Research / Best ZIP codes for schools
Best ZIP codes for schools in Iowa
Ranked by the School Quality Index: district math and reading proficiency and graduation rates, weighted by how much of each district falls in the ZIP.
How we rank school quality
The School Quality Index summarizes district math and reading proficiency and four-year graduation outcomes. Results based on very small student samples are excluded, and missing measures do not count as zero.
A ZIP's score reflects the districts serving the area, with greater influence from districts covering more of the ZIP. It measures outcomes, not school ratings, spending, or individual schools.
Each state sets its own tests and proficiency cut scores, so the index compares ZIPs well within a state but not across states. That is why we rank ZIPs only within each state.
Only ZIPs with at least 1,000 residents are ranked, so a handful of households cannot top the list. 465 Iowa ZIPs qualify.
Iowa ZIP codes ranked by school quality
1ZIP 50622Denver
Iowa
- School quality index
- 88.0
- ZIP population
- ~4k
- Avg. temperature
- 49°F
- Avg. commute
- 19 min
2ZIP 50105Gilbert
Iowa
- School quality index
- 87.5
- ZIP population
- ~1k
- Avg. temperature
- 51°F
- Avg. commute
- 18 min
3ZIP 52753Le Claire
Iowa
- School quality index
- 87.3
- ZIP population
- ~6k
- Avg. temperature
- 52°F
- Avg. commute
- 23 min
4ZIP 51575Treynor
Iowa
- School quality index
- 86.0
- ZIP population
- ~2k
- Avg. temperature
- 52°F
- Avg. commute
- 25 min
5ZIP 50073Elkhart
Iowa
- School quality index
- 85.2
- ZIP population
- ~1k
- Avg. temperature
- 51°F
- Avg. commute
- 25 min
6ZIP 50219Pella
Iowa
- School quality index
- 84.9
- ZIP population
- ~14k
- Avg. temperature
- 51°F
- Avg. commute
- 15 min
| Rank | ZIP | City | County | School quality index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #7 | 51003 | Alton | Sioux County | 84.8 |
| #8 | 52722 | Bettendorf | Scott County | 84.7 |
| #9 | 51241 | Larchwood | Lyon County | 84.5 |
| #10 | 50226 | Polk City | Polk County | 84.0 |
| #11 | 51030 | Lawton | Woodbury County | 84.0 |
| #12 | 50263 | Waukee | Dallas County | 83.7 |
| #13 | 51240 | Inwood | Lyon County | 83.5 |
| #14 | 52333 | Solon | Johnson County | 83.5 |
| #15 | 51238 | Hospers | Sioux County | 83.4 |
| #16 | 51041 | Orange City | Sioux County | 83.2 |
| #17 | 50014 | Ames | Story County | 83.0 |
| #18 | 50063 | Dallas Center | Dallas County | 83.0 |
| #19 | 50244 | Huxley | Story County | 82.9 |
| #20 | 50023 | Ankeny | Polk County | 82.7 |
| #21 | 50472 | Saint Ansgar | Mitchell County | 82.7 |
| #22 | 51576 | Underwood | Pottawattamie County | 82.5 |
| #23 | 50111 | Grimes | Polk County | 82.2 |
| #24 | 50131 | Johnston | Polk County | 81.9 |
| #25 | 50833 | Bedford | Taylor County | 81.9 |
Rank Iowa by your own priorities
This list uses one attribute. In SkaldMaps you choose the criteria, weight them, and rank every Iowa ZIP against what matters to you.
Create a free account →
More Iowa research
Most affordable ZIP codes
Ranked by cost of living index
- Iowa median ZIP
- 81.3
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 71.5 to 100.2
ZIP codes with the shortest commutes
Ranked by mean commute
- Iowa median ZIP
- 21.8 min
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 15.6 min to 28.0 min
Best healthcare access
Ranked by healthcare access score
- Iowa median ZIP
- 91.2
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 85.2 to 99.0
Best broadband coverage
Ranked by households with broadband
- Iowa median ZIP
- 88.4%
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 82.2% to 94.1%
Warmest ZIP codes
Ranked by avg. temperature
- Iowa median ZIP
- 49.9°F
- Middle 80% of ZIPs
- 47.6°F to 51.8°F