Public schools in Iowa City, IA
17 open public schools with an address in Iowa City, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
17
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
8,645
17 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.9:1
Iowa median 13.7:1
Charter schools
0
1 virtual
An overview of Iowa City public schools
The federal directory lists 17 public schools in Iowa City, IA: 12 elementary, 1 middle, 3 high, 1 combined or other. The 17 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 8,645 students, an average of 509 per school. The largest campus is Iowa City High School (1,666 students), and the largest elementary school is Herbert Hoover Elementary School (464).
Every listed school belongs to Iowa City Comm School District. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 12.9:1, lower than the statewide school median of 13.7:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 4 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 3 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 3 of 4 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 47% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Iowa City
Elementary schools in Iowa City
12| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Elementary Iowa City Comm School District | PK–05 | 436 | 11.4:1 | |
| Bohumil Shimek Elementary School Iowa City Comm School District | PK–05 | 181 | 11.3:1 | |
| Ernest Horn Elementary School Iowa City Comm School District | PK–05 | 453 | 13.6:1 | |
| Grant Wood Elementary School Iowa City Comm School District | PK–05 | 306 | 10.9:1 | |
| Helen Lemme Elementary School Iowa City Comm School District | PK–05 | 340 | 13.8:1 | |
| Herbert Hoover Elementary School Iowa City Comm School District | PK–05 | 464 | 12.9:1 | |
| Horace Mann Elementary School Iowa City Comm School District | PK–05 | 207 | 11.4:1 | |
| Lincoln Elementary School Iowa City Comm School District | PK–05 | 217 | 14.4:1 | |
| Longfellow Elementary School Iowa City Comm School District | PK–05 | 325 | 10.9:1 | |
| Mark Twain Elementary Iowa City Comm School District | PK–05 | 213 | 9.6:1 | |
| Robert Lucas Elementary School Iowa City Comm School District | PK–05 | 245 | 13.5:1 | |
| Weber Elementary Iowa City Comm School District | PK–05 | 456 | 10.8:1 |
Middle schools in Iowa City
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Middle School Iowa City Comm School District | 06–08 | 1,269 | 15.3:1 |
High schools in Iowa City
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Tate Alt. High School Iowa City Comm School District · Alternative School | 09–12 | 180 | 9.5:1 | |
| Iowa City High School Iowa City Comm School District | 09–12 | 1,666 | 16.4:1 | |
| West Senior High School Iowa City Comm School District | 09–12 | 1,514 | 16:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Iowa City
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICCSD Online Learning Program Iowa City Comm School District · Virtual | KG–12 | 173 | 21.8:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White44.4%
- Hispanic17%
- Black27.5%
- Asian4.2%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial6%
Enrollment-weighted across 17 Iowa City schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (8,645 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Iowa City
How many public schools are in Iowa City, IA?
The current NCES directory lists 17 open public schools with a location address in Iowa City: 12 elementary, 1 middle, 3 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 8,645 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Iowa City?
All listed public schools with an address in Iowa City belong to Iowa City Comm School District. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Iowa City?
Iowa City High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Iowa City, with 1,666 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Iowa City?
No school with an address in Iowa City is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Iowa.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Iowa City schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Iowa City public schools is 12.9:1, lower than the Iowa school median of 13.7:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Iowa City guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Iowa cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Iowa cities