Approximately 33% of public high school students in Iowa are eligible for free lunch (2025).
The public high schools with the highest eligible for free lunch are listed below (where sufficient data available).
The public high school with the highest percentage of students eligible for free lunch in Iowa is Woodward Academy with 100% of students eligible.
Eligible for Free Lunch Range: 52%
100%
Avg. Eligible for Free Lunch: 65%
Public High Schools Eligible For Free Lunch in Iowa (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Eligible for Free Lunch
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
Woodward Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 5-12
1251 334th St
Woodward, IA 50276
(515) 438-3150
Woodward, IA 50276
(515) 438-3150
Rank: #22.
Eligible for Free Lunch: 99%
Grades: K-12
1608 305th St
Tama, IA 52339
(641) 484-9000
Tama, IA 52339
(641) 484-9000
Rank: #33.
Prairie Edge
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 87%
Grades: K-12
401 76th Ave Sw
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
(319) 298-3406
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
(319) 298-3406
Rank: #44.
South Page Senior High School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 86%
Grades: 9-12
606 Iowa Ave
College Springs, IA 51637
(712) 582-3211
College Springs, IA 51637
(712) 582-3211
Rank: #55.
North High School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 74%
Grades: 9-12
501 Holcomb Ave
Des Moines, IA 50313
(515) 242-7200
Des Moines, IA 50313
(515) 242-7200
Rank: #66.
Metro High School
Alternative School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 72%
Grades: 9-12
1212 7th St Se
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
(319) 558-3100
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
(319) 558-3100
Rank: #77.
Expo Alternative Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 71%
Grades: 6-12
1410 Independence Ave
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-1930
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-1930
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
John R Mott Jr/hi School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 70%
Grades: 7-12
314 W Post
Postville, IA 52162
(563) 864-7652
Postville, IA 52162
(563) 864-7652
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Ottumwa Virtual Learning
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 70%
Grades: PK-12
1112 N Van Buren
Ottumwa, IA 52501
(641) 684-6597
Ottumwa, IA 52501
(641) 684-6597
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
East High School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 69%
Grades: 9-12
815 E 13th St
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-7788
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-7788
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Hoover High School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 69%
Grades: 9-12
4800 Aurora Ave
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-7300
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-7300
Rank: #1212.
Eligible for Free Lunch: 67%
Grades: 9-12
907 Gateway Drive
Ottumwa, IA 52501
(641) 684-6597
Ottumwa, IA 52501
(641) 684-6597
Rank: #13 - 1413. - 14.
Elizabeth Tate Alt. High School
Alternative School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 66%
Grades: 9-12
1528 Mall Drive
Iowa City, IA 52240
(319) 688-1080
Iowa City, IA 52240
(319) 688-1080
Rank: #13 - 1413. - 14.
Lincoln High School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 66%
Grades: 9-12
2600 Sw 9th St
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-7500
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-7500
Rank: #1515.
Marshalltown Virtual Academy
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 64%
Grades: 7-12
1002 South 3rd Avenue
Marshalltown, IA 50158
(641) 754-1000
Marshalltown, IA 50158
(641) 754-1000
Rank: #16 - 1716. - 17.
Virtual Campus
(Math: 39% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 63%
Grades: 9-12
1800 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 242-8502
Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 242-8502
Rank: #16 - 1716. - 17.
West Academy Alternative School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 63%
Grades: 10-12
1302 1st Avenue West
Newton, IA 50208
(641) 792-0335
Newton, IA 50208
(641) 792-0335
Rank: #1818.
East High School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 62%
Grades: 9-12
214 High St
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2400
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2400
Rank: #1919.
West High School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 61%
Grades: 9-12
2001 Casselman
Sioux City, IA 51103
(712) 279-6772
Sioux City, IA 51103
(712) 279-6772
Rank: #2020.
Oskaloosa Virtual Academy
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 60%
Grades: 7-12
1800 North 3rd Street
Oskaloosa, IA 52577
(641) 673-8345
Oskaloosa, IA 52577
(641) 673-8345
Rank: #21 - 2321. - 23.
Mid City High School
Alternative School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 59%
Grades: 7-12
3801 Marquette Street
Davenport, IA 52806
(563) 336-7600
Davenport, IA 52806
(563) 336-7600
Rank: #21 - 2321. - 23.
Ruby Van Meter
Special Education School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 59%
Grades: K-12
710 28th St
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8220
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8220
Rank: #21 - 2321. - 23.
Wisdomquest Education Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 59%
Grades: 10-12
401 E. Monroe Street
Mount Pleasant, IA 52641
(319) 385-7709
Mount Pleasant, IA 52641
(319) 385-7709
Rank: #24 - 2524. - 25.
Alternative School
Alternative School
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 57%
Grades: 9-12
19 N. Illinois Ave.
Mason City, IA 50401
(641) 421-4426
Mason City, IA 50401
(641) 421-4426
Rank: #24 - 2524. - 25.
North High School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 57%
Grades: 9-12
4200 Cheyenne
Sioux City, IA 51104
(712) 239-7000
Sioux City, IA 51104
(712) 239-7000
Rank: #26 - 2826. - 28.
Central Decatur Ms/hs High School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 55%
Grades: 7-12
1201 Ne Poplar St
Leon, IA 50144
(641) 446-4816
Leon, IA 50144
(641) 446-4816
Rank: #26 - 2826. - 28.
Marshalltown High School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 55%
Grades: 9-12
1602 S 2nd Ave
Marshalltown, IA 50158
(641) 754-1130
Marshalltown, IA 50158
(641) 754-1130
Rank: #26 - 2826. - 28.
Tri-county Jr/sr High School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 55%
Grades: 7-12
3003 Hwy 22
Thornburg, IA 50255
(641) 634-2636
Thornburg, IA 50255
(641) 634-2636
Rank: #29 - 3129. - 31.
Hamburg Charter High Schools
Charter School
Eligible for Free Lunch: 54%
Grades: 9-12
309 S Street
Hamburg, IA 51640
(712) 382-2017
Hamburg, IA 51640
(712) 382-2017
Rank: #29 - 3129. - 31.
Moulton-udell High School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 54%
Grades: 7-12
305 E 8th
Moulton, IA 52572
(641) 642-8131
Moulton, IA 52572
(641) 642-8131
Rank: #29 - 3129. - 31.
Pocahontas Area Middle/ High School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 54%
Grades: 7-12
205 2nd Ave Nw
Pocahontas, IA 50574
(712) 335-4848
Pocahontas, IA 50574
(712) 335-4848
Rank: #32 - 3432. - 34.
Burlington Community High School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 53%
Grades: 9-12
421 Terrace Dr
Burlington, IA 52601
(319) 753-2211
Burlington, IA 52601
(319) 753-2211
Rank: #32 - 3432. - 34.
Storm Lake High School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 53%
Grades: 9-12
621 Tornado Dr
Storm Lake, IA 50588
(712) 732-8065
Storm Lake, IA 50588
(712) 732-8065
Rank: #32 - 3432. - 34.
Twin Cedars Jr-sr High School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 53%
Grades: 7-12
2204 Highway G71
Bussey, IA 50044
(641) 944-5243
Bussey, IA 50044
(641) 944-5243
Rank: #35 - 3835. - 38.
South Tama County High School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
Eligible for Free Lunch: 52%
Grades: 9-12
1715 Harding St
Tama, IA 52339
(641) 484-4345
Tama, IA 52339
(641) 484-4345
Show 100 more public schools in IA (out of 363 total schools)
Loading...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Iowa average of public high schools students eligible for free lunch?
The Iowa average of public high schools students eligible for free lunch is 33%% for 2025.
What are the public high schools with the highest percentage of students eligible for free lunch in Iowa?
The best top ranked public high schools in Iowa include Woodward Academy, Meskwaki Settlement School and Prairie Edge.
Recent Articles
Texas Schools: The Voucher/School Choice Debate
The issue of school choice and a voucher system is currently being revisited in Houston and across the state of Texas, with strong opinions on both sides of the debate.
Fuel Up to Play 60 Focuses on Integrating Fitness and Wellness into the School Day
What if NFL players came to your school? With the Fuel Up to Play 60 program, sponsored by the National Dairy Council and the NFL, nutrition and exercise are promoted during the school day. NFL players participate in the program by coming to schools and talking to students about fitness. Learn more about the program and some of the schools that are implementing it.
What Parents Need to Know About Lunch Shaming
Students all over the nation go hungry every day not because their schools don’t offer lunch, but because they refuse them to children with outstanding debts. Read on to learn about the horror that is lunch shaming and what can be done about it.
