Iowa School Performance

State rankings, test scores, and what the data shows

Iowa's National Standing

Iowa has traditionally been known for strong education. But rankings have slipped in recent years.

Ranking	Iowa's Position	Trend
Math scores (NAEP)	~30th	Declining
Reading scores (NAEP)	~25th	Declining
Graduation rate	Top 10	Stable

The concern: Iowa used to be a top-10 education state. We're now middle of the pack on key metrics.

What the Tests Measure

ISASP (Iowa Statewide Assessment)

Iowa's state assessment for K-11 students:

Reading
Mathematics
Science

Results are reported as:

Proficient or Above — Meeting grade-level standards
Not Yet Proficient — Below grade-level standards

NAEP (National Assessment)

The "Nation's Report Card" — allows state-to-state comparison:

4th and 8th grade
Reading and Mathematics
Administered every 2 years

Proficiency Rates

Statewide Averages (ISASP)

Subject	% Proficient or Above
Reading	~70%
Math	~65%
Science	~60%

Note: This means 30-40% of Iowa students are not meeting grade-level standards.

Achievement Gaps

Performance varies significantly by:

District (suburban vs urban vs rural)
Demographics
Economic status

Some districts exceed 85% proficiency. Others fall below 50%.

District Variation

Top Performing Districts

Generally suburban districts with:

Higher property tax bases
More resources per student
Lower poverty rates
More stable enrollment

Struggling Districts

Often urban or very small rural districts with:

Higher poverty rates
Declining enrollment
Resource constraints
Teacher recruitment challenges

What This Means for Families

If Your District Performs Well

You may be satisfied with your assigned school. But consider:

Are YOUR child's needs being met?
Is the schedule working?
Are there opportunities you're missing?

Performance averages don't tell individual stories.

If Your District Struggles

You have options:

Open Enrollment — Transfer to a better-performing public district
ESA + Private School — Access private education
ESA + Online School — Flexible alternative

Don't accept underperformance as your only option.

The Mastery Difference

Traditional schools often use:

Time-based progression — Move to next grade after a year
Passing grades — 60-70% is "good enough"
Grade inflation — Standards lowered to improve numbers

This creates gaps that compound over time.

ISP's Approach

Mastery-based — Must score 80%+ to advance
No gaps allowed — Address weaknesses before moving on
Real accountability — Can't fake mastery

Research (Bloom's 2 Sigma) shows mastery learning produces dramatically better outcomes than traditional time-based progression.

How to Research Your Options

Check Your District

Visit iaschoolperformance.gov to see:

School performance scores
Proficiency rates by subject
Attendance and graduation rates
Comparison to state averages

Compare Districts

If considering open enrollment, compare your home district to potential receiving districts.

Consider Alternatives

Public school performance data doesn't tell you about:

Schedule flexibility
Individual attention (class sizes)
Curriculum focus areas
Fit for your child's specific needs

Beyond Test Scores

Test scores matter, but they're not everything. Consider:

Factor	Why It Matters
Schedule fit	Does the school day work for your family?
Individual attention	Will your child get personal support?
Curriculum alignment	Does the program match your child's goals?
Social environment	Is the culture healthy?
Extracurricular access	Are activities available?

A high-scoring school that doesn't fit your child may not be the best choice. A lower-scoring alternative that meets specific needs may serve better.

The Goal

ISP's mission is to help Iowa become #1 in math and reading scores.

How?

Mastery-based learning — No advancing with gaps
Flexible time — Mastery takes as long as it takes
Individual attention — SSC 1:100 ratio
Evidence-based curriculum — Research-proven methods

Better education for Iowa students benefits everyone — regardless of which school they attend.