Alliance Intermediate School (AIS) has been ranked one of the top Elementary Schools by U.S. News & World Report. The rankings include more than 79,000 public elementary and middle schools across the country.
“This recognition is a formal acknowledgement of what I have always known about this school,” said Stephanie Garren, Principal of AIS. “In the eight years I have been the principal, I have worked with the most passionate, dedicated and caring people in my entire career; including staff, students, and families. This award is a community effort and should be celebrated by everyone, and I am beyond proud to be a part of it.”
AIS houses all 4th and 5th grade students attending Alliance City Schools.
The methodology focuses on state assessments of students who were proficient or above proficient in mathematics and reading/language arts while accounting for student backgrounds, achievement in core subjects, and how well schools are educating their students. Student-teacher ratios are applied to break ties in the overall score.
“We are incredibly proud that AIS has been recognized as one of the best elementary schools by U.S. News & World Report,” said Michelle Balderson, Director of Elementary Education. “This achievement is a testament to the dedication of the AIS staff, who work together to build strong relationships, set high expectations and support students in reaching their full potential. Their commitment to excellence ensures that every student is challenged, encouraged and empowered to succeed. Congratulations AIS.”
The 2025 Best Elementary and Best Middle Schools rankings are based on publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education. For district-level rankings, at least two of the top performing schools must rank in the top 75% of the overall elementary or middle school rankings to qualify for district-level recognition.
“Schools play a vital role in our communities. Parents want to ensure that the schools their child attends provide a high-quality learning environment,” LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News. “The 2025 Best Elementary and Middle Schools rankings not only offer accessible data but it also provides a valuable insight into how well elementary and middle schools are supporting and preparing students for high school.”
About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services.