This report provides data on the academic achievement gap that separates low-income and minority students from other students, examining how well different groups of students perform in Iowa and noting inequities in teacher quality, course offerings, and funding. Included are tables and data that provide: a frontier gap analysis (a comparison of Iowa to the leaders in achievement and gap closing); student profile (the demographic distribution of youth in Iowa); state performance (academic achievement and educational attainment); opportunity (well prepared teachers, challenging curricula, special student placements, effective instruction, and annual per pupil investments); minority achievement gains, state by state; and analysis of minority-white achievement gaps by subject area and grade level. Iowa did not participate in the 1998 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests; achievement profiles are based on 1996 results. Hispanic 8th graders in Iowa out-perform Hispanic 8th graders in every other state in math, making Iowa the frontier state in math for Hispanic 8th graders. However, they are still one year behind white 8th graders in the state in math and 2 years behind in science. African American 4th graders in Iowa made more progress in math from 1992 to 1996 than African American 4th graders in almost every other state. African American 8th graders in the state score 3 years behind white 8th graders in the state in math and science. Low-income 8th graders in Iowa score more than one year behind non-poor 8th graders in the state in math and science. (Contains 24 references.) (SM)