The average private school acceptance rate in Iowa is 86% per year (2025).
The most selective school in Iowa is Des Moines Adventist School, with an acceptance rate of 25%.
Acceptance Rate Range: 25%
99%
Avg. Acceptance Rate: 79%
Most Selective Private Schools in Iowa (2025)
School
Acceptance Rate
Grades
Location
Rank: #1 - 41. - 4.
Des Moines Adventist School
(Seventh Day Adventist)
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Grades: PK-8
2317 Watrous Ave
Des Moines, IA 50321
(515) 285-7729
Des Moines, IA 50321
(515) 285-7729
Rank: #1 - 41. - 4.
Heartland Christian School
(Christian)
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Grades: PK-12
400 Wright Rd
Council Bluffs, IA 51501
(712) 322-5817
Council Bluffs, IA 51501
(712) 322-5817
Rank: #1 - 41. - 4.
Sacred Heart Continuation School
(Catholic)
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Grades: PK-6
601 1st Ave Sw
Oelwein, IA 50662
(319) 283-1366
Oelwein, IA 50662
(319) 283-1366
Rank: #1 - 41. - 4.
St. Albert Middle School
(Catholic)
Acceptance Rate: 25%
Grades: 4-6
400 Gleason Ave
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
(712) 322-7004
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
(712) 322-7004
Rank: #55.
Acceptance Rate: 42%
Grades: PK-12
1426 Tanglefoot Ln
Bettendorf, IA 52722
(563) 359-5700
Bettendorf, IA 52722
(563) 359-5700
Rank: #66.
Shelby County Catholic School
(Catholic)
Acceptance Rate: 48%
Grades: PK-5
2005 College Pl
Harlan, IA 51537
(712) 755-5634
Harlan, IA 51537
(712) 755-5634
Rank: #77.
Scattergood Friends School![Scattergood Friends School Photo - Scattergood offers a Sustainable Agriculture Endorsement. Students earning this endorsement take five farm-related Project classes over the course of four years, complete an agriculturally-related topic for either their Junior or Senior research papers and design and execute a 30-hour service project with with Scattergood Farm's livestock, 35 acre restored prairie, or 10 acre certified organic vegetable fields and fruit orchards.]( "Scattergood Friends School Photo - Scattergood offers a Sustainable Agriculture Endorsement. Students earning this endorsement take five farm-related Project classes over the course of four years, complete an agriculturally-related topic for either their Junior or Senior research papers and design and execute a 30-hour service project with with Scattergood Farm's livestock, 35 acre restored prairie, or 10 acre certified organic vegetable fields and fruit orchards.")
(Friends)
Acceptance Rate: 57%
Grades: 6-12
1951 Delta Ave
West Branch, IA 52358
(319) 519-1860
West Branch, IA 52358
(319) 519-1860
Rank: #88.
Acceptance Rate: 60%
Grades: 6-8
3225 W 9th St
Waterloo, IA 50702
(319) 232-1422
Waterloo, IA 50702
(319) 232-1422
Rank: #99.
Acceptance Rate: 70%
Grades: PK-12
804 Dr Robert Keith Wallace Drive
Fairfield, IA 52556
(641) 472-9400
Fairfield, IA 52556
(641) 472-9400
Rank: #1010.
Acceptance Rate: 75%
Grades: K-12
502 Franklin St
Bellevue, IA 52031
(563) 872-3356
Bellevue, IA 52031
(563) 872-3356
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Acceptance Rate: 80%
Grades: K-8
1250 12th Avenue
Coralville, IA 52241
(319) 339-0998
Coralville, IA 52241
(319) 339-0998
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Acceptance Rate: 80%
Grades: PK-12
1821 Sunset Dr
Bettendorf, IA 52722
(563) 359-1366
Bettendorf, IA 52722
(563) 359-1366
Rank: #13 - 1613. - 16.
St. Augustin Catholic School
(Catholic)
Acceptance Rate: 85%
Grades: PK-8
4320 Grand Ave
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 279-5947
Des Moines, IA 50312
(515) 279-5947
Rank: #13 - 1613. - 16.
St. Francis Of Assisi School
(Catholic)
Acceptance Rate: 85%
Grades: PK-8
7075 Ashworth Rd
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 457-7167
West Des Moines, IA 50266
(515) 457-7167
Rank: #13 - 1613. - 16.
St. Jude Elementary School
(Catholic)
Acceptance Rate: 85%
Grades: NS-3
3700 1st Avenue Nw
Cedar Rapids, IA 52405
(319) 396-7818
Cedar Rapids, IA 52405
(319) 396-7818
Rank: #13 - 1613. - 16.
Acceptance Rate: 85%
Grades: PK-12
6000 Gordon Drive
Sioux City, IA 51106
(712) 276-4732
Sioux City, IA 51106
(712) 276-4732
Rank: #17 - 2017. - 20.
Ankeny Christian Academy![Ankeny Christian Academy Photo]( "Ankeny Christian Academy Photo")
(Christian)
Acceptance Rate: 90%
Grades: PK-12
1604 West 1st St
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-8114
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-8114
Rank: #17 - 2017. - 20.
Bishop Heelan Catholic High School![Bishop Heelan Catholic High School Photo - Our students take great PRIDE in all of the school activities]( "Bishop Heelan Catholic High School Photo - Our students take great PRIDE in all of the school activities")
(Catholic)
Acceptance Rate: 90%
Grades: 9-12
1021 Douglas St
Sioux City, IA 51105
(712) 252-0573
Sioux City, IA 51105
(712) 252-0573
Rank: #17 - 2017. - 20.
Iowa Conservatory![Iowa Conservatory Photo - Costume Studio]( "Iowa Conservatory Photo - Costume Studio")
Special Program Emphasis
Acceptance Rate: 90%
Grades: 8-12
123 N. Linn St.
Iowa City, IA 52245
(319) 804-5943
Iowa City, IA 52245
(319) 804-5943
Rank: #17 - 2017. - 20.
Sacred Heart School![Sacred Heart School Photo - Sacred Heart offers kindergarten through the eighth grade]( "Sacred Heart School Photo - Sacred Heart offers kindergarten through the eighth grade")
(Catholic)
Acceptance Rate: 90%
Grades: PK-8
5010 Military Rd
Sioux City, IA 51103
(712) 233-1624
Sioux City, IA 51103
(712) 233-1624
Rank: #2121.
St. Columbkille School
(Catholic)
Acceptance Rate: 93%
Grades: K-5
1198 Rush Street
Dubuque, IA 52003
(563) 582-3532
Dubuque, IA 52003
(563) 582-3532
Rank: #22 - 2922. - 29.
Heritage Christian School![Heritage Christian School Photo - Our Pre-K program is taught by passionate, state-certified teachers with early childhood education endorsements. They create a nurturing environment where students feel comfortable and safe as they learn and grow.]( "Heritage Christian School Photo - Our Pre-K program is taught by passionate, state-certified teachers with early childhood education endorsements. They create a nurturing environment where students feel comfortable and safe as they learn and grow.")
(Christian)
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Grades: PK-8
255 Hackberry St
North Liberty, IA 52317
(319) 626-4777
North Liberty, IA 52317
(319) 626-4777
Rank: #22 - 2922. - 29.
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Grades: PK-8
1453 Mississippi Blvd
Bettendorf, IA 52722
(563) 359-3466
Bettendorf, IA 52722
(563) 359-3466
Rank: #22 - 2922. - 29.
Prince Of Peace Catholic School![Prince Of Peace Catholic School Photo - The beginning of life-long learning starts here!]( "Prince Of Peace Catholic School Photo - The beginning of life-long learning starts here!")
(Catholic)
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Grades: K-12
312 S 4th St
Clinton, IA 52732
(563) 242-1663
Clinton, IA 52732
(563) 242-1663
Rank: #22 - 2922. - 29.
St. Albert Catholic![St. Albert Catholic Photo - With the addition of the state-of-the-art childcare center and elementary school, Saint Albert's elite learning, faith-filled environment is unmatched in Southwest Iowa.]( "St. Albert Catholic Photo - With the addition of the state-of-the-art childcare center and elementary school, Saint Albert's elite learning, faith-filled environment is unmatched in Southwest Iowa.")
(Catholic)
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Grades: PK-12
400 Gleason Ave
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
(712) 328-2316
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
(712) 328-2316
Rank: #22 - 2922. - 29.
St. Paul The Apostle Catholic School![St. Paul The Apostle Catholic School Photo - STREAM is an expansion of STEM. It is an acronym for Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, the Arts and Math. As Catholic schools, our mission is to educate the whole child; therefore, STREAM education has taken the principles of STEM infused religion across all subjects and added the arts to provide students the creative thinking skills necessary to communicate.]( "St. Paul The Apostle Catholic School Photo - STREAM is an expansion of STEM. It is an acronym for Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, the Arts and Math. As Catholic schools, our mission is to educate the whole child; therefore, STREAM education has taken the principles of STEM infused religion across all subjects and added the arts to provide students the creative thinking skills necessary to communicate.")
(Catholic)
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Grades: PK-8
1007 E Rusholme Street
Davenport, IA 52803
(563) 322-2923
Davenport, IA 52803
(563) 322-2923
Rank: #22 - 2922. - 29.
Sioux Center Christian School![Sioux Center Christian School Photo - Sioux Center Christian School welcomes you!]( "Sioux Center Christian School Photo - Sioux Center Christian School welcomes you!")
(Calvinist)
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Grades: PK-8
630 1st Ave Se
Sioux Center, IA 51250
(712) 722-0777
Sioux Center, IA 51250
(712) 722-0777
Rank: #22 - 2922. - 29.
Trinity Lutheran School
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Grades: NS-6
1500 N 16th St
Council Bluffs, IA 51501
(712) 322-3294
Council Bluffs, IA 51501
(712) 322-3294
Rank: #22 - 2922. - 29.
Western Christian High School
(Christian)
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Grades: 9-12
925 5th St
Hull, IA 51239
(712) 439-1013
Hull, IA 51239
(712) 439-1013
Rank: #30 - 3330. - 33.
Acceptance Rate: 98%
Grades: 6-12
1421 540th Street SW
Kalona, IA 52247
(319) 656-2073
Kalona, IA 52247
(319) 656-2073
Rank: #30 - 3330. - 33.
Holy Family School
(Catholic)
Acceptance Rate: 98%
Grades: K-8
1265 E 9th St
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 262-8025
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 262-8025
Rank: #30 - 3330. - 33.
Our Lady Of Guadalupe
Alternative School (Catholic)
Acceptance Rate: 98%
Grades: PK-5
2105 Saint Joseph Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
(563) 582-1198
Dubuque, IA 52001
(563) 582-1198
Rank: #30 - 3330. - 33.
St. Joseph Catholic School
(Catholic)
Acceptance Rate: 98%
Grades: PK-8
1430 14th Street
Marion, IA 52302
(319) 377-6348
Marion, IA 52302
(319) 377-6348
Rank: #34 - 3734. - 37.
Acceptance Rate: 99%
Grades: PK-8
1119 5th St
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 255-0220
West Des Moines, IA 50265
(515) 255-0220
Rank: #34 - 3734. - 37.
Acceptance Rate: 99%
Grades: PK-8
16 Columbus Ave
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 243-1874
Des Moines, IA 50315
(515) 243-1874
Show 17 more private schools in IA (out of 52 total schools)
Loading...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Iowa average private schools acceptance rate?
The Iowa average private schools acceptance rate is 86% for 2025.
What are the most selective private schools in Iowa?
The top ranked private schools in Iowa include Des Moines Adventist School, Heartland Christian School and Sacred Heart Continuation School.
What is the most selective high school and elementary school in Iowa?
The most selective private high school in Iowa is Heartland Christian School, with an acceptance rate of 25%. The most selective private elementary school is Des Moines Adventist School, with an acceptance rate of 25%.
Recent Articles
Is It Easier to Land a Private School Job When You're Already Employed?
Is it easier to land a private school job when you're already employed? This article breaks down employer biases, networking advantages, and negotiation leverage—plus the latest hiring trends in independent schools. If you’re considering a move, here’s how to maximize your position.
How to Secure a Private School Job When You're Unemployed Without the Stigma
Finding a private school job while unemployed can be tough, but it doesn't have to hold you back. This article breaks down networking strategies, ways to stand out, and smart approaches to keep your confidence strong. Learn how to turn setbacks into strengths and secure the right opportunity—without the stigma.
The Private School Job Hunt: Insider Tips for Employed & Unemployed Educators
Navigating the private school job market? Whether you're employed or unemployed, the right strategy can make all the difference. This article breaks down essential steps to keep your resume sharp, expand your network, and stay visible in the education community. Learn insider tips to position yourself for success in private schools.
