Public middle schools in Iowa achieve an average reading/language arts proficiency of 71% (2026).
The public middle schools with the highest reading/language arts proficiency are listed below (where sufficient data available).
The public middle school with the highest reading/language arts proficiency in Iowa is Gilbert Middle School, with 93%.
RLA Proficiency Range: 86%
93%
Avg. RLA Proficiency: 89%
Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Top Reading/Language Arts Proficiency Public Middle Schools in Iowa (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
RLA Proficiency
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
Gilbert Middle School
(Math: 90% | Reading: 93%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
RLA Proficiency: 93%
Grades: 6-8
201 E. Mathews
Gilbert, IA 50105
(515) 232-0540
Gilbert, IA 50105
(515) 232-0540
Rank: #2 - 62. - 6.
Bedford High School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
RLA Proficiency: 90-94%
Grades: 6-12
906 Pennsylvania St
Bedford, IA 50833
(712) 523-2656
Bedford, IA 50833
(712) 523-2656
Rank: #2 - 62. - 6.
Clayton Ridge Middle School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
RLA Proficiency: 90-94%
Grades: 6-8
131. S. River Park Drive
Guttenberg, IA 52052
(563) 252-1747
Guttenberg, IA 52052
(563) 252-1747
Rank: #2 - 62. - 6.
Denver Middle School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
RLA Proficiency: 90-94%
Grades: 6-8
800 Longview Drive
Denver, IA 50622
(319) 984-6041
Denver, IA 50622
(319) 984-6041
Rank: #2 - 62. - 6.
Treynor Middle School
(Math: 94% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
RLA Proficiency: 90-94%
Grades: 6-8
102 E Main St
Treynor, IA 51575
(712) 487-3181
Treynor, IA 51575
(712) 487-3181
Rank: #2 - 62. - 6.
Underwood Middle School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
RLA Proficiency: 90-94%
Grades: 6-8
601 Third Street
Underwood, IA 51576
(712) 566-2332
Underwood, IA 51576
(712) 566-2332
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Lawton-bronson Junior-senior High School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 92%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
RLA Proficiency: 92%
Grades: 7-12
100 Tara Way
Lawton, IA 51030
(712) 944-5181
Lawton, IA 51030
(712) 944-5181
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Van Meter Middle School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 92%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
RLA Proficiency: 92%
Grades: 6-8
520 1st Ave
Van Meter, IA 50261
(515) 996-2221
Van Meter, IA 50261
(515) 996-2221
Rank: #99.
Pella Middle School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 91%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
RLA Proficiency: 91%
Grades: 7-8
613 E 13th
Pella, IA 50219
(641) 628-4784
Pella, IA 50219
(641) 628-4784
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Dike-new Hartford Junior High School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
RLA Proficiency: 90%
Grades: 6-8
508 Beaver
New Hartford, IA 50660
(319) 983-2206
New Hartford, IA 50660
(319) 983-2206
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Grundy Center Middle School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
RLA Proficiency: 90%
Grades: 5-8
1006 M Ave
Grundy Center, IA 50638
(319) 825-5464
Grundy Center, IA 50638
(319) 825-5464
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
North Polk Middle School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
RLA Proficiency: 89%
Grades: 6-8
315 Ne 141st Ave.
Alleman, IA 50007
(515) 984-3400
Alleman, IA 50007
(515) 984-3400
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
Solon Middle School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
RLA Proficiency: 89%
Grades: 6-8
1775 Racine Ave.
Solon, IA 52333
(319) 624-2381
Solon, IA 52333
(319) 624-2381
Rank: #14 - 1614. - 16.
Mediapolis Middle School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
RLA Proficiency: 88%
Grades: 6-8
725 N. Northfield
Mediapolis, IA 52637
(319) 394-3101
Mediapolis, IA 52637
(319) 394-3101
Rank: #14 - 1614. - 16.
Northview Middle School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
RLA Proficiency: 88%
Grades: 8-9
1302 N Ankeny Blvd
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9700
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9700
Rank: #14 - 1614. - 16.
Pleasant Valley Junior High School
(Math: 89% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
RLA Proficiency: 88%
Grades: 7-8
3501 Wisconsin Street
Le Claire, IA 52753
(563) 332-0200
Le Claire, IA 52753
(563) 332-0200
Rank: #17 - 2717. - 27.
Akron Westfield Middle School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
RLA Proficiency: 85-89%
Grades: 6-8
850 Kerr Dr
Akron, IA 51001
(712) 568-2020
Akron, IA 51001
(712) 568-2020
Rank: #17 - 2717. - 27.
Coon Rapids-bayard 6-12 Attendance Center
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
RLA Proficiency: 85-89%
Grades: 6-12
905 North Street
Coon Rapids, IA 50058
(712) 999-2208
Coon Rapids, IA 50058
(712) 999-2208
Rank: #17 - 2717. - 27.
Cowles Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
RLA Proficiency: 85-89%
Grades: PK-8
6401 College Ave
Windsor Heights, IA 50324
(515) 242-7818
Windsor Heights, IA 50324
(515) 242-7818
Rank: #17 - 2717. - 27.
East Mills Jr/sr High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
RLA Proficiency: 85-89%
Grades: 6-12
1505 E 15th Street
Malvern, IA 51551
(712) 624-8645
Malvern, IA 51551
(712) 624-8645
Rank: #17 - 2717. - 27.
Essex Junior-senior High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
RLA Proficiency: 85-89%
Grades: 6-12
111 Forbes St
Essex, IA 51638
(712) 379-3115
Essex, IA 51638
(712) 379-3115
Rank: #17 - 2717. - 27.
Fremont-mills Middle And Senior High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
RLA Proficiency: 85-89%
Grades: 7-12
1114 Us Hwy 275
Tabor, IA 51653
(712) 629-2325
Tabor, IA 51653
(712) 629-2325
Rank: #17 - 2717. - 27.
Harris-lake Park High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
RLA Proficiency: 85-89%
Grades: 6-12
905 South Market
Lake Park, IA 51347
(712) 832-3809
Lake Park, IA 51347
(712) 832-3809
Rank: #17 - 2717. - 27.
Iowa Valley Jr-sr High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
RLA Proficiency: 85-89%
Grades: 7-12
359 E Hilton St
Marengo, IA 52301
(319) 642-3332
Marengo, IA 52301
(319) 642-3332
Rank: #17 - 2717. - 27.
Lynnville-sully Middle School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
RLA Proficiency: 85-89%
Grades: 6-8
12476 Hwy F62 E
Sully, IA 50251
(641) 594-4445
Sully, IA 50251
(641) 594-4445
Rank: #17 - 2717. - 27.
North Union Middle School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
RLA Proficiency: 85-89%
Grades: 6-8
203 5th St North
Swea City, IA 50590
(515) 272-4361
Swea City, IA 50590
(515) 272-4361
Rank: #17 - 2717. - 27.
North-linn Middle School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
RLA Proficiency: 85-89%
Grades: 6-8
3033 Lynx Drive
Troy Mills, IA 52344
(319) 224-3291
Troy Mills, IA 52344
(319) 224-3291
Rank: #28 - 3228. - 32.
Adm Middle School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
RLA Proficiency: 87%
Grades: 7-8
801 Nile Kinnick Dr. S.
Adel, IA 50003
(515) 993-3490
Adel, IA 50003
(515) 993-3490
Rank: #28 - 3228. - 32.
Decorah Middle School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
RLA Proficiency: 87%
Grades: 5-8
405 Winnebago St.
Decorah, IA 52101
(563) 382-8427
Decorah, IA 52101
(563) 382-8427
Rank: #28 - 3228. - 32.
Moc-floyd Valley Middle School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
RLA Proficiency: 87%
Grades: 6-8
1104 5th Ave
Alton, IA 51003
(712) 756-4128
Alton, IA 51003
(712) 756-4128
Rank: #28 - 3228. - 32.
Peet Junior High School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
RLA Proficiency: 87%
Grades: 7-9
525 E Seerley Blvd
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 553-2710
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 553-2710
Rank: #28 - 3228. - 32.
Southview Middle School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
RLA Proficiency: 87%
Grades: 8-9
1020 Sw Cherry St
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9635
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9635
Rank: #33 - 3633. - 36.
Parkview Middle School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
RLA Proficiency: 86%
Grades: 6-7
105 Nw Pleasant St
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9640
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9640
Rank: #33 - 3633. - 36.
Roland-story Middle School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
RLA Proficiency: 86%
Grades: 5-8
206 S Main St
Roland, IA 50236
(515) 388-4348
Roland, IA 50236
(515) 388-4348
Rank: #33 - 3633. - 36.
Sheldon Middle School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
RLA Proficiency: 86%
Grades: 5-8
310 23rd Avenue
Sheldon, IA 51201
(712) 324-4346
Sheldon, IA 51201
(712) 324-4346
Show 100 more public schools in IA (out of 363 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Iowa average public middle schools reading/language arts proficiency?
The Iowa average public middle schools reading/language arts proficiency is 71%% for 2026.
What are the public middle schools with the highest reading/language arts proficiency in Iowa?
The best top-ranked public middle schools in Iowa include Gilbert Middle School, Bedford High School and Clayton Ridge Middle School.
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