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B⁻

Schools in University Heights · Iowa City Community School District

University Heights’s public schools outscore 53% of Iowa districts

The grade covers the public school district serving University Heights, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Iowa, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Iowa state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency

72%

▲ 2 pts vs IA 70%

2021–22

Math proficiency

66%

▲ 2 pts vs IA 64%

2021–22

Graduate on time

92%

▲ 4 pts vs IA 88%

class of 2023

Spent per student

$14.1K

▲ 2% vs IA $13.7K

FY2024

Students per teacher

14.0

IA 14.1

Schools in town

8,226 students on the public path

In brief

University Heights’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 181 Iowa towns with household incomes within a quarter of University Heights’s, its schools beat 39%, lower than their 53% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 72% and math 66% in spring 2022, against 70% and 64% statewide; 92% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $14,052 per student, against $13,713 across Iowa (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then three middle and three high schools

Which school depends on the address at the later steps. Enrollment is up 6% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind University Heights’s grade

B⁻ Test scoresB⁻ Graduation

B−: better than 53% of Iowa school districts. Test scores and graduation are both above the Iowa average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

Iowa school districts we grade (326)Better than 53%

Lower resultsHigher results

Iowa towns with similar household incomes (181)Better than 39%

B⁻BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 9,620 test results and a graduating class of 1,038 could put University Heights anywhere from B− to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of University Heights’s students in the tested grades sat them (9,634 in math, 9,605 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve University Heights, with each school’s own grade.

Kindergarten in University Heights

Ernest Horn Elementary School

Grades PK–5 · 453 students · 14:1 students per teacher · in Iowa City

The path, start to finish

PK–5Ernest Horn Elementary SchoolIowa City Community School DistrictC

6–83 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC⁺ to B⁺

9–123 high schoolsDepends on your addressB⁻ to A⁻

University Heights’s public schools are run by Iowa City Community School District, which also serves Coralville, Hills, Iowa City and North Liberty. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Iowa City Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 28 schools · 14,960 students, up 6% since 2020–21 · 14.0 per teacher (IA 14.1)

$14,052IA $13,713 · FY2024

B⁻

Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading72%

State average 69.7% · 9605 students tested

Math66%

State average 63.8% · 9634 students tested

University Heights vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Iowa towns that share University Heights’s borders.

Schools next door

Town	Schools	Main districts
University Heights	B⁻	Iowa City

Every school in University Heights

7 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Iowa’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in University Heightsby address

Ernest Horn Elementary School

Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Iowa City

453 students14:1Rate it →

Also serving University Heightsin other towns

Southeast Middle School

Middle · Grades 6–8 · Iowa City

C⁺

1,269 students15:1Rate it →

Northwest Middle School

Middle · Grades 6–8 · Coralville

B⁻

1,113 students14:1Rate it →

North Central Middle School

Middle · Grades 6–8 · North Liberty

B⁺

925 students15:1Rate it →

Iowa City High School

High · Grades 9–12 · Iowa City

B⁻

1,666 students16:1Rate it →

West Senior High School

High · Grades 9–12 · Iowa City

B⁺

1,514 students16:1Rate it →

Liberty High School

High · Grades 9–12 · North Liberty

A⁻

1,286 students17:1Rate it →

Questions about University Heights’s schools

Are University Heights’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Iowa: the public schools University Heights children attend outscore 53% of Iowa’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 39%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is University Heights in?

Iowa City Community School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 14,960 students in 28 schools (2024–25).

Where do University Heights kids go to high school?

One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Iowa City High School, West Senior High School and Liberty High School.

What is University Heights’s graduation rate?

92% of the class of 2023 in Iowa City Community School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Iowa.

How much does University Heights spend per student?

$14,052 in Iowa City Community School District (FY2024), against $13,713 across Iowa. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What University Heights families are saying about school.

Town Square →

Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near University Heights → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Iowa. Stars are from neighbors.