Private School Review - Established 2003
Trinity Lutheran School Top 14 · Oldest Founding Date (IA)
Pella Christian Grade School Top 3 · Largest Endowment (IA)
Spalding Catholic Schools Top 15 · Lowest Tuition (IA)

Best Iowa Private Schools (2026-27)

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 259 private schools serving 52,730 students in Iowa, versus 1,322 public schools serving 497,791 students (10% of K-12 students attend private schools, vs. national average 10%).
The average private school tuition is $9,021 for elementary schools and $11,342 for high schools (view national tuition averages).
81% of schools are religiously affiliated, with most being Catholic or Christian.

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • # Private Schools: 259
  • # Students Served: 52,730
  • Average Tuition: $9,320
  • % Students on Financial Aid: 37%
  • Acceptance Rate: 87%
  • Average Class Size: 16 students
  • % Students of Color: 16%
  • View Iowa School Trends

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • # Private Schools: 259
  • # Students Served: 52,730
  • Average Tuition: $9,320
  • % Students on Financial Aid: 37%
  • Acceptance Rate: 87%
  • Average Class Size: 16 students
  • % Students of Color: 16%
  • View Iowa School Trends

Top Ranked Iowa Private Schools (2026-27)

Alrazi Academy Photo
Alrazi Academy
Gr: PK-8 | 168 students
Avg. class size: 18 students
Sports: 2 | Extracurriculars: 2
Islamic
1119 5th St
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 255-0220
(1)
View Profile
Ankeny Christian Academy Photo
Ankeny Christian Academy
Gr: PK-12 | 509 students
Avg. class size: 20 students
Sports: 5 | Extracurriculars: 4
Christian
1604 West 1st St
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-8114
View Profile
Bergman Academy Photo
Bergman Academy
Gr: PK-8 | 336 students
Avg. class size: 16 students
Sports: 3 | Extracurriculars: 5
100 45th St
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 274-0453
View Profile
Bishop Heelan Catholic High School Photo
Bishop Heelan Catholic High School
Gr: 9-12 | 499 students
Sports: 13 | Extracurriculars: 24
Catholic
1021 Douglas St
Sioux City, IA 51105
(712) 252-0573
View Profile
Central Iowa Christian School Photo
Central Iowa Christian School
Gr: K-8 | 55 students
Avg. class size: 17 students
Extracurriculars: 4
Christian
1331 Hobart St
Grinnell, IA 50112
(641) 236-3000
View Profile
Des Moines Christian School Photo
Des Moines Christian School
Gr: PK-12 | 1,086 students
Avg. class size: 16 students
Christian
13007 Douglas Pkwy
Urbandale, IA 50323
(515) 334-2240
(2)
View Profile
Hillside Christian School Photo
Hillside Christian School
Gr: K-8 | 32 students
Avg. class size: 12 students
Extracurriculars: 3
1250 12th Avenue
Coralville, IA 52241
(319) 339-0998
View Profile
Isaac Newton Christian Academy Photo
Isaac Newton Christian Academy
Gr: PK-12 | 422 students
Sports: 9 | Extracurriculars: 7
Christian
1635 Linmar Drive NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
(319) 362-9512
(7)
View Profile
Lourdes Catholic School Photo
Lourdes Catholic School
Gr: PK-8 | 357 students
Avg. class size: 20 students
Sports: 9 | Extracurriculars: 9
Catholic
1453 Mississippi Blvd
Bettendorf, IA 52722
(563) 359-3466
(3)
View Profile
Maharishi School Photo
Maharishi School
Gr: PK-12 | 173 students
Avg. class size: 12 students
Sports: 7 | Extracurriculars: 9
Specialized Curriculum
804 Dr Robert Keith Wallace Drive
Fairfield, IA 52556
(641) 472-9400
(3)
View Profile
Show 10 more private schools in Iowa (out of 259 total schools)
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Iowa Private School Trends (10-Year)

259
Private Schools
-0.4% (-1 school) 10-yr
52,730
Students
+11.3% (+5,349 students) 10-yr
$9,320
Avg. Tuition
+67.4% (+$3,752) 10-yr
16
Avg. Class Size
+6.7% (+1 student) 10-yr
16%
Students of Color
+33.3% (+4.0 pp) 10-yr
12:1
Student-Teacher Ratio
-7.7% (-1.0) 10-yr
Enrollment & Diversity
Category
This State (IA)
US
# Schools
259 Schools

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

Year(IA) Total Schools
2025254
2024260
2023246
2022239
2021243
2020251
2019245
2018248
2017242
2016247
2015260
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# Students
52,730 Students
5,690,765 Students

View Largest Iowa Private Schools

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private School

YearIowa (IA) AvgNational
2025217179
2024212172
2023192174
2022203185
2021201180
2020196171
2019199175
2018197172
2017195180
2016194178
2015188167
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% Average Students of Color
16%
34%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearIowa (IA) AvgNational
202516%34%
202416%34%
202317%33%
202215%33%
202116%32%
202015%32%
201914%31%
201815%31%
201713%32%
201613%32%
201512%32%
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Student By Grade

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends

GradeIowa
Nursey572
Pre-K5,726
Kind4,653
13,894
23,806
33,856
43,963
54,007
63,776
73,526
83,814
93,051
102,784
112,666
122,564
Not Listed72
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Academics
# Teachers
4,273 Teachers
508,570 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
11:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearIowa (IA) AvgNational
202512:111:1
202412:111:1
202313:111:1
202213:111:1
202113:111:1
202013:112:1
201914:112:1
201814:112:1
201713:112:1
201613:112:1
201513:112:1
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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
39%
55%

View Iowa Private Schools with the Most Educated Faculty

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2015-2025)

YearIowa (IA) AvgNational
202540%55%
202441%54%
202341%54%
202241%54%
202142%54%
202042%54%
201942%53%
201839%53%
201736%53%
201638%52%
201539%52%
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Average Class Size
16 students
15 students

Class Size Trends (2015-2025)

YearIowa (IA) AvgNational
20251615
20241615
20231515
20221615
20211615
20201615
20191615
20181615
20171515
20161515
20151515
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Average Number of AP Courses
9 courses
13 courses

View Iowa Private Schools Offering the Most AP Courses

Trends in Average Number of AP Courses Offered

YearIowa (IA) AvgNational
2025913
2024912
2023811
2022911
2021911
2020911
2019811
2018711
2017710
2016710
2015710
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Average ACT score
25
(Out of 36)
26

View Average Private School ACT Scores in Iowa

ACT Score Trends (2016-2025)

YearIowa (IA) AvgNational
20252526
20242526
20232526
20222526
20212526
20202425
20192425
20182425
20172425
20162425
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Tuition & Aid
Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$9,320
$14,943

View Iowa Private Schools By Tuition Cost

Tuition Cost Trends (2015-2025)

YearIowa (IA) AvgNational
2025$9,791$15,012
2024$7,091$13,254
2023$5,542$12,626
2022$5,359$12,187
2021$5,359$11,800
2020$5,279$11,512
2019$5,264$11,293
2018$5,153$11,017
2017$4,857$10,708
2016$5,552$10,356
2015$5,568$9,939
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Average % on Financial Aid
37%
35%

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2015-2025)

YearIowa (IA) AvgNational
202537%34%
202438%34%
202338%34%
202238%33%
202138%33%
202036%32%
201936%31%
201837%30%
201735%30%
201634%29%
201533%28%
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Average Financial Aid Grant
$2,780
$7,261

Financial Aid Grant Trends (2015-2025)

YearIowa (IA) AvgNational
2025$2,769$7,073
2024$2,727$6,930
2023$3,038$6,469
2022$2,364$6,289
2021$2,185$6,055
2020$2,161$5,921
2019$2,028$5,795
2018$1,968$5,456
2017$1,243$5,319
2016$1,160$5,105
2015$992$5,030
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Average Acceptance Rate
87%
82%

View Most Selective Private Schools in Iowa

Acceptance Rate Trends (2015-2025)

YearIowa (IA) AvgNational
202585%81%
202494%85%
202393%85%
202294%85%
202194%85%
202094%85%
201993%85%
201893%85%
201795%85%
201697%85%
201597%85%
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Average Endowment Size
$23.33 million
$38.23 million
Students by Ethnicity
0.48
0.65

View Iowa Private Schools Minority Statistics

Diversity Score Trends

YearIowa (IA) AvgNational
20250.470.65
20240.470.65
20230.500.65
20220.470.64
20210.470.64
20200.470.64
20190.460.63
20180.450.63
20170.390.61
20160.390.61
20150.390.61
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# American Indian Students
116 Students
29,815 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
1,075 Students
264,585 Students
% Asian Students
2%
5%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearIowa (IA) AvgNational
20253%5%
20242%5%
20233%5%
20222%4%
20213%4%
20202%4%
20192%4%
20182%4%
20172%4%
20162%4%
20152%4%
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# Hispanic Students
3,392 Students
506,702 Students
% Hispanic Students
7%
9%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearIowa (IA) AvgNational
20256%9%
20247%9%
20236%9%
20226%8%
20216%9%
20206%9%
20195%8%
20185%8%
20174%8%
20164%8%
20154%8%
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# Black Students
1,537 Students
415,632 Students
% Black Students
3%
7%

Black Student Percentage Trends

YearIowa (IA) AvgNational
20253%7%
20243%7%
20233%8%
20223%7%
20213%7%
20203%8%
20193%7%
20183%7%
20172%7%
20162%7%
20152%8%
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# White Students
36,965 Students
2,929,926 Students
% White Students
70%
52%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearIowa (IA) AvgNational
202570%52%
202471%52%
202368%52%
202271%54%
202170%54%
202071%54%
201972%56%
201872%56%
201777%58%
201676%58%
201576%58%
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# Hawaiian Students
98 Students
20,065 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
9,674 Students
1,473,602 Students
% of Others Students
18%
26%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearIowa (IA) AvgNational
202518%26%
202417%26%
202320%25%
202218%25%
202118%25%
202018%24%
201918%24%
201818%23%
201715%22%
201616%22%
201516%21%
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All Ethnic Groups
Extracurriculars & Sports
Average Number of Extracurriculars
6 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
7 sports
7 sports
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Iowa?
The top-ranked private schools in Iowa include Cedar Ridge Christian School, Scattergood Friends School, and Dowling Catholic High School.
How many private schools are located in Iowa?
There are 259 private schools are located in Iowa.
How much do private schools cost in Iowa?
The average private school tuition in Iowa is $9,021 for elementary schools and $11,342 for high schools
How diverse are private schools in Iowa?
Approximately 16% of students in Iowa private schools are minority students (compared to the national percentage).
What percentage of students in Iowa go to private school?
10% of all K-12 students in Iowa attend private schools (compared to the national average of 10%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Iowa?
81% of private schools in Iowa are religiously affiliated, with most being Catholic or Christian.
Which private schools in Iowa are often viewed compared to one another?

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