Des Moines students are taking more college-level classes than ever — and passing them at record rates

In Des Moines, more students are choosing the hard classes — and succeeding in them. Nearly 4,000 Des Moines Public Schools students are enrolled in Advanced Placement courses this year, the most in district history, and a record 61% of those who sat AP exams in spring 2026 scored 3 or higher, the mark many colleges accept for credit — up about 11 percentage points in just two years, even as participation kept growing. The district now offers 34 AP courses across eight schools. 'What makes me proudest is that more of our students are choosing to challenge themselves,' said Superintendent Matt Smith, 'and sticking with it when it gets hard.'

SDG 4 · Quality education — Mechanism: institutional program