Best Public Schools in Underwood, IA

The city of Underwood, Iowa is home to three exceptional public schools that serve students from elementary through high school: Underwood Elementary School, Underwood High School, and Underwood Middle School. These schools, which are part of the Underwood Community School District, consistently rank among the top in the state, with Underwood Elementary and Underwood High School standing out as particularly exceptional institutions.

Underwood Elementary School is ranked 55th out of 557 Iowa elementary schools and has a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school boasts consistently high test scores, with 78.7% or more of 3rd-5th graders proficient or better in ELA and 85.7% or more proficient or better in Math. Underwood High School, ranked 36th out of 338 Iowa high schools, also shines with exceptional ELA test scores, with 84.5% or more of 9th-11th graders proficient or better. The high school also performs strongly in Math and Science, with 78.6% or more of 10th and 11th graders proficient or better.

While the schools have a predominantly white student population, there is some racial diversity, particularly at the high school level with nearly 5% Hispanic students. The relatively low free/reduced lunch rates (under 20% at all schools) indicate a relatively affluent student population, which may contribute to the strong academic performance. The higher spending per student at the high school level ($13,963) compared to the middle school ($10,797) suggests a prioritization of resources for the upper grades, and the low student-teacher ratios, ranging from 14.0 at the high school to 16.7 at the middle school, may enable more personalized attention and support for students.