Des Moines-area public high schools, ranked

West Des Moines' Valley High School was recently ranked as the top public high school in the metro, according to U.S. News & World Report.

• It's No. 4 in the state.

Why it matters: The rankings assess how schools are doing, and they can help direct resources for improvement.

Context: The scores are largely based on college readiness, as well as math and reading proficiency and performance.

• Graduation rates, underserved student performance and AP and IB exams also play a role.

The big picture: Iowa's overall education score (#18) is middle-of-the-road, compared to the state's No. 5 standing just three years ago.

• Back in 2018, Gov. Kim Reynolds appeared on "CBS This Morning" to tout the state's achievements.

Yes, but: Iowa's still got one of the top graduation rates in the nation.

Go deeper: See how Des Moines metro high schools compare.