Oct 20, 2021 - News
Des Moines-area public high schools, ranked
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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.