Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::offsetGet($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetGet(mixed $offset): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 106 Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::offsetSet($offset, $value) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetSet(mixed $offset, mixed $value): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 115 Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::offsetUnset($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetUnset(mixed $offset): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 130 Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::current() should either be compatible with Iterator::current(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 48 Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::next() should either be compatible with Iterator::next(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 56 Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Util\ArrayObject::rewind() should either be compatible with Iterator::rewind(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Util/ArrayObject.php on line 80 Deprecated: Return type of Phpfastcache\Drivers\Memcached\Item::jsonSerialize() should either be compatible with JsonSerializable::jsonSerialize(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/devzheng/workspace/psr/vendor/phpfastcache/phpfastcache/lib/Phpfastcache/Core/Item/ItemExtendedTrait.php on line 438 Best Improved Public High Schools in Iowa (2026)
Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Improved Public High Schools in Iowa (2026)

The most improved public high schools in Iowa are Essex Junior-senior High School, Ballard High School and St.
Ansgar High School. A school's improvement is based on a its total rise in ranking spots during the last five years (2021-26).
Improved Rank Range: 373 1,007 Avg. Improved Rank: 561

Most Improved Public High Schools in Iowa (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Ranking Change (2021-26)
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
Essex Junior-senior High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +1007
(from 1,183 to 176)
Grades: 6-12
111 Forbes St
Essex, IA 51638
(712) 379-3115
Rank: #22.
Ballard High School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +812
(from 947 to 135)
Grades: 9-12
701 Ballard Drive
Huxley, IA 50124
(515) 597-2971
Rank: #33.
St. Ansgar High School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Rank Change: +792
(from 857 to 65)
Grades: 9-12
206 East 8th Street
Saint Ansgar, IA 50472
(641) 713-4720
Rank: #44.
Coon Rapids-bayard 6-12 Attendance Center
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +771
(from 947 to 176)
Grades: 6-12
905 North Street
Coon Rapids, IA 50058
(712) 999-2208
Rank: #55.
West Hancock High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +713
(from 857 to 144)
Grades: 9-12
420 9th Ave Sw
Britt, IA 50423
(641) 843-3863
Rank: #66.
East Mills Jr/sr High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +708
(from 884 to 176)
Grades: 6-12
1505 E 15th Street
Malvern, IA 51551
(712) 624-8645
Rank: #77.
Clarksville High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +692
(from 947 to 255)
Grades: 7-12
318 N. Mather St.
Clarksville, IA 50619
(319) 278-4273
Rank: #88.
Woodward-granger High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +681
(from 857 to 176)
Grades: 9-12
306 W 3rd St
Woodward, IA 50276
(515) 438-2115
Rank: #99.
Central Lee High School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +658
(from 1,088 to 430)
Grades: 9-12
2642 Highway 218
Donnellson, IA 52625
(319) 835-9510
Rank: #1010.
Stanton High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +640
(from 857 to 217)
Grades: 6-12
605 Elliott Street
Stanton, IA 51573
(712) 829-2162
Rank: #1111.
Clayton Ridge High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +638
(from 1,126 to 488)
Grades: 9-12
131 S River Park Dr
Guttenberg, IA 52052
(563) 252-2342
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
Sigourney Jr-sr High School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +627
(from 947 to 320)
Grades: 7-12
907 E Pleasant Valley
Sigourney, IA 52591
(641) 622-2010
Rank: #12 - 1312. - 13.
Iowa Valley Jr-sr High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +627
(from 1,032 to 405)
Grades: 7-12
359 E Hilton St
Marengo, IA 52301
(319) 642-3332
Rank: #1414.
Fremont-mills Middle And Senior High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +598
(from 914 to 316)
Grades: 7-12
1114 Us Hwy 275
Tabor, IA 51653
(712) 629-2325
Rank: #1515.
Murray Jr/sr High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
Rank Change: +590
(from 1,220 to 630)
Grades: 6-12
216 Sherman
Murray, IA 50174
(641) 447-2517
Rank: #1616.
Grundy Center High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Rank Change: +535
(from 578 to 43)
Grades: 9-12
1006 M Ave
Grundy Center, IA 50638
(319) 825-5449
Rank: #1717.
Shenandoah High School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +534
(from 947 to 413)
Grades: 9-12
1000 Mustang Dr
Shenandoah, IA 51601
(712) 246-4727
Rank: #1818.
Colo-nesco Middle/high School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +530
(from 1,096 to 566)
Grades: 5-12
919 West St
Colo, IA 50056
(641) 377-2282
Rank: #1919.
Creston High School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +523
(from 1,015 to 492)
Grades: 9-12
601 W Townline
Creston, IA 50801
(641) 782-2116
Rank: #20 - 2120. - 21.
Mount Ayr High School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +511
(from 655 to 144)
Grades: 6-12
1001 E Columbus St
Mount Ayr, IA 50854
(641) 464-0510
Rank: #20 - 2120. - 21.
Westside Junior-senior High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +511
(from 655 to 144)
Grades: 6-12
108 Clinton St
Westside, IA 51467
(712) 663-4311
Rank: #2222.
Lenox High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +486
(from 1,032 to 546)
Grades: 7-12
600 S Locust St
Lenox, IA 50851
(641) 333-2244
Rank: #2323.
Washington High School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +480
(from 655 to 175)
Grades: 9-12
600 W Bluff St
Cherokee, IA 51012
(712) 225-6755
Rank: #2424.
Paton-churdan Jr-sr High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +478
(from 857 to 379)
Grades: 6-12
606 Adrian St
Churdan, IA 50050
(515) 389-3111
Rank: #2525.
Riceville High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
Rank Change: +449
(from 1,126 to 677)
Grades: 6-12
912 Woodland Ave
Riceville, IA 50466
(641) 985-2288
Rank: #2626.
Pcm High School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +447
(from 804 to 357)
Grades: 9-12
400 East Highway 163
Monroe, IA 50170
(515) 994-8222
Rank: #2727.
Van Meter High School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 91%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Rank Change: +436
(from 469 to 33)
Grades: 9-12
520 1st Ave
Van Meter, IA 50261
(515) 996-2221
Rank: #2828.
Kingsley-pierson High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +419
(from 578 to 159)
Grades: 9-12
322 Quest Avenue
Kingsley, IA 51028
(712) 378-2861
Rank: #2929.
Pleasantville High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +413
(from 857 to 444)
Grades: 9-12
415 Jones St
Pleasantville, IA 50225
(515) 848-0541
Rank: #30 - 3130. - 31.
Hudson High School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +401
(from 536 to 135)
Grades: 7-12
245 S Washington
Hudson, IA 50643
(319) 988-4226
Rank: #30 - 3130. - 31.
Waco High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +401
(from 947 to 546)
Grades: 7-12
706 N Pearl
Wayland, IA 52654
(319) 256-6200
Rank: #3232.
Denison High School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
Rank Change: +395
(from 1,126 to 731)
Grades: 9-12
819 N 16th St
Denison, IA 51442
(712) 263-3101
Rank: #33 - 3433. - 34.
Westwood High School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +388
(from 804 to 416)
Grades: 7-12
1000 Rebel Way
Sloan, IA 51055
(712) 428-3303
Rank: #33 - 3433. - 34.
North Mahaska Jr-sr High School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
Rank Change: +388
(from 1,032 to 644)
Grades: 7-12
2163 135th St
New Sharon, IA 50207
(641) 637-4187
Rank: #3535.
Lamoni High School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
Rank Change: +373
(from 1,183 to 810)
Grades: 9-12
202 N Walnut St
Lamoni, IA 50140
(641) 784-3351
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