Christian schools in Iowa
64 statewide. 56 are on the state’s Students First ESA list. Protestant and nondenominational Christian schools, going by the affiliation each school gave the federal survey (for schools new since then in Florida, the state’s private school directory).
Christian schools in Iowa at a glance
- Share of the state’s private schools
- 23%, 64 of 274
- Towns
- 51; the most in Des Moines (5), Fort Dodge (3) and Hull (2)
- Counties
- 35 with at least one
- Students
- about 10,576 in all; the typical school has 96
- Smallest and largest
- Dallas Center Christian School, 13 students; Ignite Christian Academy, 2,257 students
- Students per teacher
- 9.3 typical, 2 to 20.2 across 59 schools
- Co-ed or single-sex
- all co-ed
- Association members
- 13, most often the Association of Christian Schools International
- To a 4-year college
- 50% of graduates at the typical high school (24 reporting)
- State program
- Education savings account, $8,148 per student for 2026-27
How Students First ESA works
- Pre-K (and up)35
- Elementary (K to 5)59
- Middle (6 to 8)56
- High school (9 to 12)28
- K to 12, one school18
- Under 5015
- 50 to 14926
- 150 to 2999
- 300 to 5999
- 600 or more1
- Christian schools88%
- All private schools in Iowa89%
Lowest$9,153Middle$10,300Highest$12,275
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 7 schools: each school’s own website, last read October 11, 2026.
The 40 largest
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