Dozens of Iowa schools previously identified by the state as needing comprehensive support and improvement are seeing academic gains, according to new statewide performance data.

But the state has rated 35 schools as needing additional support because they ranked in the bottom 5% academically for the 2024-25 school year. Twelve are in the Des Moines Public Schools district.

The designation allows school officials to access additional state support over three years to help improve student achievement, according to an Iowa Department of Education Sept. 18 news release.

The data is part of newly released Iowa School Performance Profiles. The federal Every Student Succeeds Act requires the yearly assessments. Schools that receive a designation for comprehensive support and improvement represent the “lowest performing 5% of all Title I public schools,” the release said.

The report cards take into account “proficiency in English language arts, mathematics and science, student academic growth, chronic absenteeism and attendance growth among all K-12 schools,” the news release said.

High school ratings include graduation rates and a “postsecondary readiness indicator measuring work-based learning experiences and college credit attained by students.”

From 2024: Iowa’s list of the 35 lowest-performing schools now includes 12 from Des Moines

Last year, the Iowa Department of Education provided “over 6,000 hours of school-based expert leadership support and classroom coaching and modeling,” according to the release. Thirty-two of the 35 schools increased their overall scores an average of 5 percentage points.

Eight schools saw their scores increase by more than 10 percentage points, the release said.

“With our teachers, school leaders, and families working together to accelerate student learning, Iowa’s School Performance Profiles show impressive gains overall and among schools identified in need of support,” Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow said.

A dozen DMPS schools deemed ‘low performing’

The dozen Des Moines Public Schools deemed low-performing during the last school year are:

• Brubaker Elementary School.

• Studebaker Elementary School.

Related: Iowa schools see gains in literacy, state assessment shows

However, East, Hoover, Lincoln, North and Roosevelt high schools, as well as Ruby Van Meter School, saw their scores increase by more than 90 points (about 10%), according to a Des Moines Public Schools news release.

Hiatt Elementary School also saw scores rise more than 50 points, the DMPS release states.

Six elementary schools also moved off the state’s “targeted” list for the 2025-26 school year, according to the news release: Hubbell, Monroe, Oak Park, Phillips, River Woods and Willards elementary schools.

DMPS also saw chronic absenteeism fall, attendance grow and science scores rise in the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress.

“These latest results make one thing very clear: we will not rest on any laurels,” said Des Moines Superintendent Ian Roberts. “Much work remains as we help our schools that need extra support to succeed and make sure those that are succeeding do even greater things.”

Around the state

Statewide 528 of Iowa’s 1,276 schools moved up one or more rating categories, according to the state’s release.

Almost 56% of Iowa schools were designated as exceptional, high performing or commendable — up from 46% of schools the previous school year, the state said.

Go to www.iaschoolperformance.gov to learn more.

Samantha Hernandez covers education for the Register. Reach her at (515) 851-0982 or svhernandez@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @svhernandez, Bluesky at @svhernandez.bsky.social or at facebook.com/svhernandezreporter.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Which Iowa schools rank at the bottom 5%?