• Enroll 25.4%% of Iowa's 485,011 K-12 students
• Administer 45.0% (2,946) of Iowa's 6,565 College Board, Advanced Placement examinations
• Enrolled 36.45% (1,640) of Iowa's students taking Advanced Student Placement examinations (4,499)
• Enrolled Iowa's top male and top female scholars 22 of the past 24 years
• Enroll 54.1% of Iowa's K-12 students of color
• Employ 23.6% of Iowa's K-12 certified staff
• Enroll 50% of Iowa's limited English speaking students
• Serve 35.1% of Iowa's K-12 students receiving free/reduced price lunches
• Host study teams on significant education issues
• Establish and assertively support an annual legislative agenda
• Offer highly comprehensive and quality curriculum options to all students
• Contract with many other school districts to deliver education classes to special needs students (i.e., special education, talented and gifted, etc.)
• Address the challenge of changing demographics on a daily basis
• Actively participate with local, regional and statewide organizations addressing the education agenda in Iowa
• Conduct ongoing practical research seeking answers to many challenges facing the students, staff and parents in Iowa's urban centers
• Identify and address major educational challenges, i.e. student achievement, leadership, high school, facilities, finance, technology and early childhood

The UEN continues to grow and become more effective. Strong leadership, continuing support of the membership and focused program priorities are moving the UEN toward a broader and even more viable presence. Member district involvement and leadership of school board members and superintendents is fundamental to the life and success of the Network. The concept of the UEN is unique and is based upon the interaction and support systems of our eight member districts. Together, we address many challenges, unite to resolve common concerns and grow to become even more effective in serving all our students and communities.

• A total population of 813,031
• One quarter of Iowa's K-12 students (122,125 children and youth)
• 24 comprehensive high schools
• 38 middle schools
• 173 elementary schools
• 4 other schools

• Population density
• Cultural, social and economic diversity
• Broad ethnic representation
• Extensive transportation systems
• Two or more comprehensive high schools and/or
  10,000 or more students