(Des Moines) Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate has announced a record high 43 high schools have been recognized for registering eligible students to vote as part of the Carrie Chapman Catt Award for the 2023-2024 school year. The Carrie Chapman Catt Award goes to Iowa schools that register at least 90 percent of their eligible students to vote.
The Carrie Chapman Catt Award was created by Secretary Pate in 2019 to encourage voter registration in Iowa high schools. Studies show that students who report being encouraged to vote or taught how to register to vote in high school are more likely to vote and be more invested in elections throughout their lifetimes.
“We are thrilled with the record number of schools being recognized this year and the thousands of young Iowans who have registered to vote as a result of the Carrie Chapman Catt Award program,” said Secretary Pate. “It is clear that Iowa students are highly engaged and interested in the elections process, and we look forward to seeing that reflected when they head to the polls once they are eligible.”
This year, approximately 3,500 high school students registered in conjunction with the Catt Award initiative. Currently, there are over 4,500 17-year-olds registered to vote in Iowa. This number is a thousand more than the 3,500 17-year-olds who were registered to vote in the fall of 2023 when the Carrie Chapman Award program opened for the 2023-2024 school year. Iowa law allows 17-year-olds to register to vote and to vote in primary elections if they will be 18 years of age by the time of the general election.
A total of 64 schools are being recognized this year as part of the Carrie Chapman Catt Award program:
- 43 schools won the Carrie Chapman Catt Award trophy for registering more than 90% of eligible students.
- 3 schools won the Capitol Award plaque in its inaugural year, which goes to schools with 300 or more students that registered at least 100 students.
- 9 schools are receiving a banner for registering at least 70% of eligible students.
- 9 schools are receiving a certificate for registering at least 50% of eligible students.
The record 43 Iowa schools who have been awarded the Carrie Chapman Catt Award surpasses the 2023 record of 31 recognized schools. Each of the 43 Iowa schools being recognized with this award is invited to host or attend a special award ceremony and trophy presentation with Secretary Pate.
A full list of the 63 schools that are being recognized is available below.
A total of 43 schools are being recognized with a trophy for the Carrie Chapman Catt Award and registering at least 90% of eligible students to vote.
Five schools have qualified for the Carrie Chapman Catt Award for all five years (denoted with five asterisks*****). Four schools qualified for the award for the fourth time (four asterisks****), eight schools for the third time, (three asterisks***), six for the second time (two asterisks**), and 20 schools for the first time (one asterisk*). These schools include:
- Ankeny Christian Academy (Ankeny)*
- Ballard High School (Ballard)*****
- Bishop Garrigan High School (Algona)****
- Camanche High School (Camanche)*
- Cedar Valley Christian School (Cedar Rapids)*
- Central Community High School (Central City)***
- Central Lyon High School (Rock Rapids)***
- Clayton Ridge High School (Guttenberg)****
- Clear Creek Amana High School (Tiffin)*
- Columbus Catholic High School (Columbus)*
- Diagonal High School (Diagonal)***
- Dike New Hartford High School (Dike)*
- Dowling Catholic High School (West Des Moines)*
- Dubuque Senior High School (Dubuque)**
- Emmetsburg High School (Emmetsburg)*
- Essex High School (Essex)**
- Fairfield High School (Fairfield)**
- Fremont Mills High School (Tabor)*
- Gladbrook-Reinbeck High School (Reinbeck)***
- Harlan High School (Harlan)**
- Highland High School (Riverside)*
- Holy Trinity Catholic School (Des Moines)*
- Isaac Newton Christian Academy (Cedar Rapids)*****
- Johnston High School (Johnston)*
- Keota High School (Keota)*
- Lone Tree High School (Lone Tree)*****
- Marquette Catholic School (Bellevue)****
- Martensdale St. Mary’s (Martensdale)*
- Mount Ayr High School (Mount Ayr)***
- Newman Catholic High School (Mason City)***
- North Tama High School (Traer)*
- Norwalk High School (Norwalk)*****
- Prince of Peace Catholic School (Clinton)*
- Riceville Community School District (Riceville)***
- Rivermont Collegiate (Bettendorf)*****
- Storm Lake St. Mary’s (Storm Lake)***
- Tripoli High School (Tripoli)**
- Turkey Valley High School (Turkey Valley)*
- Wapello High School (Wapello)*
- Waterloo Christian Academy (Waterloo)**
- West Harrison High School (Mondamin)*
- West Sioux High School (Hawarden)*
- Woodward Granger High School (Woodward)****
Schools with 300 or more students that registered at least 100 eligible students (3) also receive a trophy recognizing their achievement:
- Pleasant Valley High School (Riverdale)
- Valley High School (West Des Moines)
- Waukee High School (Waukee)
Schools that registered at least 70% of eligible students (9) will receive a commemorative banner recognizing their achievement:
- Atlantic High School (Atlantic)
- Greene County High School (Jefferson)
- Hudson High School (Hudson)
- MOC-Floyd Valley (Orange City)
- North Mahaska High School (New Sharon)
- Prairie City Monroe High School (Monroe)
- Sibley-Ocheyedan High School (Sibley)
- West Branch High School (West Branch)
- Winterset High School (Winterset)
Schools that registered at least 50% of eligible students (9) will receive a personalized certificate from the Iowa Secretary of State:
- Clarke High School (Osceola)
- Clear Lake High School (Clear Lake)
- Dallas Center Grimes School (Grimes)
- Grundy Center High School (Grundy Center)
- Hillcrest Academy (Kalona)
- Muscatine High School (Muscatine)
- Regina High School (Iowa City)
- Walnut Creek High School (West Des Moines)
- Westwood High School (Sloan)
