Iowa has private schools in its largest cities and in its smallest farm towns. Our directory lists 210 of them, from a Catholic parish school on the southeast side of Cedar Rapids to a Christian school in the Lyon County town of Doon. This page explains who oversees these schools, how metro and rural options differ, and what to do when you need to enroll a child, check a record, or compare tuition.

How Iowa Regulates Private Schools

Iowa has no single office that runs private schools. Each one answers to its own governing body: a parish and diocese, a church board, or an independent nonprofit board. That is why a Catholic school in Dubuque and a Reformed Christian school in Hull can look very different, even though both operate under the same state rules.

At the state level, the Iowa Department of Education in Des Moines is the main agency. Iowa law calls these schools nonpublic schools. A nonpublic school may seek state accreditation, and if it does, it follows the standards in Iowa Administrative Code chapter 12. Those standards cover licensed teachers through the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, a set school calendar, and required areas of instruction. Some schools choose not to seek accreditation. Neither choice is a red flag by itself, but it can change which state programs a school may take part in, so ask the school office directly.

Iowa's compulsory attendance law covers children from age 6 (as of September 15) up to age 16. A family can meet that requirement through a public school, a nonpublic school, or home instruction under Iowa Code chapter 299A. Home instruction is a separate legal path. It is not the same thing as enrolling in a private school, and the two follow different reporting rules.

Health rules apply as well. Schools generally require a certificate of immunization on file, and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services sets the schedule. If your child has a medical or religious exemption, the school will ask for the state exemption form.

Public districts also have a role. Iowa law directs districts to provide bus transportation to eligible nonpublic school students who live inside the district, and Area Education Agencies offer certain special education and media services to nonpublic students. The rules for both have shifted in recent years, so confirm the details with the district's transportation office and with the school before you count on a route.

Metro and Rural Private Schools Across Iowa

In the metro counties, the choice is wider. Polk County has the most listings in our database, spread across Des Moines, West Des Moines and Urbandale. Christ the King School on Wall Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa Christian Academy on Vine Street in West Des Moines, and Des Moines Christian School on Douglas Parkway in Urbandale show the range: parish schools, nonprofit Christian schools, and church-affiliated programs. In Linn County, All Saints School at 720 29th Street Southeast in Cedar Rapids is one of the parish schools families ask about most. Across the Mississippi corridor, Scott County includes All Saints Catholic School in Davenport and Lourdes Catholic School in Bettendorf.

Dubuque County stands out. It ranks second in the state for listings, ahead of several much larger counties. Holy Ghost Elementary School on Central Avenue in Dubuque, Beckman High School in Dyersville, and Seton Catholic School in Farley all appear in our records. That density reflects the long Catholic school tradition in northeast Iowa. Seton Catholic lists a post office box rather than a street address, so call before you drive out for a visit.

Northwest Iowa has its own pattern. Hull Protestant Reformed Christian School at 218 2nd Street in Hull sits in Sioux County, and Doon Christian School at 612 Rice Avenue is just over the line in Lyon County. Christian day schools are common in this corner of the state because of its Dutch Reformed heritage. In Woodbury County, Aspenwood Christian School on Aspenwood Street is listed under the city name Sioux in our records, which refers to the Sioux City area. Waterloo and Cedar Falls in Black Hawk County add Columbus High School and St Patrick School.

In rural Iowa, one private school often serves several towns. Examples include Mayflower Heritage Christian School in Creston, St. Rose of Lima School in Denison, Bishop Garrigan High School in Algona, and Trinity Lutheran School in Boone. Expect longer commutes, smaller classes, and fewer grade levels at a single site. Some schools stop at eighth grade, which means families then choose between the local public high school and a regional private one.

Finding and Contacting a Private School in Iowa

Start with the city or county page, then work through a short checklist. Each listing gives an address and phone number, and the phone is usually the fastest route to an answer.

When you enroll, plan to bring a birth certificate, the immunization certificate, recent report cards, and proof of address. If your child is leaving another school, ask that school to send records directly. Some religious schools also ask for a baptismal or church membership letter, though many do not. Our listings are drawn from public records, and a few entries, such as Harvest Baptist Church in Fort Dodge, are church-run programs. Call first to confirm the school is open and taking students.

Paying for a Private School in Iowa

Tuition varies widely. Parish schools often charge less for member families, and small Christian schools may use sliding scales. Iowa offers several ways to offset the cost, though the rules change, so verify current terms before you rely on them.

Iowa has a tuition and textbook tax credit on the state income tax return. It has historically covered a share of the first $1,000 spent per dependent on tuition and textbooks at a nonpublic school. The Iowa Department of Revenue publishes the current percentage and instructions. Iowa also allows tax credits for donations to approved student tuition organizations, which fund scholarships at private schools.

The Students First Scholarship, launched in 2023, provides state-funded accounts that families can use for private school tuition. The Iowa Department of Education administers it, and eligibility has widened since the first year. A school generally must be approved to accept the funds. Before you apply, ask the school's business office whether it takes part and how the payments are handled.

Private schools in Iowa are licensed and regulated by the state's department of education, which sets minimum standards for safety, curriculum, and accreditation while allowing institutions significant freedom in operations and admissions. Iowa may also offer education savings account or voucher programs that provide public funding assistance to eligible families attending private schools.

Private Schools locations are available in 108 cities across Iowa. They are spread across 60 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration of private schools include Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Sioux, reflecting larger population centers where demand for diverse educational options tends to support a wider range of private school institutions.

Families in Iowa exploring private school options should contact each school's admissions office to request a prospectus, schedule a tour, and learn about financial aid availability, as tuition and assistance programs vary significantly from one institution to the next.

Private Schools by Counties

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Families in Iowa comparing private school options should check each school's accreditation status through the state department of education and request standardized test score data, graduation rates, and college placement outcomes. Many private schools in Iowa hold open house events in the fall that are open to prospective families without an appointment.

Browse Private Schools by county across Iowa to find the nearest location.

Practical Notes for Choosing an Iowa Private School

Timing matters more than most families expect. Many Iowa private schools open enrollment in winter for the following fall, and popular metro schools in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and the Quad Cities can have waitlists for certain grades. Contact the school in January or February if you want a spot in August. Rural schools in towns like Algona, Creston or Denison often have more flexibility, but smaller staffs mean fewer people answering the phone.

Visit in person if you can. Ask to see a classroom in session and to meet the principal. In parish schools, ask how tuition differs for member and non-member families. In Christian schools such as Central Iowa Christian Academy in Marshalltown or Hillside Christian School in Coralville, ask about the statement of faith and what families are expected to sign.

Winter weather is a real factor in Iowa. Ask how the school announces closures and whether it follows the local public district's decisions. Also ask about before-school and after-school care, since farm and shift-work schedules do not always match the school day.

Finally, browse by county. Woodbury County and Sioux County in the northwest corner each have a distinct mix of Catholic and Reformed Christian schools. Burlington Notre Dame Catholic Schools, Keokuk Catholic School, and Montessori Children's House in Council Bluffs show how varied the options are away from the largest cities.

Accreditation is a choice for Iowa nonpublic schools. A school that seeks it follows the standards in Iowa Administrative Code chapter 12 through the Iowa Department of Education, including licensed teachers and a defined school calendar. Other schools operate without accreditation. That is not automatically a problem, but it can affect eligibility for some state programs, such as the Students First Scholarship. The simplest step is to ask the school office whether it is accredited and to request the answer in writing if the status matters to your family.

Iowa law directs public districts to provide transportation to eligible nonpublic school students who live within the district, and many families in Dubuque, Cedar Rapids and Des Moines use it. The details depend on where you live, where the school is, and the district's routes. Contact the transportation office of your home district, not only the private school, and ask early in the summer. If no route fits, some districts offer other arrangements, and some families organize carpools instead.

Possibly. The program began in 2023 and is administered by the Iowa Department of Education. It gives eligible families a state-funded account for private school costs, and eligibility has widened since it started. Not every private school takes part, and a school generally has to meet the program's requirements. Before you apply, ask the school's business office whether it accepts the funds, when payments arrive, and whether you must pay a deposit first. Check the Department of Education for current rules and deadlines.

Iowa has a tuition and textbook credit on the state income tax return. It has historically covered a percentage of the first $1,000 paid per dependent for nonpublic school tuition and textbooks. Iowa also offers tax credits to people who donate to approved student tuition organizations, which then award scholarships. Keep your tuition receipts and ask the school for a statement at year end. The Iowa Department of Revenue publishes the current percentage and the form, so confirm both before you file.

Most schools ask for a birth certificate, a certificate of immunization or an approved exemption form, recent report cards, and proof of address. If your child is transferring, the new school will usually request records directly from the old one. Religious schools may also ask for a church letter or baptismal record, though not all do. Application fees, testing, and family interviews vary by school. Call the office listed in our directory, such as the number for Columbus High School in Waterloo or Des Moines Christian School in Urbandale, and ask for the full enrollment packet.

Polk County leads our database because it holds the Des Moines metro, including West Des Moines and Urbandale. Dubuque County ranks next, which reflects the strong Catholic school tradition of northeast Iowa. Linn, Scott, Black Hawk and Woodbury counties follow, each anchored by a city with several schools. Sioux County stands out for its size, since it has Christian schools in small towns like Hull. Rural counties usually have only one or two private options, so a county page is the quickest way to see what is within driving distance.