For the 2024 school year, there are 61 blue ribbon public elementary schools serving 21,256 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 Hospers Elementary School, Mitchellville Elementary School and Bedford 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 77% (versus the Iowa public elementary school average of 65%), and reading proficiency score of 73% (versus the 65% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 21% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Iowa public elementary school average of 27% (majority Hispanic).
Best Blue Ribbon Public Elementary Schools in Iowa (2024)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Hospers Elementary School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
201 4th Ave S
Hospers, IA 51238
(712) 752-8480
Hospers, IA 51238
(712) 752-8480
Grades: K-5
| 232 students
Rank: #22.
Mitchellville Elementary School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
308 Elm Ave Nw
Mitchellville, IA 50169
(515) 967-4274
Mitchellville, IA 50169
(515) 967-4274
Grades: PK-5
| 227 students
Rank: #33.
Bedford Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
906 Pennsylvania St
Bedford, IA 50833
(712) 523-2116
Bedford, IA 50833
(712) 523-2116
Grades: PK-5
| 287 students
Rank: #44.
Prairie Trail Elementary School
(Math: 95% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1850 Sw College Ave
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9605
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9605
Grades: K-5
| 571 students
Rank: #55.
Bess Streeter Aldrich Elementary School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2526 Ashworth Drive
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 553-2901
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 553-2901
Grades: PK-6
| 463 students
Rank: #66.
Northeast Elementary School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1705 Ne Trilein
Ankeny, IA 50021
(515) 965-9620
Ankeny, IA 50021
(515) 965-9620
Grades: K-5
| 672 students
Rank: #77.
Indian Creek Elementary School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2900 Indian Creek Rd
Marion, IA 52302
(319) 447-3270
Marion, IA 52302
(319) 447-3270
Grades: K-4
| 413 students
Rank: #88.
Helen A Hansen Elementary School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
616 Holmes Dr
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 553-2775
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 553-2775
Grades: PK-6
| 646 students
Rank: #9 - 109. - 10.
Mount Ayr Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
607 E Jefferson
Mount Ayr, IA 50854
(641) 464-0537
Mount Ayr, IA 50854
(641) 464-0537
Grades: PK-6
| 350 students
Rank: #9 - 109. - 10.
Webster Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
12955 Aurora Avenue
Urbandale, IA 50323
(515) 331-8600
Urbandale, IA 50323
(515) 331-8600
Grades: PK-5
| 502 students
Rank: #1111.
Maquoketa Valley Middle School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
112 Third Street
Delhi, IA 52223
(563) 922-9411
Delhi, IA 52223
(563) 922-9411
Grades: 6-8
| 166 students
Rank: #1212.
Grundy Center Middle School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1006 M Ave
Grundy Center, IA 50638
(319) 825-5464
Grundy Center, IA 50638
(319) 825-5464
Grades: 5-8
| 222 students
Rank: #1313.
Vinton-shellsburg Middle School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
212 W. 15th St.
Vinton, IA 52349
(319) 436-4728
Vinton, IA 52349
(319) 436-4728
Grades: 6-8
| 329 students
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Runnells Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
6575 Se 116th Street
Runnells, IA 50237
(515) 966-2068
Runnells, IA 50237
(515) 966-2068
Grades: PK-5
| 290 students
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
West Cedar Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
221 15th St Nw
Waverly, IA 50677
(319) 352-2754
Waverly, IA 50677
(319) 352-2754
Grades: K-4
| 227 students
Rank: #1616.
Southeast Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
809 4th St Se
Waverly, IA 50677
(319) 352-3582
Waverly, IA 50677
(319) 352-3582
Grades: K-4
| 159 students
Rank: #1717.
Whittier Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1310 2nd Ave S
Clinton, IA 52732
(563) 243-3230
Clinton, IA 52732
(563) 243-3230
Grades: K-5
| 369 students
Rank: #1818.
Summit Middle School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
9500 Windsor Parkway
Johnston, IA 50131
(515) 986-0318
Johnston, IA 50131
(515) 986-0318
Grades: 6-7
| 1,121 students
Rank: #1919.
Sunnyside Elementary School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2700 S Maple St
Sioux City, IA 51106
(712) 274-4047
Sioux City, IA 51106
(712) 274-4047
Grades: 3-5
| 246 students
Rank: #2020.
Davis Elementary School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
818 Hamilton Avenue
Grinnell, IA 50112
(641) 236-2790
Grinnell, IA 50112
(641) 236-2790
Grades: 3-4
| 213 students
Rank: #2121.
East Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
501 Normal College Ave
Sheldon, IA 51201
(712) 324-4337
Sheldon, IA 51201
(712) 324-4337
Grades: PK-4
| 474 students
Rank: #2222.
Westside Junior-senior High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
108 Clinton St
Westside, IA 51467
(712) 663-4312
Westside, IA 51467
(712) 663-4312
Grades: 6-12
| 108 students
Rank: #23 - 2623. - 26.
Altoona Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
301 6th St Sw
Altoona, IA 50009
(515) 967-3771
Altoona, IA 50009
(515) 967-3771
Grades: PK-5
| 417 students
Rank: #23 - 2623. - 26.
Dayton Center
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
104 2nd St. Nw
Dayton, IA 50530
(515) 547-2314
Dayton, IA 50530
(515) 547-2314
Grades: PK-4
| 208 students
Rank: #23 - 2623. - 26.
Delwood Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
311 Delmar Ave
Delmar, IA 52037
(563) 674-4164
Delmar, IA 52037
(563) 674-4164
Grades: PK-6
| 154 students
Rank: #23 - 2623. - 26.
Franklin Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
400 3rd Ave Se
Le Mars, IA 51031
(712) 546-4185
Le Mars, IA 51031
(712) 546-4185
Grades: K-5
| 274 students
Rank: #2727.
Spencer Middle School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1400 10th Avenue East
Spencer, IA 51301
(712) 262-3345
Spencer, IA 51301
(712) 262-3345
Grades: 6-8
| 516 students
Rank: #2828.
Herbert Hoover Elementary School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
3223 South Hampton Drive
Bettendorf, IA 52722
(563) 332-8636
Bettendorf, IA 52722
(563) 332-8636
Grades: K-5
| 395 students
Rank: #2929.
Bennett Elementary School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
300 Cedar St
Bennett, IA 52721
(563) 890-2226
Bennett, IA 52721
(563) 890-2226
Grades: PK-6
| 79 students
Rank: #30 - 3330. - 33.
Okoboji Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
705 N Ave
Milford, IA 51351
(712) 338-2458
Milford, IA 51351
(712) 338-2458
Grades: PK-4
| 506 students
Rank: #30 - 3330. - 33.
Taft Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
612 2nd Ave North
Humboldt, IA 50548
(515) 332-3216
Humboldt, IA 50548
(515) 332-3216
Grades: 1-4
| 408 students
Rank: #30 - 3330. - 33.
Tilford Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
308 E 13th St
Vinton, IA 52349
(319) 436-4728
Vinton, IA 52349
(319) 436-4728
Grades: PK-4
| 549 students
Rank: #30 - 3330. - 33.
Whittier Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1306 W Salem
Indianola, IA 50125
(515) 961-9570
Indianola, IA 50125
(515) 961-9570
Grades: PK-5
| 427 students
Rank: #3434.
Central Springs Elem. Manly Campus
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
105 S East St
Manly, IA 50456
(641) 454-3283
Manly, IA 50456
(641) 454-3283
Grades: PK-3
| 135 students
Rank: #3535.
Winterset Middle School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
706 West School Street
Winterset, IA 50273
(515) 462-3010
Winterset, IA 50273
(515) 462-3010
Grades: 4-6
| 360 students
Show 26 more public schools in Iowa (out of 61 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 Hospers Elementary School, Mitchellville Elementary School and Bedford Elementary School.
How many blue ribbon public elementary schools are located in Iowa?
61 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 21% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Iowa public elementary schools average of 27% (majority Hispanic).
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