For the 2025 school year, there are 33 blue ribbon public preschools serving 10,885 students in Iowa.
Blue ribbon schools have been recognized by the Department of Education for achieving superior standards of academic excellence. Read more about this and how blue ribbon schools work.
The top ranked blue ribbon public preschools in Iowa are Bess Streeter Aldrich Elementary School, Mitchellville Elementary School and North Kossuth Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Iowa blue ribbon public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 80% (versus the Iowa public pre school average of 73%), and reading proficiency score of 77% (versus the 69% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 23% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Iowa public preschool average of 27% (majority Hispanic).
Best Blue Ribbon Public Preschools in Iowa (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Bess Streeter Aldrich Elementary School
(Math: 89% | Reading: 92%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2526 Ashworth Drive
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 553-2901
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 553-2901
Gr: PK-6 | 475 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #22.
Mitchellville Elementary School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
308 Elm Ave Nw
Mitchellville, IA 50169
(515) 967-4274
Mitchellville, IA 50169
(515) 967-4274
Gr: PK-5 | 244 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #33.
North Kossuth Elementary School
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
203 5th Street North
Swea City, IA 50590
(515) 272-4361
Swea City, IA 50590
(515) 272-4361
Gr: PK-5 | 140 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #44.
Helen A Hansen Elementary School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
616 Holmes Dr
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 553-2775
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 553-2775
Gr: PK-6 | 565 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #55.
Webster Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
12955 Aurora Avenue
Urbandale, IA 50323
(515) 331-8600
Urbandale, IA 50323
(515) 331-8600
Gr: PK-5 | 546 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #6 - 76. - 7.
Bedford Elementary School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
906 Pennsylvania St
Bedford, IA 50833
(712) 523-2116
Bedford, IA 50833
(712) 523-2116
Gr: PK-5 | 280 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 2%
Rank: #6 - 76. - 7.
Runnells Elementary School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
6575 Se 116th Street
Runnells, IA 50237
(515) 966-2068
Runnells, IA 50237
(515) 966-2068
Gr: PK-5 | 276 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Bryant Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1280 Rush St
Dubuque, IA 52003
(563) 552-3400
Dubuque, IA 52003
(563) 552-3400
Gr: PK-5 | 314 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #8 - 98. - 9.
Delwood Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
311 Delmar Ave
Delmar, IA 52037
(563) 674-4164
Delmar, IA 52037
(563) 674-4164
Gr: PK-6 | 161 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #1010.
East Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
501 Normal College Ave
Sheldon, IA 51201
(712) 324-4337
Sheldon, IA 51201
(712) 324-4337
Gr: PK-4 | 460 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Altoona Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
301 6th St Sw
Altoona, IA 50009
(515) 967-3771
Altoona, IA 50009
(515) 967-3771
Gr: PK-5 | 423 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Okoboji Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
705 N Ave
Milford, IA 51351
(712) 338-2458
Milford, IA 51351
(712) 338-2458
Gr: PK-4 | 505 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #1313.
South Central Calhoun Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
330 Brower Street
Rockwell City, IA 50579
(712) 297-8621
Rockwell City, IA 50579
(712) 297-8621
Gr: PK-3 | 307 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #1414.
Fredericksburg Elementary School
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
401 E High St
Fredericksburg, IA 50630
(563) 237-5364
Fredericksburg, IA 50630
(563) 237-5364
Gr: PK-4 | 127 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #1515.
Norman Borlaug Elementary School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1000 Kennedy Parkway
Coralville, IA 52241
(319) 688-1155
Coralville, IA 52241
(319) 688-1155
Gr: PK-6 | 451 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #1616.
Mount Ayr Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
607 E Jefferson
Mount Ayr, IA 50854
(641) 464-0537
Mount Ayr, IA 50854
(641) 464-0537
Gr: PK-6 | 348 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #17 - 1817. - 18.
Corning Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1012 10th St
Corning, IA 50841
(641) 322-4020
Corning, IA 50841
(641) 322-4020
Gr: PK-5 | 212 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #17 - 1817. - 18.
Dayton Center
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
104 2nd St. Nw
Dayton, IA 50530
(515) 547-2314
Dayton, IA 50530
(515) 547-2314
Gr: PK-4 | 205 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #1919.
Tilford Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
308 E 13th St
Vinton, IA 52349
(319) 436-4728
Vinton, IA 52349
(319) 436-4728
Gr: PK-4 | 558 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #2020.
Lincoln Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
321 8th Street
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 553-2950
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 553-2950
Gr: PK-6 | 448 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #2121.
Murray Elementary School
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
216 Sherman
Murray, IA 50174
(641) 447-2517
Murray, IA 50174
(641) 447-2517
Gr: PK-5 | 163 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 4%
Rank: #2222.
Whittier Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1306 W Salem
Indianola, IA 50125
(515) 961-9570
Indianola, IA 50125
(515) 961-9570
Gr: PK-5 | 397 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #2323.
Perry Elementary School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1600 8th Street
Perry, IA 50220
(515) 465-5656
Perry, IA 50220
(515) 465-5656
Gr: PK-5 | 869 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #2424.
Earlville Elementary School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: ≥80% )
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
213 Stow St
Earlville, IA 52041
(563) 923-3225
Earlville, IA 52041
(563) 923-3225
Gr: PK-K | 96 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 2%
Rank: #2525.
Rock Valley Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1712 20th Avenue
Rock Valley, IA 51247
(712) 476-2701
Rock Valley, IA 51247
(712) 476-2701
Gr: PK-5 | 386 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #26 - 2726. - 27.
Nixon Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
200 Nixon Dr
Hiawatha, IA 52233
(319) 558-2188
Hiawatha, IA 52233
(319) 558-2188
Gr: PK-5 | 284 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #26 - 2726. - 27.
Tipton Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
601 Lemon
Tipton, IA 52772
(563) 886-6131
Tipton, IA 52772
(563) 886-6131
Gr: PK-4 | 315 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #2828.
Harris-lake Park Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
105 Ave A West
Lake Park, IA 51347
(712) 832-3437
Lake Park, IA 51347
(712) 832-3437
Gr: PK-5 | 167 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 11%
Rank: #2929.
Bennett Elementary School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
300 Cedar St
Bennett, IA 52721
(563) 890-2226
Bennett, IA 52721
(563) 890-2226
Gr: PK-6 | 72 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
Rank: #3030.
Central Springs Elementary Manly Campus
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
105 S East St
Manly, IA 50456
(641) 454-3283
Manly, IA 50456
(641) 454-3283
Gr: PK-3 | 135 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 5%
Rank: #3131.
Charter Oak-ute Elementary School
Charter School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
321 Main
Charter Oak, IA 51439
(712) 678-3325
Charter Oak, IA 51439
(712) 678-3325
Gr: PK-5 | 110 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
Rank: #3232.
Rue Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3326 6th Avenue
Council Bluffs, IA 51501
(712) 328-6540
Council Bluffs, IA 51501
(712) 328-6540
Gr: PK-5 | 356 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: n/an/a
306 S Park Lane Dr
Knoxville, IA 50138
(641) 842-2185
Knoxville, IA 50138
(641) 842-2185
Gr: PK-2 | 490 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked blue ribbon public preschools in Iowa?
The top ranked blue ribbon public preschools in Iowa include Bess Streeter Aldrich Elementary School, Mitchellville Elementary School and North Kossuth Elementary School.
How many blue ribbon public preschools are located in Iowa?
33 blue ribbon public preschools are located in Iowa.
What is the racial composition of students in Iowa?
Iowa blue ribbon public preschools minority enrollment is 23% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Iowa public preschools average of 27% (majority Hispanic).
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