Thirty-five Iowa schools are in need of assistance, and 12 of them are in the Des Moines Public Schools district, a new report shows.

A dozen Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) were among the state's lowest performing in a list released this week by the Iowa Department of Education. Why it matters: This is the first year the online report cards have used a new state system that includes indicators like proficiency in core academics and chronic absenteeism.

All five of Des Moines Public Schools' traditional high schools will receive additional support from the federal government in response to a statewide performance review that scored all five low. On Tuesday,