A national news magazine this week honored the students and staff at a Hamilton County school district. U.S News and World Report named the South Hamilton Middle School as the Number 1 Middle School in Iowa and South Hamilton Elementary School as the 6th Best Elementary School in the state. The rankings were included in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Iowa Schools list. The recognition is based on the schools’ performance on state assessments and other academic indicators. South Hamilton Superintendent Heather Holm said “The rankings reflect the strong reaching and learning taking place in our district. Holm further stated that the recognition highlights the collaborative partnerships among students, staff and families that support student successes every day.