The average student-teacher ratio in Iowa public schools is approximately 14:1 (2026).
Student-Teacher Ratio Range: 4:1
9:1
Avg. Student-Teacher Ratio: 8:1
Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (1989-2025)
Public Schools Student-Teacher Ratio Statistics in Iowa (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Student-Teacher Ratio
Grades
Location
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
Prairie Crossing
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 4:1
Grades: K-12
5400 Kirkwood Blvd Sw
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
(319) 298-3406
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
(319) 298-3406
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
South Page Elementary School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 4:1
Grades: PK-6
606 Iowa Ave
College Springs, IA 51637
(712) 582-3212
College Springs, IA 51637
(712) 582-3212
Rank: #3 - 53. - 5.
Kee High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 5:1
Grades: 9-12
569 Center St
Lansing, IA 52151
(563) 538-4201
Lansing, IA 52151
(563) 538-4201
Rank: #3 - 53. - 5.
Ruby Van Meter
Special Education School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 5:1
Grades: K-12
710 28th St
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8220
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8220
Rank: #3 - 53. - 5.
Whiting Senior High School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 5:1
Grades: 7-12
606 West St
Whiting, IA 51063
(712) 455-2468
Whiting, IA 51063
(712) 455-2468
Rank: #6 - 76. - 7.
Student-Teacher Ratio: 6:1
Grades: PK
4315 Hamilton Blvd
Sioux City, IA 51104
(712) 239-7030
Sioux City, IA 51104
(712) 239-7030
Rank: #6 - 76. - 7.
Twin Rivers Elementary School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 6:1
Grades: PK-5
200 College Ave.
Bode, IA 50519
(515) 379-1309
Bode, IA 50519
(515) 379-1309
Rank: #8 - 138. - 13.
Bennett Elementary School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 7:1
Grades: PK-6
300 Cedar St
Bennett, IA 52721
(563) 890-2226
Bennett, IA 52721
(563) 890-2226
Rank: #8 - 138. - 13.
Clay Central-everly Elementary School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 7:1
Grades: PK-6
401 Church St
Royal, IA 51357
(712) 933-2241
Royal, IA 51357
(712) 933-2241
Rank: #8 - 138. - 13.
Emmetsburg Middle School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 7:1
Grades: 5-8
205 King Street
Emmetsburg, IA 50536
(712) 852-2892
Emmetsburg, IA 50536
(712) 852-2892
Rank: #8 - 138. - 13.
Student-Teacher Ratio: 7:1
Grades: K-12
1608 305th St
Tama, IA 52339
(641) 484-9000
Tama, IA 52339
(641) 484-9000
Rank: #8 - 138. - 13.
Olin Elementary School
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 7:1
Grades: PK-6
212 Trilby St
Olin, IA 52320
(319) 484-2170
Olin, IA 52320
(319) 484-2170
Rank: #8 - 138. - 13.
West Central Charter High School
Charter School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 7:1
Grades: 9-12
305 Pember
Maynard, IA 50655
(563) 637-2283
Maynard, IA 50655
(563) 637-2283
Rank: #14 - 2414. - 24.
Anthon Elementary School
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 8:1
Grades: PK-5
110 W Division
Anthon, IA 51004
(712) 373-5244
Anthon, IA 51004
(712) 373-5244
Rank: #14 - 2414. - 24.
Blakesburg Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 8:1
Grades: PK-6
407 S Wilson
Blakesburg, IA 52536
(641) 938-2203
Blakesburg, IA 52536
(641) 938-2203
Rank: #14 - 2414. - 24.
Diagonal Elementary School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 8:1
Grades: PK-5
403 W 2nd Street
Diagonal, IA 50845
(641) 734-5331
Diagonal, IA 50845
(641) 734-5331
Rank: #14 - 2414. - 24.
Gilmore City Elementary School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 8:1
Grades: K-5
402 Se E Ave
Gilmore City, IA 50541
(515) 373-6124
Gilmore City, IA 50541
(515) 373-6124
Rank: #14 - 2414. - 24.
Graettinger-terril Middle School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 8:1
Grades: 6-8
205 S Lincoln Ave
Graettinger, IA 51342
(712) 859-3286
Graettinger, IA 51342
(712) 859-3286
Rank: #14 - 2414. - 24.
Orient Elementary School
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 8:1
Grades: PK-6
201 S. School Street
Orient, IA 50858
(641) 352-4800
Orient, IA 50858
(641) 352-4800
Rank: #14 - 2414. - 24.
Prescott Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 8:1
Grades: PK-5
1151 White St
Dubuque, IA 52001
(563) 552-4200
Dubuque, IA 52001
(563) 552-4200
Rank: #14 - 2414. - 24.
Riverside Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 8:1
Grades: PK-5
2220 Nash
Sioux City, IA 51109
(712) 279-6811
Sioux City, IA 51109
(712) 279-6811
Rank: #14 - 2414. - 24.
Seymour Elementary School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 8:1
Grades: PK-4
100 South Park
Seymour, IA 52590
(641) 898-2291
Seymour, IA 52590
(641) 898-2291
Rank: #14 - 2414. - 24.
Southeast Polk Junior High School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 8:1
Grades: 7-8
8325 Ne University Ave.
Pleasant Hill, IA 50327
(515) 967-5509
Pleasant Hill, IA 50327
(515) 967-5509
Rank: #14 - 2414. - 24.
Woodward Academy
Alternative School
(Reading: <50%)
Student-Teacher Ratio: 8:1
Grades: 5-12
1251 334th St
Woodward, IA 50276
(515) 438-3150
Woodward, IA 50276
(515) 438-3150
Rank: #25 - 5025. - 50.
Albert City-truesdale Elementary School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1
Grades: PK-6
300 Orchard
Albert City, IA 50510
(712) 843-5416
Albert City, IA 50510
(712) 843-5416
Rank: #25 - 5025. - 50.
Audubon Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1
Grades: PK-5
605 Lincoln Ave
Dubuque, IA 52001
(563) 552-3300
Dubuque, IA 52001
(563) 552-3300
Rank: #25 - 5025. - 50.
Central City Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1
Grades: K-5
400 Barber Street
Central City, IA 52214
(319) 438-6181
Central City, IA 52214
(319) 438-6181
Rank: #25 - 5025. - 50.
Charter Oak-ute Elementary School
Charter School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1
Grades: PK-5
321 Main
Charter Oak, IA 51439
(712) 678-3325
Charter Oak, IA 51439
(712) 678-3325
Rank: #25 - 5025. - 50.
Delwood Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1
Grades: PK-6
311 Delmar Ave
Delmar, IA 52037
(563) 674-4164
Delmar, IA 52037
(563) 674-4164
Rank: #25 - 5025. - 50.
Easton Valley Junior High / High School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1
Grades: 7-12
321 W. School St.
Preston, IA 52069
(563) 689-4221
Preston, IA 52069
(563) 689-4221
Rank: #25 - 5025. - 50.
Edmunds Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1
Grades: K-5
950 15th Street
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 243-1174
Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 243-1174
Rank: #25 - 5025. - 50.
Elizabeth Tate Alt. High School
Alternative School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1
Grades: 9-12
1528 Mall Drive
Iowa City, IA 52240
(319) 688-1080
Iowa City, IA 52240
(319) 688-1080
Rank: #25 - 5025. - 50.
George-little Rock Senior High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1
Grades: 9-12
500 E Indiana Ave
George, IA 51237
(712) 475-3311
George, IA 51237
(712) 475-3311
Rank: #25 - 5025. - 50.
Graettinger-terril Elementary School
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1
Grades: PK-5
101 S. Schooley St.
Terril, IA 51364
(712) 853-6111
Terril, IA 51364
(712) 853-6111
Rank: #25 - 5025. - 50.
Lincoln Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1
Grades: PK-5
555 Nevada Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
(563) 552-4050
Dubuque, IA 52001
(563) 552-4050
Show 100 more public schools in IA (out of 1,291 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Iowa average public schools student-teacher ratio?
The Iowa average public schools student-teacher ratio is 14:1 for 2026.
What are the public schools with the lowest student-teacher ratio in Iowa?
The best top-ranked public schools in Iowa include Prairie Crossing, South Page Elementary School and Kee High School.
What is public high school and public elementary school with the lowest student-teacher ratio in Iowa?
The public high school with the lowest student-teacher ratio in Iowa is Prairie Crossing, with a value of 4:1. The public elementary school with the lowest student-teacher ratio is Prairie Crossing, with a value of 4:1.
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