Best Student-Teacher Ratios in Iowa

The schools in Iowa with the lowest student-teacher ratios offer smaller class sizes, which research links to better academic outcomes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The top-ranked school, Ruby Van Meter, has a ratio of just 4:1.

The Iowa state average is 15:1, compared to the national average of 15.7:1. Schools with enrollment under 100 are excluded to ensure meaningful comparisons.

4:1
Best Ratio
Ruby Van Meter
15:1
State Average
15.7:1
National Average
50
Schools Listed
# School Student:Teacher Enrollment
1. Ruby Van Meter Des Moines 4:1
-73% vs state
109
2. Prescott Elementary School Dubuque 8.4:1
-44% vs state
352
3. Adair-Casey Jr. High School Adair 8.6:1
-43% vs state
100
4. Thomas Jefferson Middle School Dubuque 8.8:1
-41% vs state
402
5. Hills Elementary School Hills 8.8:1
-41% vs state
141
6. Cora B Darling Elementary Postville 8.9:1
-41% vs state
363
7. Audubon Elementary School Dubuque 9.1:1
-39% vs state
247
8. Woodward Academy Woodward 9.1:1
-39% vs state
110
9. Corning Elementary School Corning 9.2:1
-39% vs state
210
10. North Tama High School Traer 9.2:1
-39% vs state
203
11. Tripoli Middle/Sr High School Tripoli 9.3:1
-38% vs state
170
12. Mid City High Davenport 9.4:1
-37% vs state
306
13. Alden Elementary School Alden 9.4:1
-37% vs state
148
14. St Ansgar High School St Ansgar 9.5:1
-37% vs state
166
15. Kirkwood Elementary School Coralville 9.6:1
-36% vs state
270
16. Elizabeth Tate Alt. High School Iowa City 9.6:1
-36% vs state
180
17. Moulton Elementary School Moulton 9.7:1
-35% vs state
103
18. Lincoln Elementary School Dubuque 9.8:1
-35% vs state
257
19. Riverside Elementary School Sioux City 9.8:1
-35% vs state
227
20. Ikm-Manning High School Manning 9.8:1
-35% vs state
185
21. Twin Cedars Jr-Sr High School Bussey 9.8:1
-35% vs state
142
22. Charter Oak-Ute Elementary School Charter Oak 9.8:1
-35% vs state
117
23. Moravia Elementary School Moravia 9.9:1
-34% vs state
148
24. Blakesburg Elementary Blakesburg 9.9:1
-34% vs state
103
25. Ireton Elementary School Ireton 10:1
-33% vs state
119
26. Rock Run Elementary Iowa Falls 10.1:1
-33% vs state
292
27. Columbus Community High School Columbus Junction 10.1:1
-33% vs state
220
28. Starmont High School Arlington 10.1:1
-33% vs state
174
29. Shell Rock Elementary School Shell Rock 10.1:1
-33% vs state
116
30. Belle Plaine Jr/Sr High School Belle Plaine 10.2:1
-32% vs state
205
31. Seymour High School Seymour 10.2:1
-32% vs state
121
32. Keota High School Keota 10.2:1
-32% vs state
114
33. Woodside Middle School Des Moines 10.3:1
-31% vs state
396
34. South Central Calhoun High School Lake City 10.3:1
-31% vs state
284
35. Mark Twain Elementary Iowa City 10.3:1
-31% vs state
213
36. Exiraelk Horn-Kimballton High School Elk Horn 10.3:1
-31% vs state
184
37. George-Little Rock Senior High School George 10.3:1
-31% vs state
102
38. Davis County Elementary Bloomfield 10.4:1
-31% vs state
418
39. Jefferson Elementary School Clinton 10.4:1
-31% vs state
376
40. Akron Westfield Elementary School Akron 10.4:1
-31% vs state
258
41. South Elementary School Leon 10.4:1
-31% vs state
173
42. Bcluw High School Conrad 10.4:1
-31% vs state
172
43. Kingsley-Pierson High School Kingsley 10.4:1
-31% vs state
141
44. West Bend-Mallard High School West Bend 10.4:1
-31% vs state
117
45. Colo-Nesco Middle/High School Colo 10.5:1
-30% vs state
216
46. River Valley Junior- Senior High School Correctionville 10.5:1
-30% vs state
137
47. Andrew Elementary School Andrew 10.5:1
-30% vs state
125
48. Dubuque Senior High School Dubuque 10.6:1
-29% vs state
1,490
49. Crestwood Elementary School Cresco 10.6:1
-29% vs state
349
50. Mapleton Elementary School Mapleton 10.6:1
-29% vs state
182
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Common Core of Data (CCD), 2022-23 school year. Schools with enrollment under 100 are excluded.
Largest Schools in Iowa → Highest-Spending Districts → Chronic Absenteeism →

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.