6.2 avg / 10

Best Schools in Council Bluffs, Iowa

19 schools · 11 Elementary · 3 Middle · 3 High · 2 Other

Last updated: May 2026

Public: 17

Private: 2

Districts: 2

Avg Rating: 6.2/10

Estimated Scores: 11%

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 6.2/10
Median household income: $67,689
Median home value: $196,500
Bachelor's degree or higher: 23%
Avg commute: 19 min
Owner-occupied homes: 67%

How Council Bluffs compares

Iowa rank

#92 of 175

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.1

below Iowa avg (6.3)

Median household income

$68k

89% of Iowa median

Schools in this city

18

About Schools in Council Bluffs, Iowa

Council Bluffs, Iowa is home to 19 schools, including 17 public schools and 2 private schools. The city's schools span 11 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools.

With an average rating of 6.2 out of 10, schools in Council Bluffs show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which measures academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

The highest-performing school in Council Bluffs is Edison Elementary School with a composite score of 8.0/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Council Bluffs is served by 2 school districts: Council Bluffs Comm School District, Lewis Central Comm School District. These districts collectively serve 11,692 students.

Council Bluffs's community shows 23% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $67,689. The poverty rate in the area is 11.8%.

Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.

Filter by Level: All Levels (19) Elementary (11) Middle (3) High (3)

Filter by Type: All Types (19) Public (17) Private (2)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (19) Academics (19) Growth (16) Diversity (16) Resources (17)

Filter by ZIP: 51503 (10) 51501 (9)

Elementary Schools

11 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Edison Elementary School 384 students · Pre-K–5th	384	Pre-K–5th	8.0
2	Hoover Elementary School 406 students · Pre-K–5th	406	Pre-K–5th	7.9
3	Bloomer Elementary School 427 students · Pre-K–5th	427	Pre-K–5th	7.7
4	College View Elementary 470 students · Pre-K–5th	470	Pre-K–5th	7.7
5	Roosevelt Elementary School 451 students · Pre-K–5th	451	Pre-K–5th	7.2
6	Franklin Elementary School 454 students · Pre-K–5th	454	Pre-K–5th	6.8
7	Lewis & Clark Elementary School 288 students · Pre-K–5th	288	Pre-K–5th	6.8
8	Longfellow Elementary School 462 students · Pre-K–5th	462	Pre-K–5th	6.0
9	Titan Hill Intermediate School 910 students · 2nd–5th	910	2nd–5th	5.7
10	E A Kreft Primary School 504 students · Pre-K–1st	504	Pre-K–1st	5.1
11	Rue Elementary School 356 students · Pre-K–5th	356	Pre-K–5th	4.7

Middle Schools

3 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Gerald W Kirn Middle School 914 students · 6th–8th	914	6th–8th	6.7
2	Lewis Central Middle School 730 students · 6th–8th	730	6th–8th	6.6
3	Woodrow Wilson Middle School 866 students · 6th–8th	866	6th–8th	6.0

High Schools

3 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Abraham Lincoln High School 1,358 students · 9th–12th	1,358	9th–12th	5.3
2	Lewis Central Senior High School 1,002 students · 9th–12th	1,002	9th–12th	4.4
3	Thomas Jefferson High School 1,206 students · 9th–12th	1,206	9th–12th	3.9

Other Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	ST ALBERT CATHOLIC Private 556 students · Pre-K–12th	556	Pre-K–12th	Not Rated
2	ONESCHOOL GLOBAL Private 22 students · 3rd–12th	22	3rd–12th	Not Rated

Schools in Council Bluffs

Council Bluffs, Iowa · 19 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes

Median Income

$67,689

Median Home Value

$196,500

Median Rent

$981/mo

Population

72,339

College Educated

23%

Homeownership

67%

Avg Commute

19 min

Poverty Rate

11.8%

Community Profile

Council Bluffs has a median household income of $67,689. It is a community where 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $196,500, with a median rent of $981/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.8%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 19 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Quick Facts

State: Iowa
Total Schools: 19
Elementary: 11
Middle: 3
High: 3
Districts: 2
Avg Rating: 6.2/10

Resources

🔍 Google "Council Bluffs schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Council Bluffs 📊 Niche Council Bluffs Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School Districts (2)

Council Bluffs Comm School District

15 schools · 8,546 students

Lewis Central Comm School District

4 schools · 3,146 students

Nearby Cities

Carter Lake (1 school)

4 mi

Underwood (3 schools)

Missouri Valley (3 schools)

Shenandoah (1 school)

42 mi

Other Major Cities in Iowa

Top metros statewide by school count.

Des Moines 77 schools Cedar Rapids 52 schools Sioux City 29 schools Davenport 28 schools Dubuque 23 schools

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Council Bluffs, Iowa

How many schools are in Council Bluffs, Iowa?

Council Bluffs has 19 schools, including 17 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Council Bluffs, Iowa?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Council Bluffs is 6.2 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

What is the top-ranked school in Council Bluffs, Iowa?

The top-ranked school in Council Bluffs on MySchoolScout is Edison Elementary School with a composite score of 8.0/10.

What is the best elementary school in Council Bluffs, Iowa?

The top-ranked elementary school in Council Bluffs on MySchoolScout is Edison Elementary School with a composite score of 8.0/10.

What is the best middle school in Council Bluffs, Iowa?

The top-ranked middle school in Council Bluffs on MySchoolScout is Gerald W Kirn Middle School with a composite score of 6.7/10.

What is the best high school in Council Bluffs, Iowa?

The top-ranked high school in Council Bluffs on MySchoolScout is Abraham Lincoln High School with a composite score of 5.3/10.

How many school districts serve Council Bluffs, Iowa?

Council Bluffs is served by 2 school districts: Council Bluffs Comm School District, Lewis Central Comm School District.

What is the education level in Council Bluffs, Iowa?

According to Census data, 23% of adults in Council Bluffs have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Council Bluffs, Iowa?

The median household income in Council Bluffs is approximately $67,689 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Council Bluffs, Iowa?

Yes, Council Bluffs has 2 private schools alongside 17 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Albert Catholic with a score of 5.9/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Council Bluffs, Iowa?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Council Bluffs is 14.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Council Bluffs, Iowa?

MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.