Catholic schools in Iowa
91 statewide. 79 are on the state’s Students First ESA list. Parochial, diocesan and independent Catholic schools.
Catholic schools in Iowa at a glance
- Share of the state’s private schools
- 33%, 91 of 274
- Towns
- 59; the most in Cedar Rapids (7), Sioux City (6) and Dubuque (5)
- Counties
- 41 with at least one
- Students
- about 27,154 in all; the typical school has 214
- Smallest and largest
- All Saints Catholic School, 18 students; Holy Family Catholic Schools, 1,649 students
- Students per teacher
- 12.2 typical, 4.6 to 32.2 across 90 schools
- Co-ed or single-sex
- all co-ed
- Association members
- 75, most often the National Catholic Educational Association
- To a 4-year college
- 83% of graduates at the typical high school (26 reporting)
- State program
- Education savings account, $8,148 per student for 2026-27
How Students First ESA works
- Pre-K (and up)69
- Elementary (K to 5)82
- Middle (6 to 8)68
- High school (9 to 12)26
- K to 12, one school19
- Under 507
- 50 to 14924
- 150 to 29928
- 300 to 59925
- 600 or more7
- Catholic schools87%
- All private schools in Iowa89%
Lowest$8,075Middle$8,703Highest$16,272
Where these facts come from
- Grades, size, affiliation, co-ed, membership, college-going: NCES Private School Universe Survey 2023-24, downloaded September 20, 2026.
- Program list: Iowa Students First Education Savings Account schools, list read October 26, 2026, checked November 4, 2026.
- Award and rules: Iowa Students First Education Savings Account, official page, read October 11, 2026.
- Tuition for 6 schools: each school’s own website, last read October 5, 2026.
By city
- Catholic schools in Cedar Rapids (7)
- Catholic schools in Gilbertville (7)
- Catholic schools in Ankeny (6)
- Catholic schools in Sioux City (6)
- Catholic schools in Cedar Falls (5)
- Catholic schools in Dubuque (5)
- Catholic schools in Waterloo (5)
- Catholic schools in Davenport (4)
- Catholic schools in Des Moines (4)
- Catholic schools in Dyersville (4)
- Catholic schools in West Des Moines (4)
- Catholic schools in Remsen (3)
The 40 largest
Other kinds of school in Iowa
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