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Excellent

#1 of 157 private schools in IA

Top 1% of private schools

Maharishi School

School

804 DR ROBERT KEITH WALLACE DR, Fairfield, IA 52556

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on IA statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

113

Student-Teacher

4.6:1

Score

9.4

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

Iowa schools

#1 of 35

About Maharishi School

Maharishi School serves 113 students from prekindergarten through 12th grade in Fairfield, Iowa, offering an intimate educational environment with an exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 4.6 to 1. With 25 full-time equivalent teachers, students receive highly individualized attention throughout their academic journey. The school earns a solid 7.8 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranks #98 out of 157 schools statewide, placing it in the 38th percentile among Iowa schools.

This regular public school provides a comprehensive K-12 experience in a small-school setting where teachers can develop strong relationships with students and families. The surrounding community in ZIP code 52556 shows a commitment to education, with 45% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher. The area has a median household income of $49,840 and median home values of $149,700, with a poverty rate of 14.7% among the 11,647 residents.

Maharishi School's strength lies in its ability to provide personalized education in an environment where every student is known and supported. The school operates in Fairfield's remote town setting, offering families a close-knit educational community away from urban distractions.

What's said publicly about Maharishi School

Sources: Wikipedia

Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.

Maharishi School is an independent, non-denominational, college preparatory institution located in Fairfield, Iowa, USA 1 . The school was founded in 1974 and received state accreditation in 1986 1 . It is situated on a 10-acre campus within the main campus of the Maharishi University of Management 1 .
Sources (1)
  1. en.wikipedia.org
Generated by AI from public sources. Every claim is grounded in a cited source. Report inaccuracy

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 113 students, Maharishi School is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 4.6:1, Maharishi School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Maharishi School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Maharishi School compares to the 4 public schools in Fairfield, IA

Student-Teacher Ratio
4.6:1
This School
vs
14.5:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
113
This School
vs
364
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
9.4
This School
vs
6.4
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 51.3% vs 0%
Asian 21.2% vs 0%
Hispanic 8.8% vs 0%
Black 7.1% vs 0%
Maharishi School Fairfield Public Avg

All Schools in Fairfield

School Rating
Maharishi School (this school) 9.4
Fairfield High School 5.2
Washington Elementary 6.9
Pence Elementary 6.1
Fairfield Middle School 7.4

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in IA.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A+ 9.9 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 4.6:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A 9.0 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7.2 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,296
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
A+ 9.9 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 67%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.1 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 113
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in IA

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 80.9%
School
State
72.6%
ELA Proficiency 85.9%
School
State
74.5%

Based on 10 test records from IA state assessments. About our data

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 51.3%
Asian 21.2%
Two or More 11.5%
Hispanic 8.8%
Black 7.1%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

804 DR ROBERT KEITH WALLACE DR, Fairfield, IA 52556

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Maharishi School may also want to explore other schools in the area. Salem Elementary School (rated 8.2/10, 21.5 miles away, in nearby Mt. Pleasant), a more accessible option. Another option is Van Buren County Community Middle & High School (rated 8.0/10, 19.7 miles away, in nearby Keosauqua), a more accessible option. Additionally, Sigourney Jr-Sr High Sch (rated 7.6/10, 24.7 miles away, in nearby Sigourney), a more accessible option. For more schools in Fairfield, see our Fairfield schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 24.7 mi
School Distance Rating
Fairfield High School Fairfield 0.8 mi 5.2
Washington Elementary Fairfield 1.0 mi 6.9
Pence Elementary Fairfield 1.3 mi 6.1
SINGING CEDARS SCHOOL Fairfield 1.3 mi
Fairfield Middle School Fairfield 1.5 mi 7.4
Van Buren County Community School District Douds Center Keosauqua 14.1 mi 7.5
Pekin Community Junior/ Senior High School Packwood 14.0 mi 6.7
Pekin Elementary School Packwood 14.0 mi 7.5
PEKIN CHILD CARE CENTER Packwood 14.0 mi
Cardinal High School Eldon 14.6 mi 6.8
Cardinal Junior High Eldon 14.6 mi 6.8
Cardinal Elementary Eldon 14.6 mi 5.0
Van Buren County Community Middle & High School Keosauqua 19.7 mi 8.0
WACO High School Wayland 18.6 mi 6.7
Keota Elementary School Keota 24.5 mi 7.4
Keota High School Keota 24.5 mi 7.2
Van Buren County Community School District Harmony Center Keosauqua 23.6 mi 5.8
Washington High School Washington 23.5 mi 3.5
Salem Elementary School Mt. Pleasant 21.5 mi 8.2
Sigourney Jr-Sr High Sch Sigourney 24.7 mi 7.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 52556 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$55,528

Median Home Value

$168,200

Median Rent

$877/mo

Population

11,586

College Educated

46.4%

Homeownership

60.9%

Avg Commute

12.9 min

Poverty Rate

16%

Median Age

45.9

Community Profile

The community surrounding Maharishi School has a median household income of $55,528. It is a well-educated community where 46% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $168,200, with a median rent of $877/month. The area has a poverty rate of 16.0%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 13 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Maharishi School

What grades does Maharishi School serve?

Maharishi School serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend Maharishi School?

Maharishi School has an enrollment of approximately 113 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Maharishi School?

The student-teacher ratio at Maharishi School is 4.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Maharishi School rank in IA?

Maharishi School is ranked #1 out of 157 private schools in IA.

What is Maharishi School's MySchoolScout rating?

Maharishi School has a composite rating of 9.4 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Maharishi School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Maharishi School has 80.9% math proficiency and 85.9% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Maharishi School a private school?

Yes, Maharishi School is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Maharishi School a religious school?

No, Maharishi School is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
50 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
63 Bikeable
City Safety
Average (627/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Fairfield). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
113
Gender Split
47% M / 53% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
4.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
25
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
7.2 hours
Days Per Year
180 days
Setting
Remote Town
County
JEFFERSON
Data Year
2022–2023

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

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