Please Share Your Comments Below

Iowa

The state of Iowa has 367 school districts; statewide funding, achievement and demographic data can be found in the tabs below. Or use the school district links at the bottom of this page to learn more about a specific Iowa community.

Funding

Funding Breakdown Chart

WARNING: Data below comes from federal and state policy offices, as opposed to budget division staff. Funding levels will not match exact dollar figures that states and school districts receive. While this data can be used to help analyze policy and trends, it should not be used for local budgeting purposes.
     
Statewide Per-Pupil Expenditure $7,631
Per-Pupil Expenditure Rank of 50 states and the District of Columbia (1=Highest Spending) 29
School Finance Inequity Among Districts in Per-Pupil Dollars $624
School Finance Inequity Among Districts in Percentage Terms 8%
School Finance Equity Rank of 50 states and the District of Columbia (1=Most Equitable) 5
Total Federal Direct Aid (Title I & IDEA) to Iowa FY 2006 $177,458,635
Total Federal Direct Aid Per Pupil $367
NCLB Title I Estimated FY 2009 Grant (Bush Budget) $75,355,054
NCLB Title I Estimated FY 2008 Grant (At Conference Level) $74,224,000
NCLB Title I Actual FY 2006 Grant $64,916,992
NCLB Title I Actual FY 2004 Grant $64,684,556
IDEA Part B Estimated FY 2009 Grant (Bush Budget) $120,002,087
IDEA Part B Estimated FY 2008 Grant (At Conference Level) $116,202,426
IDEA Part B Actual FY 2006 Grant $112,541,643
IDEA Part B Actual FY 2004 Grant $107,669,127
Impact Aid Basic Support Payments FY 2007 $528,772
Total School Food Funds FY 2007 $97,056,792
Total School Food Funds FY 2006 $87,898,015
Total School Food Funds FY 2004 $80,287,408

Demographics

Racial/Ethnic Breakdown
Asian: 1.9%
Black: 5.0%
Native American: 0.6%
White: 86.2%
Hispanic: 5.8%
Other: 0.5%
Total Number of Students 483,847
Student Poverty Rate 11.1%
Student Poverty Rate Rank of 50 States and the District of Columbia (1=Lowest Poverty Rate) 14
Free and Reduced Priced Lunch Enrollment Rate 32%
White Students 417,035
Black Students 24,308
Native American Students 2,839
Asian Students 9,314
Hispanic Students 27,968

Achievement

Achievement Overview

NCLB scores are based on state-defined standards, while NAEP standards are set by the federal government and are consistent nationwide.

Percentage figures presented reflect the proportion of students learning at grade level, according to state NCLB and national NAEP standards, respectively.

The percentage of students deemed proficient as per NCLB scores tends to be higher than the percentage deemed proficient as per NAEP scores, because state-defined standards of proficiency tend to be lower.

State Defined
Proficiency
(NCLB, 2004-05)
Nationally Defined
Proficiency
(NAEP, 2005)
National Rank
Based on 2005
NAEP Results
Grade 4 Students Proficient in Reading 79% 33% 19
Grade 4 Students Proficient in Math 81% 37% 25
Grade 8 Students Proficient in Reading 72% 34% 17
Grade 8 Students Proficient in Math 75% 34% 13

Compare to Other States

Use the form below to select data on which to make a comparison, and determine just how similar other states must be to yours for comparison purposes (e.g. within X percent of Iowa's funding, number of students, etc.)

Number of Students:
Percentage of Students in Poverty:
Percentage of Black and Hispanic Students:
Statewide Expenditure Per Pupil:
Average School Finance Inequity Among Districts:
NCLB Title I Actual FY 2007 Grant Per Pupil:
IDEA Part B Actual FY 2007 Grant Per Pupil:
Total FY 2007 Federal Direct Aid Per Pupil:
Grade 4 Reading Proficiency:
Grade 4 Math Proficiency:

Notes & Sources

STATE-LEVEL DATA


FUNDING

  1. Statewide Per-Pupil Expenditure
    U.S. Census Bureau, School Year 2003-2004
    http://www2.census.gov/govs/school/04f33pub.pdf
  2. School Finance Inequity
    Education Finance Incentive Grant Program Definition of Equity, No Child Left Behind, Title I, Part A, Subpart 2, Sec. 1125A
    Note: Hawaii and the District of Columbia only have one school district, so their weighted coefficient is 0 as per Sec. 1125A of Title I of NCLB. Alaska, Kansas, and New Mexico qualify as equalized under the Impact Aid program standard (Title VIII, Sec8009(c)(1)), so they have been assigned a weighted coefficient of 10 as per Sec. 1125A.
  3. NCLB Title I
    Fiscal Years 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, Estimated 2009 (Bush Budget)
    U.S. Department of Education
    http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/statetables/08stbyprogram.xls
  4. IDEA Part B
    Fiscal Years 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, Estimated 2009 (Bush Budget)
    U.S. Department of Education
    http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/statetables/08stbyprogram.xls
  5. Impact Aid Basic Support Payments
    National Association of Federally Impacted Schools, Fiscal Year 2007
  6. School Food Programs
    Child Nutrition Program Data, Food and Nutrition Service – USDA, Fiscal Years 2004, 2006, 2007
    http://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/cnpmain.htm

DEMOGRAPHICS

  1. Student Poverty Rate
    Poverty Rate for School-Age Children, Ages 5-17
    U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates, 2004
    http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/saipe/national.cgi?year=2004&ascii=#SA51
  2. Free and Reduced Price Lunch Enrollment Rate
    National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, School Year 2005-2006
    http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/
  3. Total Number of Students, Disaggregated by Race
    National Center
    for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, School Year 2005-2006
    http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/

ACHIEVEMENT

  1. State Defined Proficiency Level
    Iowa Test of Basic Skills, State Results, 2003-05 biennium
    http://www.iowa.gov/educate/content/view/346/299/
    Iowa reports state-level scores by biennium instead of annually.
  2. Nationally Defined Proficiency Level
    National Assessment of Educational Progress, 2005
    http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/

DISTRICT-LEVEL DATA


FUNDING

  1. District Per-Pupil Expenditure
    National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, School Year 2004-2005
    http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/
  2. District Operating Budget
    U.S. Census Bureau, Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, 2006
    http://www.census.gov/govs/www/school06.html
  3. NCLB Title I
    Fiscal Years 2004, 2006, 2008
    Thompson Publishing, Title I Online
    http://www.thompson.com/public/nclb/fundinginformation/fundinginformation.html
    Estimated Fiscal Year 2009 (Bush Budget)
    Congressional Research Service, supplied by the Office of Senator Christopher J. Dodd (D-CT)
  4. IDEA Part B
    Fiscal Years 2004, 2006
    Iowa's State Special Education Department
    Fiscal Year 2008 at Conference Level, Estimated Fiscal Year 2009 (Bush Budget)
    These grants have been estimated based on the FY 2008 conference appropriation or Bush’s budget request for IDEA Part B and each district’s FY 2006 grant.
  5. Impact Aid Basic Support Payments
    National Association of Federally Impacted Schools, Fiscal Year 2007

DEMOGRAPHICS

  1. Student Poverty Rate
    U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates, 2004
    http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/saipe/district.html
  2. Free and Reduced Price Lunch Enrollment Rate
    National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, School Year 2005-2006
    http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/
  3. Total Number of Students, Disaggregated by Race
    National Center
    for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, School Year 2005-2006
    http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/

ACHIEVEMENT

  1. District NCLB
    Iowa Test of Basic Skills, Grade 4, 2004-05
    http://www.iowa.gov/educate/component/option,com_docman/task,cat_view/gid,519/Itemid,55/

DEFINITIONS

Per-Pupil Expenditure. Statewide per-pupil expenditure equals the total amount of revenue paid out by school systems in the state divided by total school enrollment. It includes funds from federal, state, and local sources and funds spent on day to day operating expenses, such as teacher salaries. It does not include capital expenses, such as school construction.

School Finance Inequity. School finance equity figures presented reflect a definition contained in Title I of the No Child Left Behind Act. That definition examines the differences in per-pupil spending among school districts across a given state. The per-pupil expenditure for every school district is compared to the average per-pupil expenditure for the state and weighted according to size and poverty level.

Indirect aid is support provided for school districts through the federal tax code. For example, a community can use local property taxes to finance local schools, and it costs taxpayers less because local property taxes are deductible on federal income tax returns.

Direct Aid. Direct aid is education funding that comes from the federal government and is distributed directly to states and then given to individual school districts. The figures presented here include only the two largest direct aid funding streams -- the Title I program for disadvantaged students and the IDEA special education program for children with disabilities.

Title I. Title I of the No Child Left Behind Act authorizes direct aid from the federal government to states and school districts to support the additional education needs of children from low-income families.

IDEA. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) authorizes direct aid from the federal government to states and school districts to support the additional education needs of children with disabilities.

Impact Aid Basic Support Payments. Title VIII of the No Child Left Behind Act authorizes direct aid from the federal government to school districts that educate large numbers of "federally connected" children or have been impacted by the lost property tax revenue on federal lands (i.e. military bases or Native American reservations).

Student Poverty Rate. The student poverty rate reflects the number of children in a state ages 5 to 17 living beneath the Census Bureau's poverty line. In 2004, the poverty income threshold for a family of four was $19,157.

Free and Reduced Priced Lunch Enrollment Rate. The student poverty rate based on free and reduced price lunch eligibility reflects the number of students in the state who are certified to receive free or reduced price lunches based on their family incomes or participation in Food Stamp or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families programs.

Total School Food Funds. The National School Lunch Act authorizes the distribution of federal funds to states and school districts to provide nutritious lunches, breakfasts and snacks to low income students at free or reduced prices.

Achievement. State-defined proficiency standards of what students should know and be able to do in each grade are developed separately by each state. States use these standards to test and assess whether students are performing adequately, as required under the No Child Left Behind Act.

Nationally-defined proficiency standards of what students should know and be able to do are developed by the National Assessment Governing Board. The Board administers a national test to a representative sample of students-the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)-that measures whether students are performing at grade level.

Percentage figures presented reflect the proportion of students learning at grade level according to state NCLB and national NAEP standards, respectively.

spreadsheet icon All the available data for Iowa is available for download as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.


Iowa School Districts (367)

The full list of Iowa school districts is below. Click on any name for funding, achievement and demographic data for that district, or use this form to narrow down the list.

Show Only Districts Where The Name...
Districtsort icon
A-H-S-T Community School District
Adair-Casey Community School District
Adel-Desoto-Minburn Community School
Agwsr Community School District
Akron Westfield Community School District
Albert City-Truesdale Community School District
Albia Community School District
Alburnett Community School District
Alden Community School District
Algona Community School District
Allamakee Community School District
Allison-Bristow Community School District
Alta Community School District
Ames Community School District
Anamosa Community School District
Andrew Community School District
Anita Community School District
Ankeny Community School District
Anthon-Oto Community School District
Aplington Community School District
Ar-We-Va Community School District
Armstrong-Ringsted Community School District
Atlantic Community School District
Audubon Community School District
Aurelia Community School District
Ballard Community School District
Battle Creek-Ida Grove Community School District
Baxter Community School District
Bcluw Community School District
Bedford Community School District
Belle Plaine Community School District
Bellevue Community School District
Belmond-Klemme Community School District
Bennett Community School District
Benton Community School District
Bettendorf Community School District
Bondurant-Farrar Community School District
Boone Community School District
Boyden-Hull Community School District
Boyer Valley Community School District
Brooklyn-Guernsey-Malcom Community School District
Burlington Community School District
C And M Community School District
Cal Community School District
Calamus-Wheatland Community School District
Camanche Community School District
Cardinal Community School District
Carlisle Community School District
Carroll Community School District
Cedar Falls Community School District
Cedar Rapids Community School District
Center Point-Urbana Community School District
Centerville Community School District
Central City Community School District
Central Clinton Community School District
Central Community School District
Central Decatur Community School District
Central Lee Community School District
Central Lyon Community School District
Chariton Community School District
Charles City Community School District
Charter Oak-Ute Community School District
Cherokee Community School District
Clarinda Community School District
Clarion-Goldfield Community School District
Clarke Community School District
Clarksville Community School District
Clay Central-Everly Community School District
Clear Creek-Amana Community School District
Clear Lake Community School District
Clearfield Community School District
Clinton Community School District
Colfax-Mingo Community School District
College Community School District
Collins-Maxwell Community School District
Colo-Nesco Community School District
Columbus Community School District
Coon Rapids-Bayard Community School District
Corning Community School District
Corwith-Wesley Community School District
Council Bluffs Community School District
Creston Community School District
Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District
Danville Community School District
Davenport Community School District
Davis County Community School District
Decorah Community School District
Deep River-Millersburg Community School District
Delwood Community School District
Denison Community School District
Denver Community School District
Des Moines Independent Community School District
Diagonal Community School District
Dike-New Hartford Community School District
Dows Community School District
Dubuque Community School District
Dunkerton Community School District
Durant Community School District
Eagle Grove Community School District
Earlham Community School District
East Buchanan Community School District
East Central Community School District
East Greene Community School District
East Marshall Community School District
East Union Community School District
Eastern Allamakee Community School District
Eddyville-Blakesburg Community School District
Edgewood-Colesburg Community School District
Eldora-New Providence Community School District
Elk Horn-Kimballton Community School District
Emmetsburg Community School District
English Valleys Community School District
Essex Community School District
Estherville Lincoln Central Com School District
Exira Community School District
Fairfield Community School District
Farragut Community School District
Forest City Community School District
Fort Dodge Community School District
Fort Madison Community School District
Fredericksburg Community School District
Fremont Community School District
Fremont-Mills Community School District
Galva-Holstein Community School District
Garnavillo Community School District
Garner-Hayfield Community School District
George Community School District
Gilbert Community School District
Gilmore City-Bradgate Community School District
Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District
Glenwood Community School District
Glidden-Ralston Community School District
Gmg Community School District
Graettinger Community School District
Grand Community School District
Greene Community School District
Grinnell-Newburg Community School District
Griswold Community School District
Grundy Center Community School District
Guthrie Center Community School District
Guttenberg Community School District
H-L-V Community School District
Hamburg Community School District
Hampton-Dumont Community School District
Harlan Community School District
Harmony Community School District
Harris-Lake Park Community School District
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District
Highland Community School District
Hinton Community School District
Howard-Winneshiek Community School District
Hubbard-Radcliffe Community School District
Hudson Community School District
Humboldt Community School District
Ikm Community School District
Independence Community School District
Indianola Community School District
Interstate 35 Community School District
Iowa City Community School District
Iowa Falls Community School District
Iowa Valley Community School District
Janesville Consolidated School District
Jefferson-Scranton Community School
Jesup Community School District
Johnston Community School District
Keokuk Community School District
Keota Community School District
Kingsley-Pierson Community School District
Knoxville Community School District
Lake Mills Community School District
Lamoni Community School District
Laurens-Marathon Community School District
Lawton-Bronson Community School District
Le Mars Community School District
Lenox Community School District
Lewis Central Community School District
Lineville-Clio Community School District
Linn-Mar Community School District
Lisbon Community School District
Logan-Magnolia Community School District
Lone Tree Community School District
Louisa-Muscatine Community School District
Lu Verne Community School District
Lynnville-Sully Community School District
Madrid Community School District
Malvern Community School District
Manning Community School District
Manson Northwest Webster Community School District
Maple Valley Community School District
Maquoketa Community School District
Maquoketa Valley Community School District
Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Community School District
Marion Independent School District
Marshalltown Community School District
Martensdale-St Marys Community School District
Mason City Community School District
Mediapolis Community School District
Melcher-Dallas Community School District
Meservey-Thornton Community School District
Mfl Marmac Community School District
Mid-Prairie Community School District
Midland Community School District
Missouri Valley Community School District
Moc-Floyd Valley Community School District
Montezuma Community School District
Monticello Community School District
Moravia Community School District
Mormon Trail Community School District
Morning Sun Community School District
Moulton-Udell Community School District
Mount Ayr Community School District
Mount Pleasant Community School District
Mount Vernon Community School District
Murray Community School District
Muscatine Community School District
Nashua-Plainfield Community School District
Nevada Community School District
New Hampton Community School District
New London Community School District
New Market Community School District
Newell-Fonda Community School District
Newton Community School District
Nishna Valley Community School District
Nodaway Valley
Nora Springs-Rock Falls Community School District
North Cedar Community School District
North Central Community School District
North Fayette Community School District
North Iowa Community School District
North Kossuth Community School District
North Linn Community School District
North Mahaska Community School District
North Polk Community School District
North Scott Community School District
North Tama County Community School District
North Winneshiek Community School District
Northeast Community School District
Northeast Hamilton Community School District
Northwood-Kensett Community School District
Norwalk Community School District
Odebolt-Arthur Community School District
Oelwein Community School District
Ogden Community School District
Okoboji Community School District
Olin Consolidated School District
Orient-Macksburg Community School District
Osage Community School District
Oskaloosa Community School District
Ottumwa Community School District
Panorama Community School District
Paton-Churdan Community School District
Pcm Community School District
Pekin Community School District
Pella Community School District
Perry Community School District
Pleasant Valley Community School District
Pleasantville Community School District
Pocahontas Area Community School District
Pomeroy-Palmer Community School District
Postville Community School District
Prairie Valley Community School District
Prescott Community School District
Preston Community School District
Red Oak Community School District
Remsen-Union Community School District
Riceville Community School District
River Valley Community School District
Riverside Community School District
Rock Valley Community School District
Rockwell City-Lytton Community School District
Rockwell-Swaledale Community School District
Roland-Story Community School District
Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rk Community School District
Russell Community School District
Ruthven-Ayrshire Community School District
Sac Community School District
Saydel Community School District
Schaller-Crestland Community School District
Schleswig Community School District
Sentral Community School District
Sergeant Bluff-Luton Community School District
Seymour Community School District
Sheffield-Chapin Community School District
Sheldon Communityunity School District
Shenandoah Community School District
Sibley-Ocheyedan Community School District
Sidney Community School District
Sigourney Community School District
Sioux Center Community School District
Sioux Central Community School District
Sioux City Community School District
Solon Community School District
South Clay Community School District
South Hamilton Community School District
South O'Brien Community School District
South Page Community School District
South Tama County Community School District
South Winneshiek Community School District
Southeast Polk Community School District
Southeast Warren Community School District
Southeast Webster Community School District
Southern Cal Community School District
Spencer Community School District
Spirit Lake Community School District
Springville Community School District
St Ansgar Community School District
Stanton Community School District
Starmont Community School District
Storm Lake Community School District
Stratford Community School District
Sumner Community School District
Terril Community School District
Tipton Community School District
Titonka Consolidated School District
Treynor Community School District
Tri-Center Community School District
Tri-County Community School District
Tripoli Community School District
Turkey Valley Community School District
Twin Cedars Community School District
Twin Rivers Community School District
Underwood Community School District
Union Community School District
United Community School District
Urbandale Community School District
Valley Community School District
Van Buren Community School District
Van Meter Community School District
Ventura Community School District
Villisca Community School District
Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District
Waco Community School District
Wall Lake View Auburn Community School District
Walnut Community School District
Wapello Community School District
Wapsie Valley Community School District
Washington Community School District
Waterloo Community School District
Waukee Community School District
Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District
Wayne Community School District
Webster City Community School District
West Bend-Mallard Community School District
West Branch Community School District
West Burlington Independent School District
West Central Community School District
West Central Valley
West Delaware County Community School District
West Des Moines Community School District
West Hancock Community School District
West Harrison Community School District
West Liberty Community School District
West Lyon Community School District
West Marshall Community School District
West Monona Community School District
West Sioux Community School District
Western Dubuque Community School District
Westwood Community School District
Whiting Community School District
Williamsburg Community School District
Wilton Community School District
Winfield-Mt Union Community School District
Winterset Community School District
Woden-Crystal Lake Community School District
Woodbine Community School District
Woodbury Central Community School District
Woodward-Granger Community School District

Per-Pupil Expenditure. Statewide per-pupil expenditure equals the total amount of revenue paid out by school systems in the state divided by total school enrollment. It includes funds from federal, state, and local sources and funds spent on day to day operating expenses, such as teacher salaries. It does not include capital expenses, such as school construction.

School Finance Inequity. School finance equity figures presented reflect a definition contained in Title I of the No Child Left Behind Act. That definition examines the differences in per-pupil spending among school districts across a given state. The per-pupil expenditure for every school district is compared to the average per-pupil expenditure for the state and weighted according to size and poverty level.

Indirect Aid. Indirect aid is support provided for school districts through the federal tax code. For example, a community can use local property taxes to finance local schools, and it costs taxpayers less because local property taxes are deductible on federal income tax returns.

Direct Aid. Direct aid is education funding that comes from the federal government and is distributed directly to states and then given to individual school districts. The figures presented here include only the two largest direct aid funding streams -- the Title I program for disadvantaged students and the IDEA special education program for children with disabilities.

Title I. Title I of the No Child Left Behind Act authorizes direct aid from the federal government to states and school districts to support the additional education needs of children from low-income families.

IDEA. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) authorizes direct aid from the federal government to states and school districts to support the additional education needs of children with disabilities.

Impact Aid Basic Support Payments. Title VIII of the No Child Left Behind Act authorizes direct aid from the federal government to school districts that educate large numbers of "federally connected" children or have been impacted by the lost property tax revenue on federal lands (i.e. military bases or Native American reservations).

Student Poverty Rate. The student poverty rate reflects the number of children in a state ages 5 to 17 living beneath the Census Bureau's poverty line. In 2004, the poverty income threshold for a family of four was $19,157.

Free and Reduced Priced Lunch Enrollment Rate. The student poverty rate based on free and reduced price lunch eligibility reflects the number of students in the state who are certified to receive free or reduced price lunches based on their family incomes or participation in Food Stamp or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families programs.

Total School Food Funds. The National School Lunch Act authorizes the distribution of federal funds to states and school districts to provide nutritious lunches, breakfasts and snacks to low income students at free or reduced prices.

Achievement. State-defined proficiency standards of what students should know and be able to do in each grade are developed separately by each state. States use these standards to test and assess whether students are performing adequately, as required under the No Child Left Behind Act.

Nationally-defined proficiency standards of what students should know and be able to do are developed by the National Assessment Governing Board. The Board administers a national test to a representative sample of students-the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)-that measures whether students are performing at grade level.

Percentage figures presented reflect the proportion of students learning at grade level according to state NCLB and national NAEP standards, respectively.


We Welcome Your Feedback

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.