Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Iowa Blue Ribbon Public Elementary Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 60 blue ribbon public elementary schools serving 20,314 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 Prairie Trail Elementary School, Bess Streeter Aldrich Elementary School and Mitchellville 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 79% (versus the Iowa public elementary school average of 70%), and reading proficiency score of 77% (versus the 69% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 24% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Iowa public elementary school average of 30% (majority Hispanic).

Best Blue Ribbon Public Elementary Schools in Iowa (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Prairie Trail Elementary School
(Math: 92% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1850 Sw College Ave
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9605
Gr: K-5 | 526 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #22.
Bess Streeter Aldrich Elementary School
(Math: 89% | Reading: 92%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2526 Ashworth Drive
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 553-2901
Gr: PK-6 | 472 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Mitchellville Elementary School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
308 Elm Ave Nw
Mitchellville, IA 50169
(515) 967-4274
Gr: PK-5 | 255 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Whittier Elementary School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1310 2nd Ave S
Clinton, IA 52732
(563) 243-3230
Gr: K-5 | 331 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #55.
Grundy Center Middle School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1006 M Ave
Grundy Center, IA 50638
(319) 825-5464
Gr: 5-8 | 219 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #66.
Taft Elementary School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
612 2nd Ave North
Humboldt, IA 50548
(515) 332-3216
Gr: 1-4 | 369 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #77.
North Kossuth Elementary School
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
203 5th Street North
Swea City, IA 50590
(515) 272-4361
Gr: PK-5 | 131 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #88.
Northeast Elementary School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1705 Ne Trilein Dr
Ankeny, IA 50021
(515) 965-9620
Gr: K-5 | 595 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #99.
Helen A Hansen Elementary School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
616 Holmes Dr
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 553-2775
Gr: PK-6 | 569 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #1010.
Webster Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
12955 Aurora Avenue
Urbandale, IA 50323
(515) 331-8600
Gr: PK-5 | 519 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Bedford Elementary School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
906 Pennsylvania St
Bedford, IA 50833
(712) 523-2116
Gr: PK-5 | 269 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 3%
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Runnells Elementary School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
6575 Se 116th Street
Runnells, IA 50237
(515) 966-2068
Gr: PK-5 | 260 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #13 - 1513. - 15.
Bryant Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1280 Rush St
Dubuque, IA 52003
(563) 552-3400
Gr: PK-5 | 299 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #13 - 1513. - 15.
Delwood Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
311 Delmar Ave
Delmar, IA 52037
(563) 674-4164
Gr: PK-6 | 142 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #13 - 1513. - 15.
Maquoketa Valley Middle School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
112 Third Street
Delhi, IA 52223
(563) 922-9411
Gr: 6-8 | 145 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 3%
Rank: #1616.
Vinton-shellsburg Middle School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
212 W. 15th St.
Vinton, IA 52349
(319) 436-4728
Gr: 6-8 | 331 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #1717.
Sunnyside Elementary School
(Math: 89% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2700 S Maple St
Sioux City, IA 51106
(712) 274-4047
Gr: 3-5 | 244 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #1818.
Davis Elementary School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
818 Hamilton Avenue
Grinnell, IA 50112
(641) 236-2700
Gr: 3-4 | 213 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #1919.
Westside Junior-senior High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
108 Clinton St
Westside, IA 51467
(712) 663-4311
Gr: 6-12 | 108 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #2020.
Rock Run Elementary School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
710 North St
Iowa Falls, IA 50126
(641) 648-6420
Gr: 2-5 | 292 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #2121.
East Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
501 Normal College Ave
Sheldon, IA 51201
(712) 324-4337
Gr: PK-4 | 468 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #2222.
Summit Middle School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
9500 Windsor Parkway
Johnston, IA 50131
(515) 986-0318
Gr: 6-7 | 1,118 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #23 - 2523. - 25.
Altoona Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
301 6th St Sw
Altoona, IA 50009
(515) 967-3771
Gr: PK-5 | 429 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #23 - 2523. - 25.
Franklin Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
400 3rd Ave Se
Le Mars, IA 51031
(712) 546-4185
Gr: K-5 | 261 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #23 - 2523. - 25.
Okoboji Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
705 N Ave
Milford, IA 51351
(712) 338-2458
Gr: PK-4 | 491 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #26 - 2726. - 27.
South Central Calhoun Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
330 Brower Street
Rockwell City, IA 50579
(712) 297-8621
Gr: PK-3 | 299 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #26 - 2726. - 27.
Woodrow Wilson Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
801 S 8th Ave West
Newton, IA 50208
(641) 792-7311
Gr: K-4 | 306 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #2828.
Fredericksburg Elementary School
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
401 E High St
Fredericksburg, IA 50630
(563) 237-5364
Gr: PK-4 | 120 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #2929.
Norman Borlaug Elementary School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1000 Kennedy Parkway
Coralville, IA 52241
(319) 688-1155
Gr: PK-5 | 405 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #3030.
Alta-aurelia Middle School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
300 Ash St
Aurelia, IA 51005
(712) 434-5595
Gr: 5-8 | 228 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #31 - 3431. - 34.
Indian Creek Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2900 Indian Creek Rd
Marion, IA 52302
(319) 447-3270
Gr: K-4 | 354 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #31 - 3431. - 34.
John Glenn Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
308 N. Main St.
Donahue, IA 52746
(563) 282-9627
Gr: K-6 | 179 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #31 - 3431. - 34.
Mount Ayr Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
607 E Jefferson
Mount Ayr, IA 50854
(641) 464-0537
Gr: PK-5 | 280 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #31 - 3431. - 34.
Pocahontas Area Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
208 1st Ave Sw
Pocahontas, IA 50574
(712) 335-4642
Gr: K-6 | 265 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #35 - 3635. - 36.
Corning Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
901 Nodaway Street
Corning, IA 50841
(641) 322-4020
Gr: PK-5 | 210 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Show 25 more public schools in Iowa (out of 60 total schools)
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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 Prairie Trail Elementary School, Bess Streeter Aldrich Elementary School and Mitchellville Elementary School.
How many blue ribbon public elementary schools are located in Iowa?
60 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 24% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Iowa public elementary schools average of 30% (majority Hispanic).

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