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Best Public Schools in Zip Code 50226

Coming soon: We're expecting this year's test scores from the Iowa Department of Education any day now — new rankings will be posted the moment they're released!

Coming soon: This year's test scores are expected from the Iowa Department of Education any day now — new rankings will follow the moment they're released!

At a glance

Schools

753

Students

Top rankedBig Creek Elementary65^th of 576 Iowa elementary schools

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Summary:

The 50226 zip code area is home to two exceptional elementary schools, North Polk West Elementary School and Big Creek Elementary, which are part of the highly-ranked North Polk Community School District. Both schools have consistently earned top rankings in Iowa, with North Polk West Elementary School achieving a 5-star rating and Big Creek Elementary earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Academically, these schools excel, with a high percentage of students proficient or better in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science compared to district and state averages. For instance, in the 2024-2025 school year, 85.6% of 3rd graders at Big Creek Elementary were proficient or better in ELA, surpassing the district's 83.2% and the state's 67.9%. Both schools also maintain low chronic absenteeism rates and efficient student-teacher ratios, suggesting a strong commitment to student success.

While North Polk West Elementary School has a slightly lower percentage of free/reduced lunch recipients, the district appears to allocate resources equitably, with both schools spending around $10,867 per student. This balanced approach, combined with the schools' consistent high performance, makes them attractive options for families in the 50226 zip code area seeking a quality education for their children.

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ISASP English Language Arts (2025)			ISASP Mathematics (2025)			ISASP Science (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISASP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 4th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 5th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 3rd Grade	ISASP Mathematics 4th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 5th Grade	ISASP Science 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
North Polk West Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	1400 W Broadway	Polk City	50226	Polk County	North Polk Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(515) 984-3400	396	26	15.5	7.3%	369 (93.2%)	3 (0.8%)	10 (2.5%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	10 (2.5%)								(n/a)								$10,867	$125	$10,741
Big Creek Elementary	Public	3-5	340 E Vista Lake Drive	Polk City	50226	Polk County	North Polk Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(515) 984-3400	357	25	14.3	9.8%	325 (91.0%)	3 (0.8%)	11 (3.1%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.5%)	81	65^th of 576 public elementary schools	88.7%		81.9	59^th of 557 public elementary schools	89.4%	6	85.6	85.2	79.3	94.6	89.0	83.7	74.8

Cities Near Zip Code 50226

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Polk City	0.12 mi	2	36^th
Ankeny	3.34 mi	18	95^th
Alleman	5.19 mi	3	34^th
Granger	6.03 mi	2	23^rd
Grimes	7 mi	5	71^st

See the top IA Iowa cities

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Iowa Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.