Rural Iowa
For the first time ever, your county has a private school option.
The Rural Reality
Here's a fact that most Iowans don't know:
44 Iowa counties have zero private schools.
That's 44% of Iowa's 99 counties with no private school option at all — not one.
And it gets worse:
| Statistic | Number |
|---|---|
| Counties with zero private schools | 44 |
| Counties with K-8 parochial but no private high school | 31 more |
| Counties with no private high school option | 75 (75% of Iowa) |
If you're a family in Adair County, or Ringgold County, or Wayne County — you've never had a choice. Until now.
The Rural Paradox
Here's what's remarkable: rural Iowans support school choice more than anyone.
Per the ITR Foundation poll (February 2022):
| Group | Support ESAs | Oppose ESAs | Net Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rural Iowans | 51.0% | 29.2% | +21.8% (highest) |
| Income <$50K | 49.9% | 24.5% | +25.4% |
| All Iowa voters | 47.2% | 35.4% | +11.8% |
Rural Iowans have the strongest ESA support — but the least access.
You voted for choice. You just couldn't use it.
ISP Changes That
Iowa Sports Prep is a statewide private school. 100% online, with in-person events and support.
| What This Means for Rural Families |
|---|
| ✅ First private school option in 44 counties |
| ✅ No relocation required |
| ✅ No 45-minute drive to the nearest private school |
| ✅ Same quality as Des Moines or Cedar Rapids families get |
| ✅ 100% covered by ESA ($7,988) — zero out-of-pocket |
For the first time ever, a kid in Ringgold County can access a private school at zero cost.
How ISP Serves Rural Families
No Commute
Traditional private schools require driving — often 30-60 minutes each way. That's 2 hours/day of driving for school.
ISP is where you are. Your child does academics from home, trains locally, and stays connected to their community.
Same Quality, Different Delivery
| What You Get | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Official diploma | Recognized transcript for college applications |
| Mastery-based curriculum | Alpha School's TimeBack platform |
| Personal coach (SSC) | 1:100 ratio — they know your child |
| Pod community | 4-6 peers from across Iowa |
| NCAA compliance | Built for college-bound athletes |
| Life Skills curriculum | Nutrition, financial literacy, sports psychology |
The delivery is different. The quality is the same.
Training Credits Work Everywhere
Every ISP student gets $100/month ($1,000/year) in Training Credits.
| Use Them For |
|---|
| Local gym sessions |
| Training equipment |
| Wearables (WHOOP, heart rate monitors) |
| Online coaching programs |
| Travel to training partners |
Training Credits work whether you're in Des Moines or Diagonal.
Sports Access for Rural Athletes
"If my kid goes to ISP, can they still play for their school?"
Yes. Iowa law (House File 189) requires public schools to allow ISP students to play sports.
| What This Means |
|---|
| Your child can play Friday night football — for their public school |
| They can wrestle, play basketball, run track — whatever their sport |
| ISP handles the eligibility paperwork |
| You pay the same fees as any public school student |
Your child stays in their community AND gets ISP's education.
See our full Sports Access Guide →
The "9th Grade Cliff"
Many rural families face a specific problem: the 9th grade cliff.
| The Pattern |
|---|
| K-8: Local parochial school works great |
| 9th grade: No private high school option |
| Family faces: Public school, homeschool, or 60-minute commute |
31 Iowa counties have K-8 parochial but no private high school. That's tens of thousands of families who lose their private school option at 9th grade.
ISP solves the 9th grade cliff.
Your 8th grader can transition seamlessly from their local parochial school to ISP. Same values, same standards — just delivered differently.
County-Specific Reality
Here are some of the 44 counties with zero private schools:
| County | Private Schools | ISP Changes That |
|---|---|---|
| Adair | 0 | ✅ Now you have one |
| Adams | 0 | ✅ Now you have one |
| Audubon | 0 | ✅ Now you have one |
| Clarke | 0 | ✅ Now you have one |
| Davis | 0 | ✅ Now you have one |
| Decatur | 0 | ✅ Now you have one |
| Fremont | 0 | ✅ Now you have one |
| Guthrie | 0 | ✅ Now you have one |
| Harrison | 0 | ✅ Now you have one |
| Lucas | 0 | ✅ Now you have one |
| Monona | 0 | ✅ Now you have one |
| Osceola | 0 | ✅ Now you have one |
| Page | 0 | ✅ Now you have one |
| Ringgold | 0 | ✅ Now you have one |
| Taylor | 0 | ✅ Now you have one |
| Union | 0 | ✅ Now you have one |
| Wayne | 0 | ✅ Now you have one |
This is a partial list. Contact us to confirm your county.
What ISP Costs Rural Families
$0.
| Expense | What You Pay |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $0 (ESA covers 100%) |
| Curriculum | $0 (included) |
| SSC support | $0 (included) |
| MyPath app | $0 (included) |
| Training Credits | You receive $1,000/year |
Compare to:
| Alternative | What You'd Pay |
|---|---|
| Driving to nearest private school | $3,000-5,000/year in gas + time |
| Private school tuition gap | $2,000-7,000/year out-of-pocket |
| Homeschool curriculum | $500-3,000/year |
ISP is the most accessible private school option Iowa has ever had.
Addressing the "Death Spiral" Concern
Some people worry: "Won't ISP hurt our local public school?"
Here's the data:
| Fact | Reality |
|---|---|
| Only 36% of public school decline is from school choice | The other 64% is demographic — fewer kids being born |
| Rural Iowans voted for ESAs | +21.8% net support — the highest in the state |
| Many rural families have NO option | We're providing choice that doesn't exist, not taking from what does |
ISP isn't taking students FROM rural schools. We're giving rural families the choice that urban Iowans have always had.
Success Stories
Coming soon — we'll feature rural families who've joined ISP here.
If you're a rural family interested in sharing your story, email us at hello@iowasportsprep.com.
FAQ
Q: Do I need fast internet?
A: You need stable internet — enough to stream video and do video calls. If you can watch Netflix, you can do ISP. We can help troubleshoot if connectivity is a concern.
Q: What if there's no gym or training facility near me?
A: Training Credits can be used for equipment, online coaching, and travel to training partners. We're also building a network of partner facilities across Iowa.
Q: Will my kid feel isolated from other ISP students?
A: Pods connect students from across Iowa — your child will have peers from Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and everywhere in between. ISP events bring families together in person.
Q: Can my kid still play for their small-town team?
A: Yes. HF 189 guarantees sports access. Your child plays for their local school team.
Q: Will my child get an official diploma?
A: Yes. ISP issues official diplomas and transcripts that are recognized by colleges.
Q: What about special education services?
A: Contact us to discuss your child's specific needs. We can accommodate many situations.
Q: How do I know this isn't a scam?
A: ISP is a legitimate private school. We issue official transcripts and diplomas, and our tuition is designed to match Iowa's ESA amount.
For Rural Iowa
| The Old Reality | The New Reality |
|---|---|
| Zero private school options | ISP is your first |
| 60-minute drives | No commute |
| $10K+ out-of-pocket | Tuition designed to match ESA |
| "School choice doesn't help us" | It does now |
You voted for school choice. Now you can use it.
Get Started
- Explore ISP — How ISP Works →
- Understand the ESA — ESA Guide →
- See the timeline — Enrollment Timeline →
- Questions? — hello@iowasportsprep.com
Data source: ITR Foundation ESA poll (February 2022), Iowa DOE school listings