 958 to 657)
Grades: 7-12
100 N. Cardinal Drive
Clarinda, IA 51632
(712) 542-5167
Clarinda, IA 51632
(712) 542-5167
Rank: #55.
Lenox High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
Rank Change: +281
(from 728 to 447)
(from 728 to 447)
Grades: 7-12
600 S Locust St
Lenox, IA 50851
(641) 333-2244
Lenox, IA 50851
(641) 333-2244
Rank: #66.
Fremont-mills Middle And Senior High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Rank Change: +268
(from 493 to 225)
(from 493 to 225)
Grades: 7-12
1114 Us Hwy 275
Tabor, IA 51653
(712) 629-2325
Tabor, IA 51653
(712) 629-2325
Rank: #77.
Shenandoah High School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
Rank Change: +244
(from 771 to 527)
(from 771 to 527)
Grades: 9-12
1000 Mustang Dr
Shenandoah, IA 51601
(712) 246-4727
Shenandoah, IA 51601
(712) 246-4727
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Murray Jr/sr High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
Rank Change: +240
(from 799 to 559)
(from 799 to 559)
Grades: 6-12
216 Sherman
Murray, IA 50174
(641) 447-2517
Murray, IA 50174
(641) 447-2517
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
West Monona High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
Rank Change: +240
(from 799 to 559)
(from 799 to 559)
Grades: 9-12
1314 15th St
Onawa, IA 51040
(712) 433-2453
Onawa, IA 51040
(712) 433-2453
Rank: #1010.
Wayne Community Jr-sr High School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Rank Change: +237
(from 541 to 304)
(from 541 to 304)
Grades: 7-12
102 N Dekalb Street
Corydon, IA 50060
(641) 872-2184
Corydon, IA 50060
(641) 872-2184
Rank: #1111.
South O'brien Secondary School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
Rank Change: +233
(from 786 to 553)
(from 786 to 553)
Grades: 7-12
307 W Groesbeck
Paullina, IA 51046
(712) 949-3454
Paullina, IA 51046
(712) 949-3454
Rank: #1212.
Danville Junior-senior High School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Rank Change: +223
(from 551 to 328)
(from 551 to 328)
Grades: 7-12
419 South Main Street
Danville, IA 52623
(319) 392-4222
Danville, IA 52623
(319) 392-4222
Rank: #1313.
Forest City High School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Rank Change: +222
(from 532 to 310)
(from 532 to 310)
Grades: 9-12
206 W School St
Forest City, IA 50436
(641) 585-2324
Forest City, IA 50436
(641) 585-2324
Rank: #1414.
West Burlington Arnold Jr./sr. High School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
Rank Change: +181
(from 605 to 424)
(from 605 to 424)
Grades: 6-12
408 W Van Weiss Blvd
West Burlington, IA 52655
(319) 752-8747
West Burlington, IA 52655
(319) 752-8747
Rank: #1515.
Van Buren County Community Middle & High School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
Rank Change: +175
(from 783 to 608)
(from 783 to 608)
Grades: 7-12
405 4th Street
Keosauqua, IA 52565
(319) 293-3334
Keosauqua, IA 52565
(319) 293-3334
Rank: #1616.
Tipton High School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
Rank Change: +164
(from 578 to 414)
(from 578 to 414)
Grades: 9-12
400 E 6th St
Tipton, IA 52772
(563) 886-6027
Tipton, IA 52772
(563) 886-6027
Rank: #1717.
Nodaway Valley High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
Rank Change: +156
(from 715 to 559)
(from 715 to 559)
Grades: 9-12
410 Nw 2nd
Greenfield, IA 50849
(641) 743-6141
Greenfield, IA 50849
(641) 743-6141
Rank: #1818.
Moravia High School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
Rank Change: +155
(from 999 to 844)
(from 999 to 844)
Grades: 6-12
505 N Trussell Avenue
Moravia, IA 52571
(641) 724-3241
Moravia, IA 52571
(641) 724-3241
Rank: #1919.
East Union Middle-high School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
Rank Change: +153
(from 677 to 524)
(from 677 to 524)
Grades: 6-12
1916 High School Dr
Afton, IA 50830
(641) 347-8421
Afton, IA 50830
(641) 347-8421
Rank: #2020.
Garner-hayfield-ventura High School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Rank Change: +152
(from 368 to 216)
(from 368 to 216)
Grades: 9-12
605 West Lyon Street
Garner, IA 50438
(641) 923-2632
Garner, IA 50438
(641) 923-2632
Rank: #2121.
Washington High School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Rank Change: +150
(from 319 to 169)
(from 319 to 169)
Grades: 9-12
600 W Bluff St
Cherokee, IA 51012
(712) 225-6755
Cherokee, IA 51012
(712) 225-6755
Rank: #2222.
North Cedar Jr/sr High School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
Rank Change: +129
(from 751 to 622)
(from 751 to 622)
Grades: 7-12
400 Ball Street
Clarence, IA 52216
(563) 452-3179
Clarence, IA 52216
(563) 452-3179
Rank: #2323.
Northeast Middle-high School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Rank Change: +126
(from 359 to 233)
(from 359 to 233)
Grades: 6-12
3690 Hwy.136
Goose Lake, IA 52750
(563) 577-2249
Goose Lake, IA 52750
(563) 577-2249
Rank: #2424.
Tripoli Middle/sr High School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
Rank Change: +125
(from 757 to 632)
(from 757 to 632)
Grades: 6-12
209 8th Ave Sw
Tripoli, IA 50676
(319) 882-4202
Tripoli, IA 50676
(319) 882-4202
Rank: #25 - 2625. - 26.
Clear Lake High School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
Rank Change: +121
(from 534 to 413)
(from 534 to 413)
Grades: 9-12
125 N 20th St
Clear Lake, IA 50428
(641) 357-5235
Clear Lake, IA 50428
(641) 357-5235
Rank: #25 - 2625. - 26.
Alternative School
Alternative School
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Rank Change: +121
(from 1,183 to 1,062)
(from 1,183 to 1,062)
Grades: 9-12
19 N. Illinois Ave.
Mason City, IA 50401
(641) 421-4426
Mason City, IA 50401
(641) 421-4426
Rank: #2727.
West Branch High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Rank Change: +120
(from 409 to 289)
(from 409 to 289)
Grades: 9-12
900 W Main
West Branch, IA 52358
(319) 643-7216
West Branch, IA 52358
(319) 643-7216
Rank: #2828.
Northwood-kensett Middle/high School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
Rank Change: +106
(from 481 to 375)
(from 481 to 375)
Grades: 6-12
704 7th Street North
Northwood, IA 50459
(641) 324-2142
Northwood, IA 50459
(641) 324-2142
Rank: #2929.
West Harrison Middle School/high School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
Rank Change: +105
(from 887 to 782)
(from 887 to 782)
Grades: 5-12
410 Pine St
Mondamin, IA 51557
(712) 646-2231
Mondamin, IA 51557
(712) 646-2231
Rank: #3030.
Spencer High School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Rank Change: +99
(from 441 to 342)
(from 441 to 342)
Grades: 9-12
800 E 3rd St
Spencer, IA 51301
(712) 262-1700
Spencer, IA 51301
(712) 262-1700
Rank: #3131.
West Hancock High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Rank Change: +91
(from 268 to 177)
(from 268 to 177)
Grades: 9-12
420 9th Ave Sw
Britt, IA 50423
(641) 843-3863
Britt, IA 50423
(641) 843-3863
Rank: #3232.
Ballard High School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Rank Change: +90
(from 321 to 231)
(from 321 to 231)
Grades: 9-12
701 Ballard Drive
Huxley, IA 50124
(515) 597-2971
Huxley, IA 50124
(515) 597-2971
Rank: #3333.
East Mills Jr/sr High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Rank Change: +86
(from 213 to 127)
(from 213 to 127)
Grades: 7-12
1505 E 15th Street
Hastings, IA 51540
(712) 624-8645
Hastings, IA 51540
(712) 624-8645
Rank: #34 - 3534. - 35.
Tri-county Jr/sr High School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
Rank Change: +75
(from 1,024 to 949)
(from 1,024 to 949)
Grades: 7-12
3003 Hwy 22
Thornburg, IA 50255
(641) 634-2636
Thornburg, IA 50255
(641) 634-2636
Rank: #34 - 3534. - 35.
North Iowa High School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Rank Change: +75
(from 1,111 to 1,036)
(from 1,111 to 1,036)
Grades: 9-12
111 3rd Ave Nw
Buffalo Center, IA 50424
(641) 562-2525
Buffalo Center, IA 50424
(641) 562-2525
Show 100 more public schools in IA (out of 355 total schools)
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