Iowa student achievement ranks high

Sixth grader Katelyn Smith works on the ITBS at East Buchanan Middle School in Winthrop.

By Gale Smetana
For Iowa.com

“Foundation in Education” is more than just a motto on the Iowa quarter. The state has long prided itself on being a leader in education, pioneering what became the nationally recognized Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) back in 1935. The Iowa Tests of Educational Development (ITED) are now given to high school students as part of the state’s annual assessment of education.

To that end, Iowa rakes in top honors year after year. Among them, Iowa ranks second in the country on ACT scores, tying with Wisconsin (source: Iowa Department of Education 2007); the state has the seventh highest high school graduation rate among all 50 states (source: U.S. Census Bureau) and the lowest percentage of teens who have dropped out of high school (source: Annie E. Casey Foundation 2006).

Other good news about public schools in Iowa includes reading scores for fourth and ninth graders that put the state in the top 10 nationwide. The same goes for math and science (source: State Department of Education).

The State Department of Education’s 2007 annual report showed an increase in student achievement on state tests and growth in the number of students taking advanced course, designed to help prepare students for the rigors of college.

 To learn about achievement at a specific school or district, search the Iowa Department of Education’s school database. The department also offers resources for parents that provide school, curriculum, college-planning, and job search help. 

All of which adds up to not just a “foundation in education” but a solid structure as well.

Learn more:

• Colleges & universities
• K-12 education

 Your turn: What else is great about Iowa eduction? Comment on this page.