ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø high schools in Iowa achieve an average reading/language arts proficiency of 71% (2025-26).
The public high schools with the highest reading/language arts proficiency are listed below (where sufficient data available).
The public high school with the highest reading/language arts proficiency in Iowa is Treynor High School, with ≥95%.
RLA Proficiency Range: 85%
95%
Avg. RLA Proficiency: 89%
Top Reading/Language Arts Proficiency ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø High Schools in Iowa (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
RLA Proficiency
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
Treynor High School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
RLA Proficiency: ≥95%
Grades: 9-12
102 E Main St
Treynor, IA 51575
(712) 487-3804
Treynor, IA 51575
(712) 487-3804
Rank: #22.
Gilbert High School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
RLA Proficiency: 94%
Grades: 9-12
312 Gretten
Gilbert, IA 50105
(515) 232-3738
Gilbert, IA 50105
(515) 232-3738
Rank: #3 - 63. - 6.
Bedford High School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
RLA Proficiency: 90-94%
Grades: 6-12
906 Pennsylvania St
Bedford, IA 50833
(712) 523-2656
Bedford, IA 50833
(712) 523-2656
Rank: #3 - 63. - 6.
Denver Senior High School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
RLA Proficiency: 90-94%
Grades: 9-12
800 Longview Drive
Denver, IA 50622
(319) 984-5639
Denver, IA 50622
(319) 984-5639
Rank: #3 - 63. - 6.
Kingsley-pierson High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
RLA Proficiency: 90-94%
Grades: 9-12
322 Quest Avenue
Kingsley, IA 51028
(712) 378-2861
Kingsley, IA 51028
(712) 378-2861
Rank: #3 - 63. - 6.
Underwood High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
RLA Proficiency: 90-94%
Grades: 9-12
629 North Street
Underwood, IA 51576
(712) 566-2703
Underwood, IA 51576
(712) 566-2703
Rank: #7 - 107. - 10.
Decorah High School
(Math: 87% | Reading: 92%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
RLA Proficiency: 92%
Grades: 9-12
100 Claiborne Drive
Decorah, IA 52101
(563) 382-3643
Decorah, IA 52101
(563) 382-3643
Rank: #7 - 107. - 10.
Lawton-bronson Junior-senior High School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 92%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
RLA Proficiency: 92%
Grades: 7-12
100 Tara Way
Lawton, IA 51030
(712) 944-5181
Lawton, IA 51030
(712) 944-5181
Rank: #7 - 107. - 10.
Pella High School
(Math: 87% | Reading: 92%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
RLA Proficiency: 92%
Grades: 9-12
212 E University St
Pella, IA 50219
(641) 628-3870
Pella, IA 50219
(641) 628-3870
Rank: #7 - 107. - 10.
West Marshall High School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 92%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
RLA Proficiency: 92%
Grades: 9-12
601 3rd Street Nw
State Center, IA 50247
(641) 483-2136
State Center, IA 50247
(641) 483-2136
Rank: #1111.
Van Meter High School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 91%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
RLA Proficiency: 91%
Grades: 9-12
520 1st Ave
Van Meter, IA 50261
(515) 996-2221
Van Meter, IA 50261
(515) 996-2221
Rank: #1212.
Solon High School
(Math: 87% | Reading: 90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
RLA Proficiency: 90%
Grades: 9-12
600 W. 5th Street
Solon, IA 52333
(319) 624-3401
Solon, IA 52333
(319) 624-3401
Rank: #1313.
North Polk High School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
RLA Proficiency: 89%
Grades: 9-12
13930 Ne 6th St
Alleman, IA 50007
(515) 984-3400
Alleman, IA 50007
(515) 984-3400
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Northview Middle School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
RLA Proficiency: 88%
Grades: 8-9
1302 N Ankeny Blvd
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9700
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9700
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Washington High School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
RLA Proficiency: 88%
Grades: 9-12
600 W Bluff St
Cherokee, IA 51012
(712) 225-6755
Cherokee, IA 51012
(712) 225-6755
Rank: #16 - 2516. - 25.
Aplington-parkersburg High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
RLA Proficiency: 85-89%
Grades: 9-12
610 N Johnson St
Parkersburg, IA 50665
(319) 346-1571
Parkersburg, IA 50665
(319) 346-1571
Rank: #16 - 2516. - 25.
Coon Rapids-bayard 6-12 Attendance Center
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
RLA Proficiency: 85-89%
Grades: 6-12
905 North Street
Coon Rapids, IA 50058
(712) 999-2208
Coon Rapids, IA 50058
(712) 999-2208
Rank: #16 - 2516. - 25.
East Mills Jr/sr High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
RLA Proficiency: 85-89%
Grades: 7-12
1505 E 15th Street
Hastings, IA 51540
(712) 624-8645
Hastings, IA 51540
(712) 624-8645
Rank: #16 - 2516. - 25.
Essex Junior-senior High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
RLA Proficiency: 85-89%
Grades: 6-12
111 Forbes St
Essex, IA 51638
(712) 379-3115
Essex, IA 51638
(712) 379-3115
Rank: #16 - 2516. - 25.
Fremont-mills Middle And Senior High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
RLA Proficiency: 85-89%
Grades: 7-12
1114 Us Hwy 275
Tabor, IA 51653
(712) 629-2325
Tabor, IA 51653
(712) 629-2325
Rank: #16 - 2516. - 25.
Grundy Center High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
RLA Proficiency: 85-89%
Grades: 9-12
1006 M Ave
Grundy Center, IA 50638
(319) 825-5449
Grundy Center, IA 50638
(319) 825-5449
Rank: #16 - 2516. - 25.
Harris-lake Park High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
RLA Proficiency: 85-89%
Grades: 6-12
905 South Market
Lake Park, IA 51347
(712) 832-3809
Lake Park, IA 51347
(712) 832-3809
Rank: #16 - 2516. - 25.
Iowa Valley Jr-sr High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
RLA Proficiency: 85-89%
Grades: 7-12
359 E Hilton St
Marengo, IA 52301
(319) 642-3332
Marengo, IA 52301
(319) 642-3332
Rank: #16 - 2516. - 25.
Woodbury Central High School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
RLA Proficiency: 85-89%
Grades: 9-12
408 South 4th Street
Moville, IA 51039
(712) 873-3128
Moville, IA 51039
(712) 873-3128
Rank: #16 - 2516. - 25.
Woodward-granger High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
RLA Proficiency: 85-89%
Grades: 9-12
306 W 3rd St
Woodward, IA 50276
(515) 438-2115
Woodward, IA 50276
(515) 438-2115
Rank: #26 - 2926. - 29.
Adm Senior High School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
RLA Proficiency: 87%
Grades: 9-12
801 Nile Kinnick Dr S
Adel, IA 50003
(515) 993-4584
Adel, IA 50003
(515) 993-4584
Rank: #26 - 2926. - 29.
Garner-hayfield-ventura High School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
RLA Proficiency: 87%
Grades: 9-12
605 West Lyon Street
Garner, IA 50438
(641) 923-2632
Garner, IA 50438
(641) 923-2632
Rank: #26 - 2926. - 29.
Peet Junior High School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
RLA Proficiency: 87%
Grades: 7-9
525 E Seerley Blvd
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 553-2710
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
(319) 553-2710
Rank: #26 - 2926. - 29.
Southview Middle School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
RLA Proficiency: 87%
Grades: 8-9
1020 Sw Cherry St
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9635
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9635
Rank: #30 - 3230. - 32.
Ankeny High School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
RLA Proficiency: 86%
Grades: 10-12
1155 Sw Cherry St
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9630
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 965-9630
Rank: #30 - 3230. - 32.
Dallas Center-grimes High School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
RLA Proficiency: 86%
Grades: 9-12
2555 W 1st St
Grimes, IA 50111
(515) 986-9747
Grimes, IA 50111
(515) 986-9747
Rank: #30 - 3230. - 32.
West Burlington Arnold Jr./sr. High School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
RLA Proficiency: 86%
Grades: 6-12
408 W Van Weiss Blvd
West Burlington, IA 52655
(319) 752-8747
West Burlington, IA 52655
(319) 752-8747
Rank: #33 - 3733. - 37.
Albia High School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
RLA Proficiency: 85%
Grades: 9-12
503 B Ave East
Albia, IA 52531
(641) 932-2161
Albia, IA 52531
(641) 932-2161
Rank: #33 - 3733. - 37.
Carroll High School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
RLA Proficiency: 85%
Grades: 9-12
2809 N Grant Rd
Carroll, IA 51401
(712) 792-8010
Carroll, IA 51401
(712) 792-8010
Rank: #33 - 3733. - 37.
Central Lyon Secondary School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
RLA Proficiency: 85%
Grades: 7-12
1010 S Greene Street
Rock Rapids, IA 51246
(712) 472-2664
Rock Rapids, IA 51246
(712) 472-2664
Show 100 more public schools in IA (out of 355 total schools)
Loading...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Iowa average public high schools reading/language arts proficiency?
The Iowa average public high schools reading/language arts proficiency is 71%% for 2025-26.
What are the public high schools with the highest reading/language arts proficiency in Iowa?
The best top ranked public high schools in Iowa include Treynor High School, Gilbert High School and Bedford High School.
Recent Articles
How ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø Schools Support Students on Free / Reduced-Lunch Programs
Explore how U.S. public schools support students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch through nutrition, academic, and wraparound services in 2025.
Hidden Costs of ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø Schools: Fees, Supplies & Extras
Explore the hidden costs in public schools—fees, supplies, extracurriculars—and how parents can plan for them in 2025.
ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø School Funding 2025: What Families Should Know
Essential insights on public school funding in 2025—how it works, what’s changing, and what families should know to stay ahead.
