Iowa Schools Have Slipped, But the Ranking Depends on the Metric

There is a particular weight to a claim made on the campaign trail—a weight made heavier when the claim is about something as consequential as the quality of a state's public schools, and heavier still when the facts do not fully support the rhetoric. In Iowa, Democrat Rob Sand, the state auditor running for governor, has said in a campaign ad that Iowa once had "the best public schools in the country" and is now "in the bottom half." PolitiFact, partnering with The Daily Iowan, examined the claim and found it to be partially accurate—but not entirely .

The first part of Sand's claim—that Iowa once had the best public schools—is an overstatement, though not without basis. There is no clear data that ranked Iowa's schools as the best overall. However, Iowa students did achieve top ranks in some subjects in the 1990s, when Sand attended school. Iowa tied for the top state in eighth-grade math in 1992 and 1996, and its fourth-grade math was second in the nation in 1992. In different years in the '90s, Iowa's fourth-grade reading and math scores were 11 points above the national average . So Iowa was among the best, but never the clear overall leader.

The second part of the claim—that Iowa is now "in the bottom half"—depends on which ranking you consult. In 2017, the first year U.S. News and World Report ranked K-12 public education, Iowa placed sixth in the nation. That rank has fallen since. Iowa ranked 26th nationally for K-12 in 2026 by that metric—about average, but not in the bottom half . However, the Network for Public Education, a public education advocacy organization, gave Iowa a "D" in its 2026 report card, receiving 47 out of 100 possible points. That ranking places Iowa 19th from the bottom, based on metrics including privatization, school funding, and conditions for teaching and learning .

Other data points complicate the picture further. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2026 report, Iowa ranked 27th overall in education. In 2024, 70 percent of fourth graders were not proficient in reading, compared to 66 percent in 2019. Eighth-grade math proficiency worsened from 67 percent not proficient in 2019 to 73 percent in 2024 . Iowa also spends $17,804 per pupil, placing it 34th in the nation in K-12 education funding and 35th in spending .

Sand's campaign says he wants to get back to having the best public schools, and he has criticized the state's Education Savings Account program, calling for annual audits and income eligibility limits. He has said Iowa's public schools have been underfunded to favor private school vouchers . The claim that Iowa was once the best is a simplification, and the claim that it is now in the bottom half depends on which metric you choose. The broader point—that Iowa's schools have slipped from their previous standing—is supported by multiple measures. PolitiFact rated the statement "Half True" .

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Sources: PolitiFact, The Daily Iowan, KCCI, Annie E. Casey Foundation, U.S. News and World Report