Learning to Succeed

Education in Maquoketa is built on a tradition of excellence. Residents take advantage of first-rate educational resources for people of all ages. Maquoketa is renowned for its outstanding school districts, where parents, teachers and administration work together to realize the potential of all students and foster a lifetime love of learning. A well-rounded curriculum emphasizes traditional as well as contemporary learning skills to prepare students for the future. As a rule, class sizes are small, so each student receives the personalized attention he or she deserves.

The Maquoketa Community School District serves approximately 1,600 students in four buildings, which consist of two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. The 150 teachers who serve Maquoketa Community Schools represent 2,507 total years of experience teaching. The average teacher in the Maquoketa District has 13.9 years of experience teaching in this district and 16.6 years of overall teaching experience.

The Maquoketa Elementary School’s curriculum focuses on the basic skills of literacy and numeracy, with additional emphasis on "learning to learn" and character education. The remainder of the curriculum includes exploration of human relationships, science and global awareness. Cardinal Elementary School serves children in grades kindergarten through second grade, while Briggs Elementary School serves children in grades three through five. Both schools are dedicated to creating a sense of community that promotes, practices and teaches the goals of peace, justice, and tolerance in order to help develop personal characteristics within children that will enable them to become kind and caring members of a global community.

Maquoketa Middle School serves more than 450 children in grades six through eight. A highly trained staff of 60 teachers and support staff work together to create a thriving educational environment. The Middle School strives to provide a balanced curriculum that builds upon foundational skills and includes multiple opportunities for creativity and exploration while celebrating individual differences. Core classes at the middle school consist of: reading, writing, math, algebra, pre-algebra, social studies, science, integrated studies, creative applications and physical education. Exploratory classes include general music, exploring the arts, creative expression, industrial technology, family and consumer science, computer applications, introduction to French, introduction to Spanish, art and media resources. Elective courses include band and chorus.

Maquoketa Community High School is a four-year school accredited by the North Central Association since 1912. Faculty consists of 47 instructional staff members and three administrative personnel. Over 100 courses are offered in the core subjects, the arts and in vocational education. Accelerated classes are available, and students may take Iowa Communications Network (ICN) or college courses for credit. The high school also offers a wide array of athletics, extracurricular activities, clubs and organizations. The high school also sponsors the Maquoketa Alternative Classroom (MAC), an alternative high school diploma program designed to help students who are in danger of dropping out of school or have dropped out. Special classrooms are available for those with learning disabilities, and the School-to-Career program offers students real-world experiences to prepare them for the post-graduation work environment. Advanced students may enroll in the Talented and Gifted Program; adult education courses are also offered at the high school in cooperation with Clinton Community College.

For further information on the Maquoketa schools, access the web site at www.maquoketa.k12.ia.us.

Maquoketa Schools and Delwood Community Schools in Clinton County have established a whole grade sharing agreement that has been in existence for the past 15 years. Delwood Community Schools provide first-rate education in a friendly, small-town atmosphere. There are 140 students enrolled in kindergarten through sixth grade.

Maquoketa is also home to Sacred Heart School, a Catholic school in which Gospel values are taught in a God-centered environment. The curriculum at Sacred Heart School emphasizes development of the child academically as well as spiritually, culturally, emotionally, physically and socially. The school serves children in grades preschool through six.

A number of preschools and daycare centers also serve the educational needs of Maquoketa residents, including Kids in the Kingdom (Sacred Heart Preschool), Delwood School Preschool, Little Shepherd Christian Preschool and Sunshine Preschool and Daycare.

Higher Education

For those pursuing higher education, a number of community, vocational and four-year colleges are within an easy commute from Maquoketa. The Eastern Iowa Community College District stretches along the Mississippi River with Clinton Community College to the north, Muscatine Community College to the south, and Scott Community College in Bettendorf in the middle. Each school is a short drive from Maquoketa, and offers a wide variety of associate degree and college transfer programs in fields such as arts and sciences, business and agribusiness, technology or healthcare. Classes are small, taught by caring instructors who are experts in their field.

The Eastern Iowa Manufacturing Technology Center (MTC) is a new 37,000-square-foot training facility for students of Clinton, Muscatine or Scott Community Colleges. The MTC offers instruction in all areas applicable to manufacturing, both hard skills like welding and drafting as well as management and supervision skills such as leadership, team building or problem solving. The ACT Center of the MTC offers computer-delivered certification and licensure; workplace skills assessment; continuing education courses; skills-specific training and distance learning.

Extended learning opportunities are offered through Community Connections, which offers academic, enrichment, recreation and family opportunities for students before and after school and during the summer months; Maquoketa Community Center, which partners with the city to provide on-going enrichment activities for children, youth and adults; and EICCD, which provides training and recertification classes to individuals, businesses and industries.

Other notable colleges are within easy reach of Maquoketa. These include Hamilton Tech, Northern Iowa Community College, Palmer College, Kirkwood Community College, Loras College, Clarke College, The University of Dubuque, St. Ambrose University, Blackhawk College, Mt. St. Clare College, and the University of Iowa, all within 30 to 90 miles from Maquoketa.

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