Maharishi School in Fairfield has been named the No. 1 private high school in Iowa by Niche.com for the ninth consecutive year, according to a press release from the school. The school also holds the top position on Niche’s 2027 list of Best Private K-12 Schools in Iowa — also for the ninth year in a row — and earned A+ grades in academics, college prep, diversity, and clubs and activities.
Nationally, Maharishi School climbed 35 places to rank No. 142 out of 4,672 schools on Niche’s 2027 Best Private High Schools list, placing it ahead of 96 percent of all other ranked schools. The school also ranks No. 12 out of 114 for Best Boarding K-12 Schools in America and No. 68 out of 2,848 Best Private K-12 Schools in America. Maharishi School also holds the No. 1 spot on Niche’s Best High Schools for STEM in Iowa for the fourth consecutive year and has earned Niche’s A+ overall grade every year since 2020.
Niche’s rankings weigh college enrollment outcomes heavily. According to Niche data, 100 percent of Maharishi School graduates have gone on to enroll in four-year colleges. School records show that one out of three graduates from the classes of 2020 through 2026 enrolled at a top-50 college or university as ranked by U.S. News and World Report. Parents and students rate the school highly as well, giving it 4.76 out of 5 across 129 reviews on Niche.
Head of School Brett Potash said the recognition reflects the school’s distinctive approach to education. “Maharishi School is proud to be a model for how to succeed the right way,” Potash said. “In a world where we’re constantly told to speed up and do more, our students achieve more by finding balance — a clear mind, and a comfort with who they are first. These traits are so rare in today’s world, and are at the core of our educational success. Being named Iowa’s top private high school for the ninth straight year reflects that.”
Maharishi School couples project-based learning with a rigorous college preparatory program. Classes average about 12 students, schooldays are phone-free, and the school incorporates restorative practices focused on conflict de-escalation and resolution. Students also practice a research-backed mental technique twice a day, with published studies linking the practice to lower stress and sharper focus.
Thanks to Iowa’s Students First Education Savings Account, a private education at Maharishi School is within reach for more families. The ESA provides $8,148 per student in 2026-27 regardless of household income, covering full kindergarten tuition at Maharishi School and significantly reducing tuition costs for higher grades. Families can schedule a visit at maharishischool.org/admissions or by calling 641-472-9400 ext. 5076.
Maharishi School is an independent PreK-12 preparatory academy with day and boarding options, founded in 1974 and accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States. More information is available at maharishischool.org.
