Press Release

February 11, 2025

Contact: Sam Stockwell
samuel_stockwell@gse.harvard.edu
617.495.0342

Iowa Ranked 24th Among States in Math Recovery and 16th in Reading Between 2019 and 2024

Students in Iowa remain almost half a grade level behind 2019 levels on average in math and close to 40% of a grade level behind in reading.

Chronic absenteeism has risen sharply in Iowa, from 13% of students in 2019 to 26% in 2022, significantly slowing recovery efforts in some districts.

(February 11, 2025) In its third year of reporting on the pace of academic recovery measures in districts nationwide, the Education Recovery Scorecard (a collaboration between the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University and The Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University) is issuing its annual report on district-level student growth in math and reading.

The latest report also provides the first high resolution picture of where Iowa students’ academic recovery stood in Spring 2024, just before federal relief dollars expired in September. While the National Assessment of Educational Progress described changes in average achievement by state, we combine those scores with district scores on state assessments to describe the change in local communities throughout Iowa. Here’s what we found:

  • Iowa ranked 24th among states in terms of recovery in math and 16th in reading between 2019 and 2024, yet in the period between 2022 and 2024, the state ranked last in the nation in math recovery and 28th in reading.
  • Students in Iowa remain almost half a grade level behind 2019 levels on average in math (.45 grade equivalents) and close to 40% of a grade level behind in reading (.39 grade level equivalents). In other words, the loss in math achievement in Iowa is greater than 45 percent of the progress students typically make annually between grades 4 through grade 8.
  • The average student in some districts, such as Ankeny, Waukee, Johnston, Iowa City, and Davenport remains at least a grade equivalent below their 2019 mean achievement in math; the same is true for reading in Waukee, Bettendorf, and Cedar Rapids.
  • Reading and math are both concerns in Iowa, as 82% percent of students are in districts whose average math achievement in 2024 remained below their own 2019 levels and 87% are in districts whose average reading achievement in 2024 remained below their own 2019 levels, reflecting a national trend. Nationally, 85 percent of students are in districts below 2019 levels in math, with only 15 percent above. Similarly, 89 percent of students are in districts below 2019 levels in reading, with only 11 percent above.
  • Still, there are bright spots: mean achievement has recovered to 2019 levels for students in College Community and Waterloo Community (in math) and Pleasant Valley Community (in reading).
  • A sharp rise in chronic absenteeism (students missing more than 10 percent of a school year) from 13% percent of students in 2019 before the pandemic to 26% percent in 2022 (now down to 22% in 2024) is slowing the recovery in many districts in Iowa.
  • Iowa received nearly $1.2 billion in federal pandemic relief for K-12 schools—or roughly $2,300 per student—which is less than the national average of $3700 per student. Nationally, our analysis suggests that the dollars did contribute to the academic recovery, especially when targeted at academic catch-up efforts such as summer learning and tutoring.

The federal pandemic relief dollars may be gone, but the pandemic’s impact lingers in many Iowa schools. Even without federal relief dollars, states could be targeting continuing federal Title I dollars and state dollars to implement interventions which have been shown effective, such as tutoring and summer learning.  State leaders, mayors, employers and other community leaders should join schools to redouble efforts on the shared challenge of reducing student absenteeism.

One of the project leaders, Professor Tom Kane at Harvard, said:  “Tackling absenteeism is one of the few things that mayors, employers and other community leaders can do to help students recover.”

For the national press release and findings click here.

About the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University 

The Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University, based at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, seeks to transform education through quality research and evidence. CEPR and its partners believe all students will learn and thrive when education leaders make decisions using facts and findings, rather than untested assumptions. Learn more at cepr.harvard.edu.

Contact: Sam Stockwell, samuel_stockwell@gse.harvard.edu, (617) 495-0342

District Fact Sheets

Statewide Data
Download
North Fayette Valley Community School District - 1900006
Download
Colfax Mingo Community School District - 1900009
Download
Sibley Ocheyedan Community School District - 1900015
Download
Okoboji Community School District - 1900021
Download
Union Community School District - 1900022
Download
Sioux Central Community School District - 1900023
Download
South Central Calhoun Community School District - 1900024
Download
Panorama Community School District - 1900025
Download
South O Brien Community School District - 1900026
Download
Riverside Community School District - 1900027
Download
East Marshall Community School District - 1900040
Download
Gmg Community School District - 1900060
Download
Agwsr Community School District - 1903060
Download
Adair Casey Community School District - 1903090
Download
Adel Desoto Minburn Community School District - 1903150
Download
Akron Westfield Community School District - 1903220
Download
Albia Community School District - 1903270
Download
Alburnett Community School District - 1903300
Download
Algona Community School District - 1903360
Download
Allamakee Community School District - 1903390
Download
North Butler Community School District - 1903450
Download
Alta Aurelia Community School District - 1903480
Download
Ames Community School District - 1903540
Download
Anamosa Community School District - 1903570
Download
Ankeny Community School District - 1903690
Download
Aplington Parkersburg Community School District - 1903750
Download
Atlantic Community School District - 1903930
Download
Audubon Community School District - 1903960
Download
Ahstw Community School District - 1904080
Download
Ballard Community School District - 1904200
Download
Baxter Community School District - 1904380
Download
Bcluw Community School District - 1904440
Download
Bedford Community School District - 1904560
Download
Belle Plaine Community School District - 1904620
Download
Bellevue Community School District - 1904650
Download
Belmond Klemme Community School District - 1904680
Download
Benton Community School District - 1904830
Download
Bettendorf Community School District - 1904860
Download
Eddyville Blakesburg Fremont Csd - 1904950
Download
Bondurant Farrar Community School District - 1905070
Download
Boone Community School District - 1905130
Download
Boyden Hull Community School District - 1905190
Download
West Hancock Community School District - 1905430
Download
Brooklyn Guernsey Malcom Community School District - 1905490
Download
North Iowa Community School District - 1905750
Download
Burlington Community School District - 1905790
Download
Cam Community School District - 1905940
Download
Calamus Wheatland Community School District - 1906000
Download
Camanche Community School District - 1906060
Download
Cardinal Community School District - 1906240
Download
Carlisle Community School District - 1906270
Download
Carroll Community School District - 1906330
Download
Cedar Falls Community School District - 1906510
Download
Cedar Rapids Community School District - 1906540
Download
Center Point Urbana Community School District - 1906660
Download
Centerville Community School District - 1906750
Download
Central City Community School District - 1906780
Download
Central Dewitt School District - 1906810
Download
Central Community School District - 1906840
Download
Central Decatur Community School District - 1906900
Download
Central Lee Community School District - 1906930
Download
Central Lyon Community School District - 1906960
Download
Chariton Community School District - 1907050
Download
Charles City Community School District - 1907080
Download
Cherokee Community School District - 1907170
Download
Clarinda Community School District - 1907350
Download
Clarion Goldfield Dows Community School District - 1907380
Download
Clarke Community School District - 1907410
Download
Clarksville Community School District - 1907440
Download
Clear Creek Amana Community School District - 1907590
Download
Clear Lake Community School District - 1907620
Download
Clinton Community School District - 1907710
Download
College Community School District - 1907860
Download
Collins Maxwell Community School District - 1907900
Download
Colo Nesco Community School District - 1907920
Download
Columbus Community School District - 1907980
Download
Coon Rapids Bayard Community School District - 1908070
Download
Council Bluffs Community School District - 1908220
Download
Creston Community School District - 1908310
Download
Dallas Center Grimes Community School District - 1908520
Download
Danville Community School District - 1908550
Download
Davenport Community School District - 1908580
Download
Davis County Community School District - 1908610
Download
Decorah Community School District - 1908730
Download
Denison Community School District - 1908910
Download
Denver Community School District - 1908940
Download
Dike New Hartford Community School District - 1909120
Download
Dubuque Community School District - 1909480
Download
Dunkerton Community School District - 1909540
Download
Boyer Valley Community School District - 1909570
Download
Durant Community School District - 1909600
Download
Eagle Grove Community School District - 1909990
Download
Earlham Community School District - 1910050
Download
East Buchanan Community School District - 1910110
Download
Easton Valley Community School District - 1910130
Download
East Union Community School District - 1910350
Download
Eastern Allamakee Community School District - 1910410
Download
Edgewood Colesburg Community School District - 1910500
Download
Emmetsburg Community School District - 1910950
Download
English Valleys Community School District - 1910980
Download
Estherville Lincoln Central Community School District - 1911070
Download
Exira Elk Horn Kimballton Community School District - 1911250
Download
Fairfield Community School District - 1911340
Download
Forest City Community School District - 1911790
Download
Fort Dodge Community School District - 1911820
Download
Fort Madison Community School District - 1911850
Download
Fremont Mills Community School District - 1912120
Download
Garner Hayfield Ventura Community School District - 1912330
Download
Gilbert Community School District - 1912510
Download
Gladbrook Reinbeck Community School District - 1912660
Download
Glenwood Community School District - 1912690
Download
Glidden Ralston Community School District - 1912750
Download
Nodaway Valley Community School District - 1913110
Download
Grinnell Newburg Community School District - 1913200
Download
Griswold Community School District - 1913230
Download
Grundy Center Community School District - 1913290
Download
Clayton Ridge Community School District - 1913350
Download
H L V Community School District - 1913380
Download
Hampton Dumont Community School District - 1913470
Download
Harlan Community School District - 1913500
Download
Hartley Melvin Sanborn Community School District - 1913660
Download
Highland Community School District - 1914010
Download
Hinton Community School District - 1914160
Download
Howard Winneshiek Community School District - 1914280
Download
Hubbard Radcliffe Community School District - 1914310
Download
Hudson Community School District - 1914340
Download
Humboldt Community School District - 1914370
Download
Independence Community School District - 1914580
Download
Indianola Community School District - 1914640
Download
Interstate 35 Community School District - 1914670
Download
Iowa City Community School District - 1914700
Download
Iowa Falls Community School District - 1914730
Download
Iowa Valley Community School District - 1914850
Download
Ikm Manning Community School District - 1914880
Download
Janesville Consolidated School District - 1915180
Download
Greene County Community School District - 1915210
Download
Jesup Community School District - 1915330
Download
Johnston Community School District - 1915450
Download
Keokuk Community School District - 1915630
Download
Kingsley Pierson Community School District - 1915750
Download
Knoxville Community School District - 1915840
Download
Lake Mills Community School District - 1916110
Download
Harris Lake Park Community School District - 1916140
Download
Lamoni Community School District - 1916320
Download
Lawton Bronson Community School District - 1916440
Download
Le Mars Community School District - 1916530
Download
Lenox Community School District - 1916620
Download
Lewis Central Community School District - 1916680
Download
North Cedar Community School District - 1917100
Download
Linn Mar Community School District - 1917220
Download
Lisbon Community School District - 1917250
Download
Logan Magnolia Community School District - 1917460
Download
Lone Tree Community School District - 1917550
Download
Louisa Muscatine Community School District - 1917820
Download
Lynnville Sully Community School District - 1918030
Download
Mfl Marmac Community School District - 1918120
Download
Madrid Community School District - 1918180
Download
East Mills Community School District - 1918240
Download
Manson Northwest Webster Community School District - 1918330
Download
Maple Valley Anthon Oto Community School District - 1918480
Download
Maquoketa Community School District - 1918510
Download
Maquoketa Valley Community School District - 1918540
Download
Marion Independent School District - 1918690
Download
Marshalltown Community School District - 1918720
Download
Martensdale St Marys Community School District - 1918750
Download
Mason City Community School District - 1918780
Download
Moc Floyd Valley Community School District - 1918840
Download
Mediapolis Community School District - 1918930
Download
Melcher Dallas Community School District - 1918960
Download
Mid Prairie Community School District - 1919140
Download
Midland Community School District - 1919200
Download
Missouri Valley Community School District - 1919440
Download
Montezuma Community School District - 1919590
Download
Monticello Community School District - 1919650
Download
Moravia Community School District - 1919710
Download
Mount Ayr Community School District - 1919860
Download
Mount Pleasant Community School District - 1919890
Download
Mount Vernon Community School District - 1920040
Download
Muscatine Community School District - 1920130
Download
Nashua Plainfield Community School District - 1920190
Download
Nevada Community School District - 1920250
Download
New Hampton Community School District - 1920340
Download
New London Community School District - 1920460
Download
Newell Fonda Community School District - 1920580
Download
Newton Community School District - 1920610
Download
Central Springs Community School District - 1920760
Download
North Linn Community School District - 1920820
Download
North Kossuth Community School District - 1920830
Download
North Mahaska Community School District - 1920850
Download
North Polk Community School District - 1920910
Download
North Scott Community School District - 1920940
Download
North Tama County Community School District - 1921000
Download
Northeast Community School District - 1921090
Download
Northwood Kensett Community School District - 1921210
Download
Norwalk Community School District - 1921240
Download
Odebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove Community School District - 1921600
Download
Oelwein Community School District - 1921630
Download
Ogden Community School District - 1921660
Download
Osage Community School District - 1921840
Download
Oskaloosa Community School District - 1921870
Download
Ottumwa Community School District - 1922110
Download
Pekin Community School District - 1922440
Download
Pella Community School District - 1922470
Download
Pleasant Valley Community School District - 1923110
Download
Pleasantville Community School District - 1923160
Download
Pocahontas Area Community School District - 1923190
Download
Red Oak Community School District - 1924000
Download
Remsen Union Community School District - 1924120
Download
Riceville Community School District - 1924150
Download
Rock Valley Community School District - 1924660
Download
Roland Story Community School District - 1924870
Download
Rudd Rockford Marble Rk Community School District - 1924960
Download
St Ansgar Community School District - 1925200
Download
Saydel Community School District - 1925320
Download
Schaller Crestland Community School District - 1925380
Download
Sergeant Bluff Luton Community School District - 1925590
Download
West Fork Community School District - 1925920
Download
Sheldon Community School District - 1925980
Download
Shenandoah Community School District - 1926070
Download
Sidney Community School District - 1926250
Download
Sigourney Community School District - 1926280
Download
Sioux Center Community School District - 1926370
Download
Sioux City Community School District - 1926400
Download
Solon Community School District - 1926580
Download
South Hamilton Community School District - 1926640
Download
South Tama County - 1926730
Download
South Winneshiek Community School District - 1926790
Download
Southeast Polk Community School District - 1926820
Download
Southeast Warren Community School District - 1926850
Download
Spencer Community School District - 1926910
Download
Spirit Lake Community School District - 1927000
Download
Springville Community School District - 1927060
Download
Stanton Community School District - 1927240
Download
Starmont Community School District - 1927270
Download
West Central Valley Community School District - 1927500
Download
Sumner Fredericksburg Community School District - 1927600
Download
Tipton Community School District - 1927870
Download
Treynor Community School District - 1927960
Download
Tri Center Community School District - 1927990
Download
Tripoli Community School District - 1928050
Download
Turkey Valley Community School District - 1928110
Download
Twin Cedars Community School District - 1928170
Download
Underwood Community School District - 1928230
Download
Urbandale Community School District - 1928680
Download
Van Buren Community School District - 1928980
Download
Van Meter Community School District - 1929010
Download
Villisca Community School District - 1929280
Download
Vinton Shellsburg Community School District - 1929310
Download
Waco Community School District - 1929490
Download
East Sac County Community School District - 1929580
Download
Wapello Community School District - 1929730
Download
Wapsie Valley Community School District - 1929760
Download
Washington Community School District - 1930240
Download
Waterloo Community School District - 1930480
Download
Waukee Community School District - 1930510
Download
Waverly Shell Rock Community School District - 1930540
Download
Wayne Community School District - 1930560
Download
Webster City Community School District - 1930630
Download
West Bend Mallard Community School District - 1930720
Download
West Branch Community School District - 1930750
Download
West Burlington Ind School District - 1930780
Download
West Central Community School District - 1930870
Download
West Delaware County Community School District - 1930900
Download
West Des Moines Community School District - 1930930
Download
West Liberty Community School District - 1930990
Download
West Lyon Community School District - 1931020
Download
West Marshall Community School District - 1931080
Download
West Monona Community School District - 1931110
Download
West Sioux Community School District - 1931290
Download
Western Dubuque Community School District - 1931350
Download
Westwood Community School District - 1931470
Download
Williamsburg Community School District - 1931680
Download
Wilton Community School District - 1931800
Download
Winfield Mt Union Community School District - 1931830
Download
Winterset Community School District - 1931860
Download
Woodbine Community School District - 1931920
Download
Woodbury Central Community School District - 1931950
Download
Woodward Granger Community School District - 1932010
Download
Pcm Community School District - 1999017
Download
Southeast Webster Grand Community School District - 1999019
Download
No districts matched your search