ChoiceFunded What your state pays

Private schools in Iowa

Students First ESA pays $8,148 per student for 2026-27. Any Iowa K-12 student enrolled in an accredited nonpublic school. The income limit ended in 2025-26.

236 schools listed
39,399 students (2023-24)
179 on the official Students First ESA list
IA
Iowa Students First Education Savings Account Education savings account
$8,148 per student for 2026-27 Paid in two equal installments, fall and spring. Homeschooled students do not qualify.

Figures read from each program’s official pages, 2026-09-20. 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

By city

The number is how many private schools sit within 12 miles.

By kind of school

By county

The largest private schools in Iowa

School City Grades Students Per teacher Affiliation
Ignite Christian Academy Rock Rapids K-12 2,257 41.7 Christian (nondenominational)
Holy Family Catholic Schools Dubuque PreK-12 1,649 13.7 Roman Catholic
Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools Sioux City PreK-12 1,510 13 Roman Catholic
Dowling Catholic High School ✓ West Des Moines 9-12 1,354 14.6 Roman Catholic
Kuemper Catholic Grade School ✓ Carroll PreK-12 1,095 13.4 Roman Catholic
Cedar Valley Catholic School Waterloo PreK-12 733 12.9 Roman Catholic
Cedar Valley Catholic School System Waterloo PreK-12 733 12.9 Roman Catholic
St. Francis of Assisi School ✓ West Des Moines PreK-8 680 15.5 Roman Catholic
St. Albert Catholic Council Bluffs PreK-12 595 14.2 Roman Catholic
Xavier High School ✓ Cedar Rapids 9-12 593 14.5 Roman Catholic
Newman Catholic Elementary School ✓ Mason City K-12 558 13.6 Roman Catholic
St. Edmond Catholic School ✓ Fort Dodge PreK-12 548 10.7 Roman Catholic
Bishop Heelan Catholic High School ✓ Sioux City 9-12 527 13.5 Roman Catholic
Ankeny Christian Academy ✓ Ankeny PreK-12 510 14.7 Christian (nondenominational)
Regina Catholic Elementary School Iowa City K-6 509 17 Roman Catholic

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.

Get one email when applications open

Most programs open once a year, and several ran out of money or seats in 2026. Pick your state and we will email you the day the next window opens, with the official link. That is the only email you get.

One email per application window. No calls, no sharing your details.

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. Homeschooled students do not qualify.

Who can get it?

Any Iowa K-12 student enrolled in an accredited nonpublic school. The income limit ended in 2025-26.

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