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Best private high schools in Iowa

Written by:
April 10, 2024
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Best private high schools in Iowa

As filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron said during a '96 commencement address at Wellesley College, "Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead." If that's the case, high school may be one of the greatest dress rehearsals of all.

It's a place where students explore their interests, dive into extracurricular activities, finally get the freedom to choose their own classes, and prepare for college or the workplace. For many of these students and their families, education is key: 1.4 million students enrolled in private high schools in fall 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. There were about 3,600 private secondary schools nationwide as of 2020.

For many anxious parents, getting their kids into the best of these private high schools is of the utmost importance. Some families even move homes to send their kids to better schools. However, among all of these thousands of schools, a few stand out for their academic excellence, incredible track records, and the future success of their young students.

Stacker compiled a list of the best private high schools in Iowa using 2024 rankings from Niche. Niche uses seven weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on academics, but other factors include culture and diversity; sports; clubs and activities; resources; and surveys of parents, teachers, and students.

A class of high schoolers as viewed from the rear.
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#30. North Iowa Christian School

- Location: Mason City, IA
- Enrollment: 68 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B-

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#29. Prince of Peace Catholic School

- Location: Clinton, IA
- Enrollment: 223 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B-

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#28. Beckman Catholic School

- Location: Dyersville, IA
- Enrollment: 380 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B

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#27. Holy Trinity Junior/Senior Catholic High School

- Location: Fort Madison, IA
- Enrollment: 346 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B

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#26. St. Mary's High School

- Location: Remsen, IA
- Enrollment: 221 (22:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B

A high school student doing a chemical experiment.
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#25. Marquette Catholic School

- Location: Bellevue, IA
- Enrollment: 234 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B

A high school student sitting at a desk writing on a piece of paper.
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#24. Pella Christian High School

- Location: Pella, IA
- Enrollment: 266 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B

A student raising their hand in class.
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#23. Unity Christian High School

- Location: Orange City, IA
- Enrollment: 263 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B+

An empty school hallway lined with red lockers.
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#22. Heartland Christian School

- Location: Council Bluffs, IA
- Enrollment: 253 (20:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B+

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#21. Western Christian High School

- Location: Hull, IA
- Enrollment: 271 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B+

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#20. Don Bosco High School

- Location: Gilbertville, IA
- Enrollment: 299 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B+

A hallway lined with green lockers.
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#19. Valley Lutheran School

- Location: Cedar Falls, IA
- Enrollment: 146 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B+

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#18. Gehlen Catholic Schools

- Location: Le Mars, IA
- Enrollment: 509 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B+

An empty classroom as viewed from the back.
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#17. Morning Star Academy

- Location: Bettendorf, IA
- Enrollment: 220 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B+

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#16. Des Moines Christian School

- Location: Urbandale, IA
- Enrollment: 1,096 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B+

A group of students walking down the hall with their backs facing the camera.
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#15. Mount Pleasant Christian School

- Location: Mount Pleasant, IA
- Enrollment: 67 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade B+

An overhead view of high school pupils in group study sitting around circular tables.
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#14. Grand View Christian School

- Location: Des Moines, IA
- Enrollment: 270 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

Students using microscopes in science class.
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#13. Newman Catholic School

- Location: Mason City, IA
- Enrollment: 609 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

High school students studying and reading together in their school library.
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#12. Waterloo Christian School

- Location: Waterloo, IA
- Enrollment: 350 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

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#11. Hillcrest Academy

- Location: Kalona, IA
- Enrollment: 105 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

A stack of textbooks with pens on top of them next to an open notebook.
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#10. St. Albert Catholic Schools

- Location: Council Bluffs, IA
- Enrollment: 562 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

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#9. Assumption High School

- Location: Davenport, IA
- Enrollment: 450 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

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#8. Xavier High School

- Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
- Enrollment: 635 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A-

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#7. Storm Lake St. Mary's Schools

- Location: Storm Lake, IA
- Enrollment: 263 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

Students' backpacks sitting on a hallway floor.
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#6. Bishop Heelan Catholic High School

- Location: Sioux City, IA
- Enrollment: 496 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

Bookshelves at a high school's library.
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#5. Regina Catholic Education Center

- Location: Iowa, IA
- Enrollment: 342 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

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#4. Dowling Catholic High School

- Location: West Des Moines, IA
- Enrollment: 1,391 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

Two rows of red lockers.
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#3. Scattergood Friends School

- Location: West Branch, IA
- Enrollment: 45 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A

Empty desks in a high school classroom.
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#2. Rivermont Collegiate

- Location: Bettendorf, IA
- Enrollment: 167 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

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#1. Maharishi School

- Location: Fairfield, IA
- Enrollment: 156 (3:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Niche grade: Grade A+

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Emma Rubin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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