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Public School Review - Established 2003

Top Iowa Public High Schools Eligible For Free Lunch

Approximately 32% of public high school students in Iowa are eligible for free lunch (2026).
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: 49% 100% Avg. Eligible for Free Lunch: 61%

Public High Schools Eligible For Free Lunch in Iowa (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Eligible for Free Lunch
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
Woodward Academy
Alternative School
(Reading: <50%)
Eligible for Free Lunch: 100%
Grades: 5-12
1251 334th St
Woodward, IA 50276
(515) 438-3150
Rank: #22.
Meskwaki Settlement School
Eligible for Free Lunch: 99%
Grades: K-12
1608 305th St
Tama, IA 52339
(641) 484-9000
Rank: #33.
Metro High School
Alternative School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 75%
Grades: 9-12
1212 7th St Se
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
(319) 558-3100
Rank: #44.
North High School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 74%
Grades: 9-12
501 Holcomb Ave
Des Moines, IA 50313
(515) 242-7200
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Hoover High School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 70%
Grades: 9-12
4800 Aurora Ave
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 242-7300
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
John R Mott Jr/hi School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 70%
Grades: 7-12
314 W Post
Postville, IA 52162
(563) 864-7652
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Expo Alternative Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 69%
Grades: 6-12
1410 Independence Ave
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-1930
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Prairie Crossing
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 69%
Grades: K-12
5400 Kirkwood Blvd Sw
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
(319) 298-3406
Rank: #99.
East High School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 67%
Grades: 9-12
815 E 13th St
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 242-7788
Rank: #1010.
Lincoln High School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 65%
Grades: 9-12
2600 Sw 9th St
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 242-7500
Rank: #1111.
Elizabeth Tate Alt. High School
Alternative School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 64%
Grades: 9-12
1528 Mall Drive
Iowa City, IA 52240
(319) 688-1080
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
Ruby Van Meter
Special Education School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 63%
Grades: K-12
710 28th St
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 242-8220
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
Walnut Creek Campus
Alternative School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 63%
Grades: 9-12
1020 8th Street
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 633-6480
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Gateway High School
(Math: 15-19%)
Eligible for Free Lunch: 60%
Grades: 9-12
907 Gateway Drive
Ottumwa, IA 52501
(641) 684-6597
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Ottumwa Virtual Learning
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 60%
Grades: PK-12
115 N Ferry St
Ottumwa, IA 52501
(641) 684-6597
Rank: #1616.
Wisdomquest Education Center
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 58%
Grades: 10-12
401 E. Monroe Street
Mount Pleasant, IA 52641
(319) 385-7709
Rank: #17 - 1817. - 18.
Marshalltown High School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 57%
Grades: 9-12
1602 S 2nd Ave
Marshalltown, IA 50158
(641) 754-1130
Rank: #17 - 1817. - 18.
Mormon Trail Jr-sr High School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 57%
Grades: 7-12
403 S Front St
Humeston, IA 50123
(641) 877-2521
Rank: #19 - 2019. - 20.
Rock Valley High School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 56%
Grades: 9-12
1712 20th Ave
Rock Valley, IA 51247
(712) 476-2701
Rank: #19 - 2019. - 20.
Valley High School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 56%
Grades: 10-12
3650 Woodland Ave
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 633-4000
Rank: #21 - 2421. - 24.
East High School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 55%
Grades: 9-12
214 High St
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2400
Rank: #21 - 2421. - 24.
North High School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 55%
Grades: 9-12
4200 Cheyenne
Sioux City, IA 51104
(712) 239-7000
Rank: #21 - 2421. - 24.
Storm Lake High School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 55%
Grades: 9-12
621 Tornado Dr
Storm Lake, IA 50588
(712) 732-8065
Rank: #21 - 2421. - 24.
West High School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 55%
Grades: 9-12
2001 Casselman
Sioux City, IA 51103
(712) 279-6772
Rank: #25 - 2625. - 26.
Marshalltown Virtual Academy
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 53%
Grades: 7-12
1002 South 3rd Avenue
Marshalltown, IA 50158
(641) 754-1000
Rank: #25 - 2625. - 26.
Thomas Jefferson High School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 53%
Grades: 9-12
1243 20th St Sw
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
(319) 558-2435
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
Denison High School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 52%
Grades: 9-12
819 N 16th St
Denison, IA 51442
(712) 263-3101
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
Mid City High School
Alternative School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 52%
Grades: 8-12
3801 Marquette Street
Davenport, IA 52806
(563) 336-7600
Rank: #29 - 3129. - 31.
Columbus Community High School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 51%
Grades: 9-12
1004 Colton St
Columbus Junction, IA 52738
(319) 728-2231
Rank: #29 - 3129. - 31.
Individualized Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 51%
Grades: 9-12
940 Lincoln Street Sw
Le Mars, IA 51031
(712) 546-5858
Rank: #29 - 3129. - 31.
West Academy Alternative School
Alternative School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 51%
Grades: 10-12
1302 1st Avenue West
Newton, IA 50208
(641) 792-0335
Rank: #32 - 3332. - 33.
Dubuque Online School
(Math: 35-39%)
Eligible for Free Lunch: 50%
Grades: 6-12
2300 Chaney Rd
Dubuque, IA 52001
(563) 552-3000
Rank: #32 - 3332. - 33.
Thomas Jefferson High School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 50%
Grades: 9-12
2501 W Broadway
Council Bluffs, IA 51501
(712) 328-6493
Rank: #34 - 3834. - 38.
Burlington Community High School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 49%
Grades: 9-12
421 Terrace Dr
Burlington, IA 52601
(319) 753-2211
Rank: #34 - 3834. - 38.
Oelwein Online School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
Eligible for Free Lunch: 49%
Grades: PK-12
301 6th Ave. Sw
Oelwein, IA 50662
(319) 283-3536
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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 32%% for 2026.
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 Metro High School.

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