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Very Good

#37 of 157 private schools in IA

Top 23% of private schools

Willowwind School

Elementary School

950 DOVER ST, Iowa City, IA 52245

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on 16 schools in Iowa City. Learn more

Enrollment

75

Student-Teacher

8.7:1

Score

7.1

Grades

Pre-K – 6th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In Iowa City

#2 of 4

public schools

Iowa elementary schools

#24 of 103

About Willowwind School

Willowwind School serves 75 students in prekindergarten through sixth grade in Iowa City, offering an intimate learning environment with an exceptional 8.7:1 student-teacher ratio. This small elementary school benefits from having 9 full-time equivalent teachers, ensuring personalized attention for each child. The school has earned recognition for its quality education, ranking 47th out of 157 elementary schools statewide and placing in the 71st percentile.

With a MySchoolScout rating of 7.8 out of 10, Willowwind demonstrates solid academic performance within Iowa's educational landscape. Located on Dover Street, the school serves families in a well-educated community where 68% of residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher. The surrounding neighborhood reflects typical Iowa City demographics, with a median household income of $75,455 and median home values around $279,300.

The area's 18.8% poverty rate indicates economic diversity among the 22,000 residents in the zip code. The small size of Willowwind School creates opportunities for close-knit relationships between students, families, and staff, fostering a community-oriented educational experience. Situated in Iowa City's small-city setting, the school benefits from the cultural and educational resources that come with being part of a vibrant university community.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 75 students, Willowwind 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 8.7:1, Willowwind 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, Willowwind 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.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$22,146
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$25,657
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.16x — Strong
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
93%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$2.8M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 75 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Willowwind School compares to 13 public schools serving similar grades in Iowa City, IA

Student-Teacher Ratio
8.7:1
This School
vs
13.7:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
75
This School
vs
333
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.1
This School
vs
6.0
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 84% vs 0%
Hispanic 5.3% vs 0%
Black 4% vs 0%
Asian 1.3% vs 0%
Willowwind School Iowa City Public Avg

Nearby Elementary Schools

School Rating
Willowwind School (this school) 7.1
Robert Lucas Elementary School 5.3
Helen Lemme Elementary School 4.8
Mark Twain Elementary 7.2
Longfellow Elementary School 4.6
Grant Wood Elementary School 6.1
Herbert Hoover Elementary School 7.6
Horace Mann Elementary School 8.3
ICCSD PK-12 Online Learning Program 5.4
Alexander Elementary 7.0
Bohumil Shimek Elementary School 5.9
Lincoln Elementary School 4.7
Ernest Horn Elementary School 6.7
Weber Elementary 4.6

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- 8.3 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 8.7:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
B+ 6.5 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,232
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B+ 7.4 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 29%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
B- 4.8 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 75
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

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 84.0%
Hispanic 5.3%
Two or More 5.3%
Black 4.0%
Asian 1.3%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

950 DOVER ST, Iowa City, IA 52245

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Willowwind School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Horace Mann Elementary School (rated 8.3/10, 2.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Herbert Hoover Elementary School (rated 7.6/10, 1.4 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Mark Twain Elementary (rated 7.2/10, 1.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Iowa City, see our Iowa City schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.5 mi
School Distance Rating
Robert Lucas Elementary School Iowa City 0.1 mi 5.3
Southeast Junior High School Iowa City 0.5 mi 5.5
Elizabeth Tate Alt. High School Iowa City 0.7 mi 5.1
Helen Lemme Elementary School Iowa City 0.8 mi 4.8
Iowa City High School Iowa City 0.9 mi 6.7
REGINA CATHOLIC EDUCATION CENTER Iowa City 1.2 mi 6.5
REGINA CATHOLIC EDUCATION CENTER Iowa City 1.2 mi 6.4
Grant Wood Elementary School Iowa City 1.3 mi 6.1
Mark Twain Elementary Iowa City 1.2 mi 7.2
Longfellow Elementary School Iowa City 1.3 mi 4.6
Herbert Hoover Elementary School Iowa City 1.4 mi 7.6
FAITH ACADEMY Iowa City 1.6 mi 7.2
ICCSD PK-12 Online Learning Program Iowa City 2.1 mi 5.4
Alexander Elementary Iowa City 2.2 mi 7.0
Horace Mann Elementary School Iowa City 2.0 mi 8.3
Bohumil Shimek Elementary School Iowa City 2.6 mi 5.9
Lincoln Elementary School Iowa City 3.2 mi 4.7
Ernest Horn Elementary School Iowa City 3.6 mi 6.7
Central Elementary School Coralville 4.4 mi 6.1
West Senior High School Iowa City 4.5 mi 7.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 52245 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$75,876

Median Home Value

$293,300

Median Rent

$1,215/mo

Population

22,765

College Educated

68.3%

Homeownership

57.7%

Avg Commute

17.5 min

Poverty Rate

20.9%

Median Age

31.3

Community Profile

The community surrounding Willowwind School has a median household income of $75,876. It is a well-educated community where 68% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $293,300, with a median rent of $1,215/month. The area has a poverty rate of 20.9%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 18 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
IRETON CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS Ireton, IA 7.1
KEOKUK CATHOLIC SCHOOLS Keokuk, IA 7.0
SHELBY COUNTY CATHOLIC SCHOOL Harlan, IA 7.0
SHELDON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Sheldon, IA 7.0
FAITH ACADEMY Iowa City, IA 7.2
Olin Elementary School Olin, IA 7.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Willowwind School

What grades does Willowwind School serve?

Willowwind School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.

How many students attend Willowwind School?

Willowwind School has an enrollment of approximately 75 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Willowwind School?

The student-teacher ratio at Willowwind School is 8.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Willowwind School rank in IA?

Willowwind School is ranked #37 out of 157 private schools in IA.

What is Willowwind School's MySchoolScout rating?

Willowwind School has a composite rating of 7.1 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.

Is Willowwind School a private school?

Yes, Willowwind 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 Willowwind School a religious school?

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

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
59 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
28 Some Transit
Bike Score
65 Bikeable
City Safety
High (2,000/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
75
Gender Split
56% M / 44% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
8.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
9
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
7 hours
Days Per Year
176 days
Setting
Small City
County
JOHNSON
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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