Opportunity Education Foundation

What students experience in the classroom shapes how ready they feel for what comes next. Drawing on a 2025 survey of 830 Iowa students in grades 5-12, this report explores how learning, challenge and day-to-day classroom experiences connect to students’ sense of preparedness for life after high school.

While many Iowa students report putting in effort and persisting through challenges, fewer say they regularly set goals (53%) or seek feedback (52%), experiences that help build ownership of learning. The findings point to a clear pattern: When students learn at their own pace, set goals and make meaningful choices, they are more likely to report feeling ready for the future. Together, these insights highlight how everyday classroom experiences can meaningfully shape students’ confidence and readiness beyond high school.

Download the report to learn more about the specific learning experiences that most strongly influence Iowa students’ preparedness and what schools can do to better support readiness for life after high school.