At a glance
Iowa rates schools with the Iowa School Performance Profiles, which assign one of six rating levels based on ESSA indicators — rather than a letter grade or stars.
How this state rates schools
Iowa’s ratings run from Exceptional and High Performing through Commendable, Acceptable, Needs Improvement, and Priority (lowest). They’re based on proficiency, growth, graduation, attendance/chronic absenteeism, English-learner progress, conditions for learning, and postsecondary readiness. Read the indicator detail alongside the level.
What gets measured
Under the federal ESSA law, every state rates schools using several indicators. They typically include:
- Academic achievementHow students score on state tests (proficiency in reading/ELA and math)
- Academic growth / progressHow much students improve year to year — not just where they land
- Graduation rateFor high schools (the 4-year cohort rate)
- English-learner progressHow English learners are progressing toward proficiency
- School quality / student successAn extra indicator — often attendance/chronic absenteeism, college/career readiness, or similar
Finding & reading the report card
Look up any school on the Iowa School Performance Profiles (iaschoolperformance.gov). Review the indicators (especially growth and conditions for learning) and the trend.
How families should use ratings
A rating is a helpful starting point, not a verdict. Use it wisely:
- Read it in contextA school’s score reflects its students’ circumstances too, not only its quality
- Look at growth, not just scoresGrowth shows how much a school moves students — often more telling than raw proficiency
- Check the trendIs the school improving over time?
- Look past the summaryDig into the underlying data (subgroups, attendance, readiness)
- Then visitData raises questions; a visit answers them (see our guide on evaluating a school)
Tips for families
- Start on the official portalLook up your specific school, not just district averages
- Weigh growth heavilyHow much a school moves students matters as much as test scores
- Mind the contextRatings partly reflect student demographics and circumstances
- Compare a few schoolsRatings are most useful for comparison, in context
- Pair data with a visitNumbers plus a tour give the real picture
Frequently asked questions
- How does Iowa rate schools?Iowa uses six rating levels (Exceptional – Priority) on the Iowa School Performance Profiles.
- What do the ratings measure?Test scores, growth, graduation rate, English-learner progress, and a school-quality indicator.
- Where do I look up my school?On the state’s official report-card portal (see below).
- Should I choose a school by its rating alone?No — use it as a starting point, weigh growth and context, and visit.
- What are CSI and TSI?Federal labels for schools flagged for Comprehensive or Targeted Support and Improvement.
At a glance
- FormatRating levels (6)
- RatingsExceptional – Priority
- ToolIowa School Performance Profiles
- Look up atiaschoolperformance.gov
Where to look it up
Look up a specific school on the official portal: