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Private schools in Iowa

Students First ESA pays $8,148 per student for 2026-27. Any Iowa resident K-12 student enrolled in an accredited nonpublic school. There has been no income limit since 2025-26. Fall tuition and fee payments must be confirmed in the ESA portal by September 30 (for a half-year ESA, tuition and fees must be paid in the portal by January 14, 2027).

274 schools listed
39,326 students (2023-24)
245 on the official Students First ESA list

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Iowa private schools at a glance

Counties with a private school
67 of 99
Town pages
27
Most private schools
Des Moines (20), Cedar Rapids (15) and Dubuque (12)
Typical school
145 students, 10.4 per teacher
Smallest and largest
Main Street School, 12 students; Ignite Christian Academy, 2,257 students
Co-ed or single-sex
1 all-boys
Association members
96, most often the National Catholic Educational Association
To a 4-year college
64% of graduates at the typical high school (56 reporting)
Programs
11 Montessori, 1 special education
Public charter schools
10, tuition-free and not counted here
Charter schools in Iowa

Where these facts come from

What Iowa pays

IA
Iowa Students First Education Savings Account Education savings account
$8,148 per student for 2026-27Paid in two equal installments, fall and spring. New for 2026-27: a half-year ESA of $4,074 for the spring semester. Homeschooled students do not qualify.

Figures read from each program’s official pages, October 11, 2026. Sources and how to apply

41,044 students used an ESA in 2025-26, up from 27,866 the year before. There is no cap.

How Students First ESA works, start to finish

What share of Iowa private schools are on the list, next to other states

Charter schools, private schools and school choice in Iowa, next to other states

By city

Each count: schools in the town or within 6 miles (12 for small towns).

By kind of school

By county

The largest private schools in Iowa

SchoolCityGradesStudentsPer teacherAffiliation
Ignite Christian AcademyRock RapidsK-122,257not reportedChristian (nondenominational)
Holy Family Catholic SchoolsDubuquePreK-121,64913.7Roman Catholic
Bishop Heelan Catholic SchoolsSioux CityPreK-121,51013Roman Catholic
Dowling Catholic High School ✓West Des Moines9-121,35414.6Roman Catholic
Kuemper Catholic Grade School ✓CarrollPreK-121,09513.4Roman Catholic
Cedar Valley Catholic SchoolWaterlooPreK-1273312.9Roman Catholic
Cedar Valley Catholic School SystemWaterlooPreK-1273312.9Roman Catholic
St. Francis of Assisi School ✓West Des MoinesPreK-868015.5Roman Catholic
St. Albert Catholic ✓Council BluffsPreK-1259514.2Roman Catholic
Xavier High School ✓Cedar Rapids9-1259314.5Roman Catholic
Newman Catholic Elementary School ✓Mason CityK-1255813.6Roman Catholic
St. Edmond Catholic School ✓Fort DodgePreK-1254810.7Roman Catholic
Bishop Heelan Catholic High School ✓Sioux City9-1252713.5Roman Catholic
Ankeny Christian Academy ✓AnkenyPreK-1251014.7Christian (nondenominational)
Regina Catholic Elementary School ✓Iowa CityK-650917Roman Catholic

What private school costs in Iowa

Kindergarten to grade 5
$9,153 middle, $8,075 to $16,950 (15 schools)
Grades 6 to 8
$9,415 middle, $8,075 to $16,950 (14 schools)
Grades 9 to 12
$10,100 middle, $8,148 to $16,272 (6 schools)

Prices read on each school’s own website; mostly larger schools so far, so a guide, not an average.

2026-27 prices only, read on each school’s own website, all private schools in Iowa with a verified price for that band. Award from Iowa Department of Education, Education Savings Accounts, read October 9, 2026.

Private school tuition in Iowa, school by school. Tuition in every state.

Run your own numbers

What would you pay?

We filled in the standard Students First ESA amount. Change it if your award letter says something different. An award can never be more than the school actually charges. This is arithmetic, not a quote.

Put the next Students First ESA window in your calendar

Open now, until November 15, 2026 Iowa Students First ESA: 2026-27 half-year ESA application window.

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Questions parents ask

How much does Iowa pay toward private school?

$8,148 per student for 2026-27. Paid in two equal installments, fall and spring. New for 2026-27: a half-year ESA of $4,074 for the spring semester. Homeschooled students do not qualify.

Who can get it?

Any Iowa resident K-12 student enrolled in an accredited nonpublic school. There has been no income limit since 2025-26. Fall tuition and fee payments must be confirmed in the ESA portal by September 30 (for a half-year ESA, tuition and fees must be paid in the portal by January 14, 2027).

Is there still room?

41,044 students used an ESA in 2025-26, up from 27,866 the year before. There is no cap.

How do I know a school takes Students First ESA?

In Iowa an ESA can be used only at an accredited nonpublic school. Schools marked here are on the Iowa Department of Education’s accredited nonpublic school directory for 2026-27, which makes them eligible. The state calls this year’s file preliminary until October.

Pick your city How Students First ESA works