Iowa


U.S.
Rank
#5 B
Overall PPI Score: 84%

Iowa vaulted 5 spots to 5th, securing a B with its bold ESA expansion. The Hawkeye State’s commitment to family freedom opens wide new avenues for personalized learning and growth.

Charter Schools

Score
82%
Grade: B
Rank: #15

While it's always been one of the weakest state laws, modest yet significant amendments since 2022 have fostered the expansion of the state's charter landscape, making more public school options available to a growing number of students statewide.

Transformational Learning

Score
80%
Grade: B
Rank: #14

Iowa is a leader in competency-based learning, providing schools with the flexibility, support, and resources to implement programming that measures student progress based on demonstrating mastery of standards and not just seat time. The state also supports...

Leadership

Governor Kim Reynolds ignited a nationwide education freedom movement in 2023, making Iowa the epicenter of bold, parent-driven reform. Her relentless push to expand school choice continues as the state actively recruits innovative education providers to bring...

Choice Programs (Scholarships, Vouchers, Tax Credits, etc.)

Score
88%
Grade: B
Rank: #6

Iowa has seen significant growth in the charter sector because of recent legislative amendments, providing families with new and dynamic education models.

DID YOU KNOW?

States with bold, parent-driven policies—like Arizona, Florida, and West Virginia—continue to lead the nation by offering the widest range of school choice options, from ESAs to charters to microschools!

Transparency

Iowa emphasizes transparency regarding school success. School report cards are featured on the main page of Iowa’s Department of Education homepage under Features, and clicking Iowa School Performance Profiles. Reports are displayed in a clear format, and give...

Teacher Quality

One of many data points to assess whether a state has the right policies in place to ensure teacher quality is the "use of student achievement data in teacher preparation accountability." How empty or full the fuel tank above is will give you the answer for your state.

Fast Facts:

4th Grade Math Proficiency: 39%
8th Grade Math Proficiency: 27%
4th Grade Reading Proficiency: 29%
8th Grade Reading Proficiency: 31%
Average SAT Score: 1195 / 1600
Average ACT Score: 21 / 36
Graduation Rate: 89.9%

Constitutional Issues

Iowa does not have a Blaine Amendment, but its constitution contains a Compelled Support Clause, "which the Iowa Supreme Court has interpreted as prohibiting direct payment of public funds to religious schools. In general, however, the Court has noted that the...