Newsweek: Waukee is Iowa's top public high school

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that Newsweek only looked a public high schools when creating its list.

Waukee High School is the top public high school in Iowa, according to Newsweek's latest 2016 list of America's Top High Schools.

The growing school district has more than 9,000 students. In comparison, there were about 2,400 students enrolled in 2000. It's planning to open a second high school in five years.

According to Newsweek, Waukee High School has an average ACT score of 24 and has a 99 percent graduation rate.

Ankeny and Johnston high schools also ranked on Newsweek's list of top 10 public high schools in the state. Ankeny ranked sixth, while Johnston ranked seventh. Both of those school districts are also experiencing growth, with Ankeny making land purchases for its 11th and 12 elementary schools and Johnston preparing to open a new high school in 2017.

Other high schools on the list included West High School in Iowa City, West Delaware High School in Manchester and South Winneshiek High School in Calmar.

To compile its list, Newsweek created a college readiness index based on college enrollment, graduation weight, dual college enrollment, SAT and ACT sores and student retention.​