Iowa’s Best Public High School: U.S. News & World Report Rankings

DES MOINES, Iowa — For the second consecutive year, Iowa City has been recognized as home to the best public high school in Iowa, according to the latest rankings released by U.S. News & World Report. Iowa City West High School claimed the top spot in the state, ranking 626th nationally. Following closely behind are Gilbert High School and Pella High School, with Decorah and Liberty High School rounding out the top five.

The rankings, which evaluated 17,660 high schools nationwide, including 317 in Iowa, considered factors such as students’ college readiness, state assessment proficiency, and graduation rates from the 2021-22 school year. Iowa City West’s impressive performance earned it the top spot in the state, showcasing a graduation rate of 94% and a college readiness score of 61.7.

Other notable schools in Iowa that made the list include Ankeny High School, ADM (Adel), Pleasant Valley, Williamsburg, and Iowa City High. Ankeny High School was ranked sixth in the state, while ADM (Adel) and Pleasant Valley also secured spots in the top 10.

Overall, 42 Iowa high schools were ranked among the top 5,000 nationally, highlighting the state’s commitment to providing quality education to its students. The rankings serve as a testament to the hard work and dedication of students, teachers, and administrators in Iowa’s public high schools.

Congratulations to all the schools that made the list, and here’s to another year of excellence in education in the state of Iowa.