The most improved public middle schools in Iowa are West Monona Middle School, Paton-churdan Jr-sr High School and Rural Elementary School #1.
A school's improvement is based on a its total rise in ranking spots during the last five years (2020-25).
Improved Rank Range: 166
526
Avg. Improved Rank: 262
Most Improved Public Middle Schools in Iowa (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Ranking Change (2020-25)
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
West Monona Middle School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Rank Change: +526
(from 815 to 289)
(from 815 to 289)
Grades: 6-8
1314 15th St
Onawa, IA 51040
(712) 433-9098
Onawa, IA 51040
(712) 433-9098
Rank: #22.
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: #33.
Rural Elementary School #1
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
Rank Change: +408
(from 1,073 to 665)
(from 1,073 to 665)
Grades: K-8
1099 Amish Blvd
Fairbank, IA 50629
(319) 635-2071
Fairbank, IA 50629
(319) 635-2071
Rank: #44.
South Page Elementary School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Rank Change: +342
(from 562 to 220)
(from 562 to 220)
Grades: PK-8
606 Iowa Ave
College Springs, IA 51637
(712) 582-3212
College Springs, IA 51637
(712) 582-3212
Rank: #55.
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: #66.
Pleasantville Middle School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Rank Change: +335
(from 512 to 177)
(from 512 to 177)
Grades: 7-8
415 Jones St
Pleasantville, IA 50225
(515) 848-0528
Pleasantville, IA 50225
(515) 848-0528
Rank: #77.
Waukon Middle School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Rank Change: +320
(from 641 to 321)
(from 641 to 321)
Grades: 6-8
1059 3rd Ave Nw
Waukon, IA 52172
(563) 568-6321
Waukon, IA 52172
(563) 568-6321
Rank: #88.
Sioux Central Middle School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Rank Change: +316
(from 493 to 177)
(from 493 to 177)
Grades: 6-8
4440 U.s. Hwy 71
Sioux Rapids, IA 50585
(712) 283-2571
Sioux Rapids, IA 50585
(712) 283-2571
Rank: #99.
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: #1010.
Clayton Ridge Middle School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Rank Change: +292
(from 392 to 100)
(from 392 to 100)
Grades: 6-8
131. S. River Park Drive
Guttenberg, IA 52052
(563) 252-1747
Guttenberg, IA 52052
(563) 252-1747
Rank: #1111.
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: #1212.
Lisbon Middle School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Rank Change: +271
(from 371 to 100)
(from 371 to 100)
Grades: 7-8
235 W School St
Lisbon, IA 52253
(319) 455-2106
Lisbon, IA 52253
(319) 455-2106
Rank: #1313.
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: #1414.
Spirit Lake Middle School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Rank Change: +265
(from 437 to 172)
(from 437 to 172)
Grades: 5-8
609 28th St
Spirit Lake, IA 51360
(712) 336-1370
Spirit Lake, IA 51360
(712) 336-1370
Rank: #1515.
West Sioux Middle School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
Rank Change: +257
(from 862 to 605)
(from 862 to 605)
Grades: 6-8
1300 Falcon Drive
Hawarden, IA 51023
(712) 551-1022
Hawarden, IA 51023
(712) 551-1022
Rank: #1616.
West Hancock Middle School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Rank Change: +256
(from 371 to 115)
(from 371 to 115)
Grades: 5-8
423 E. 5th St.
Kanawha, IA 50447
(641) 762-3261
Kanawha, IA 50447
(641) 762-3261
Rank: #1717.
Sheldon Middle School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Rank Change: +246
(from 333 to 87)
(from 333 to 87)
Grades: 5-8
310 23rd Avenue
Sheldon, IA 51201
(712) 324-4346
Sheldon, IA 51201
(712) 324-4346
Rank: #1818.
Algona Middle School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
Rank Change: +245
(from 652 to 407)
(from 652 to 407)
Grades: 5-8
601 S. Hale
Algona, IA 50511
(515) 295-7207
Algona, IA 50511
(515) 295-7207
Rank: #1919.
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: #2020.
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: #2121.
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: #2222.
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: #2323.
Estherville Lincoln Central Middle School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
Rank Change: +220
(from 916 to 696)
(from 916 to 696)
Grades: 5-8
1430 1st Ave. S.
Estherville, IA 51334
(712) 362-2335
Estherville, IA 51334
(712) 362-2335
Rank: #2424.
Wapello Junior High School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
Rank Change: +219
(from 1,111 to 892)
(from 1,111 to 892)
Grades: 6-8
501 Buchanan St
Wapello, IA 52653
(319) 523-8131
Wapello, IA 52653
(319) 523-8131
Rank: #2525.
South Hardin Middle School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
Rank Change: +218
(from 704 to 486)
(from 704 to 486)
Grades: 6-8
200 E. Chestnut
Hubbard, IA 50122
(641) 864-2211
Hubbard, IA 50122
(641) 864-2211
Rank: #2626.
Montezuma Junior High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
Rank Change: +208
(from 596 to 388)
(from 596 to 388)
Grades: 6-8
504 North 4th Street
Montezuma, IA 50171
(641) 623-5121
Montezuma, IA 50171
(641) 623-5121
Rank: #2727.
Mvao Middle School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
Rank Change: +205
(from 680 to 475)
(from 680 to 475)
Grades: 6-8
110 W Division
Anthon, IA 51004
(712) 373-5244
Anthon, IA 51004
(712) 373-5244
Rank: #2828.
Riverbend Middle School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
Rank Change: +199
(from 901 to 702)
(from 901 to 702)
Grades: 6-8
1124 Union St.
Iowa Falls, IA 50126
(641) 648-6430
Iowa Falls, IA 50126
(641) 648-6430
Rank: #2929.
Bcluw Middle School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
Rank Change: +194
(from 680 to 486)
(from 680 to 486)
Grades: 5-8
704 Commercial St
Union, IA 50258
(641) 486-5371
Union, IA 50258
(641) 486-5371
Rank: #3030.
North Central Junior High School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Rank Change: +186
(from 356 to 170)
(from 356 to 170)
Grades: 7-8
180 E. Forevergreen Rd
North Liberty, IA 52317
(319) 688-1210
North Liberty, IA 52317
(319) 688-1210
Rank: #31 - 3231. - 32.
North Union Middle School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Rank Change: +184
(from 409 to 225)
(from 409 to 225)
Grades: 6-8
203 5th St North
Swea City, IA 50590
(515) 272-4361
Swea City, IA 50590
(515) 272-4361
Rank: #31 - 3231. - 32.
Fairfield Middle School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
Rank Change: +184
(from 666 to 482)
(from 666 to 482)
Grades: 5-8
404 W Fillmore
Fairfield, IA 52556
(641) 472-5019
Fairfield, IA 52556
(641) 472-5019
Rank: #3333.
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: #3434.
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: #3535.
Nevada Middle School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
Rank Change: +166
(from 586 to 420)
(from 586 to 420)
Grades: 5-8
1035 15th St
Nevada, IA 50201
(515) 382-2751
Nevada, IA 50201
(515) 382-2751
Show 100 more public schools in IA (out of 372 total schools)
Loading...
Recent Articles
Sexual Harassment at Age 6: The Tale of a First Grade Suspension
A six-year old in Aurora, Colorado, was suspended after singing an LMFAO song to a little girl in his class and reportedly “shaking his booty.” We look at the case and the sexual harassment problem in public schools today.
How Scaffolding Could Change the Way Your Child Learns
This article explores the concept of instructional scaffolding, a teaching method that enhances learning by breaking down complex tasks into manageable parts. It highlights how scaffolding supports students in developing critical thinking skills and becoming more independent learners. The article discusses the benefits of scaffolding, including improved engagement and reduced anxiety, and provides strategies for its implementation across various educational levels.
February 05, 2025
Understanding the U.S. Department of Education: Structure, Impact, and EvolutionWe explore how the Department of Education shapes American education, from its cabinet-level leadership to its impact on millions of students, written for general audiences seeking clarity on this vital institution.
