2025 School Performance Profiles

The Iowa Department of Education has released the School Performance Profiles for the 2024–25 school year. These profiles provide a snapshot of how schools across the state are performing and help identify both areas of strength and opportunities for growth.

The profiles measure multiple factors, including student proficiency, growth, absenteeism, graduation rates, and postsecondary readiness. Thanks to the focused efforts in our schools, we are proud to share significant improvements in key areas:

• Chronic Absenteeism (students absent 10% or more of school days) decreased by 9.58%.
• Postsecondary Readiness (work-based learning opportunities) increased by 43.68%, the third-highest improvement among Urban Education Network districts.

We also saw improvement from the previous year in the following performance areas:

• Increased student participation rates in all English, Math, and Science assessments.
• More schools are designated as Acceptable or Commendable.
• Fewer student subgroups were identified as Targeted for Support.
• Higher proficiency rates in Science and Math.
• Increased Postsecondary Readiness scores, relating to college credits earned through concurrent enrollment at Kirkwood Community College or the University of Iowa, or scoring a 3+ on an Advanced Placement exam.

Beyond these gains, our district continues to achieve outstanding results in many areas, including:

• Twenty-two students were recognized as National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists this year, including 12 finalists.
• City, Liberty, and West High all ranked among the top 15 high schools in Iowa by U.S. News & World Report, with West High ranked #1 in the state for the fourth consecutive year.
• Preschool in every elementary school is taught by teachers certified in both general and special education. Enrollment grew by 100+ students this year, reflecting our strong commitment to early childhood education.
• 25+ Advanced Placement (AP) courses, the most comprehensive in Iowa, plus the AP Capstone program (offered at only 3% of U.S. high schools).
• In the past five years, AP participation and success have grown significantly: +476 students, +1,041 exams, and +536 scores of 3 or higher.
• Additional opportunities for college credit through dual enrollment with Kirkwood Community College and the University of Iowa.
• Iowa’s most extensive career and technical education programs, including shop, construction, and a year-long home build project.
• Exceptional athletic programs with championship-level teams and nationally recognized fine arts programs in music, theater, and visual arts.
• A proven record of college admissions and alumni success, with graduates attending Ivy League universities, top public institutions, and world-renowned schools such as Oxford and Stanford.
• Wide-ranging exploration opportunities through advisory, electives, and Makerspaces (digital music, 3D printing, filmmaking, and more).

We do encourage you to review the Iowa School Performance Profiles to better understand this system and consider all the achievements and hard work that define our school community. Another excellent resource is our School Snapshots, which provide a comprehensive picture of each school. 

We are incredibly proud of each of our schools and the hard work our students and staff put in every day. Thank you for your continued support as we work together to provide an excellent education for all our students. As always, we are here to answer any questions you may have.