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ICON is more than a school—it’s a place where artists, performers, and creative thinkers are empowered to pursue their passions while receiving a personalized, college-preparatory education.
Unlike traditional schools where the arts are often extracurricular, the arts are at the center of everything we do. Students receive conservatory-style training from accomplished professionals while engaging in rigorous academics designed to support their individual goals and learning styles.
Most importantly, ICON offers something many students have never experienced before: a school where their artistic passions are valued, nurtured, and celebrated every day.
ICON’s campus is in one of Iowa City’s most artistic tight-knit neighborhoods, a vibrant, arts-forward community with abundant cultural and recreational opportunities. Iowa City is located within a four hour drive of Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Kansas City, and St. Louis and is easy to reach, situated at the crossroads of I-80 and I-380, just 20 minutes from Eastern Iowa Airport (CID).
Address: 123 N. Linn St., Iowa City, IA 52245
Applications are available to incoming 6th graders through 12th grade! We also have an incredible Post Grad Prep program for students who have recently graduated high school and want to grow their skills and work on their portfolio in an intensive and supportive setting.
At ICON, we believe every talented, passionate student deserves the opportunity to grow. Through flexible tuition options, financial aid, and scholarships, we work with each family to make an ICON education possible. Tuition varies based on program and boarding – request more info below and we’re happy to discuss the options based on your needs.
[Request Info] or [Email us] to learn more about what’s possible for your family.
ICON’s graduation rate has been 100% for the past three years.
Iowa Conservatory and its residence halls are less than two blocks apart, located in the heart of downtown Iowa City. Within the lively, cosmopolitan setting, our apartment-style living includes 2–3 bedrooms, a large living room, a bathroom, and a kitchen. With a 1:12 RA/student ratio, full-time boarding, and a robust student life calendar, we are a family! Schedule a visit to tour our residence halls in person.
This is a common question for all parents as you consider the best fit for your family, and we want to be sure that you feel confident in trusting us with your child!
There are several reasons boarding schools are a staple in private school instruction: higher focus on the arts, small class sizes, individualized attention, college prep, academics, and much, much more.
At ICON, we believe in caring for the whole child. Our Student Life Team and Dean of Students oversee every aspect of student life, including opportunities to interact with the local arts community, social events for the student body, skill-building for successful independent living, and social-emotional learning. The Student Life Team includes live-in residential assistants, school counselors, and learning coaches, all trained to respond to the unique needs of adolescent learners in a boarding school setting.
After a busy day of singing, dancing, acting, painting, designing, rehearsing, and studying is over, I get to go home to cook healthy meals with my roommates and RA. We usually just relax on the couch in our awesome apartment unless it’s grocery day or laundry day, then my RAs or Student Life Director take me where I need to go and help me. The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics have really accessible care in their clinics that are close by. There are also lots of coffee places and restaurants close by! We are a family!
Find your place in Iowa City.
Home of the Hawkeyes, Iowa’s first capital, and the University of Iowa. Iowa City tradition blends small-town charm with big city opportunities, keeping students, arts, and culture at the forefront of the community. ICON’s campus is peppered with coffee shops, restaurants, shops, theaters, and more.
What was your view of Iowa before moving here?
Field of Dreams, Cornfields, and tornadoes.
What surprised you most after moving to Iowa City?
The amount of arts culture is incredible and exceeded my expectations; the theatre scene is abounding and full of talent equal to that in other major cities! It seems like every weekend there is a festival of sorts and a theatrical production happening all the time.
Why should others move to Iowa City?
There is always something to do, and getting to do these things is always convenient. Iowa City is an arts-forward city with lots of opportunities for artists to perform and take in. The city is beautiful!
Although recommended, a campus visit is not a requirement for acceptance to ICON.
In order to offer the best, most comprehensive arts education we can, all of our classes are in-person with our incredible staff of world-class teaching artists.
Yes, we can accommodate a variety of individual learning needs on a case-by-case basis! During the application process, please provide any pertinent information, including anything related to cognitive, physical, or emotional processes. We ask for any helpful documentation, such as (but not limited to):
Please reach out to Dr. Beth Brown, our Academic Provost, with any questions: beth-brown@iowaconservatory.org
School hours: 8:30 am – 4:00 pm Mondays through Thursdays, and 8:30 am–3:30 pm on Fridays.
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