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Why Cedar Rapids Community Schools Are Future Ready

LKR CR Schools

Cedar Rapids Community Schools

  1. Size, Scope, Superpower

    • Second‑largest district in Iowa, Cedar Rapids Community Schools serves over 15,500 students across 32 schools—21 elementary, 6 middles, 4 traditional high schools and an alternative high school, plus a fully virtual academy.
    • Student‑teacher ratio around 15:1, which helps deliver both individual attention and big opportunities.

    Translation: Big enough to offer real diversity and choice, but close‑knit enough to keep kids noticed.

  2. Innovation Is the Name of the Game

    • Cedar Rapids Community Schools is part of the League of Innovative Schools, joining only one other Iowa district in embracing cutting‑edge educational practices.
    • Launching Future Ready College & Career Academies, backed by a $15M federal grant. Students can earn real industry certifications alongside their diplomas, with programming opening in 2025–26.
    • Ninth‑graders at Washington High School will pilot 3DE™ learning, courtesy of a fresh Junior Achievement instructional model that blends career skills and real‑world learning.

    Why it matters: Your future engineer, coder, or community leader gets stuck into real projects early.

  3. Real‑World Learning in Action

    • Programs like Iowa BIG let students actually collaborate with local businesses, say, designing marketing campaigns or logistics systems for real nonprofits.

      Cedar Rapids Community Schools

    • Iowa BIG employs a project pool that is custom generated for us by our community. These projects come from the real needs of businesses, non-profits, and government agencies. (Iowa Big)
    • Nearly 11,000 students experience Junior Achievement programming, from kindergarten-level financial literacy to career fairs and teen entrepreneur simulations.

    Result: Cedar Rapids Community Schools students graduate not just book-smart, but life-smart, with tools for money, careers, community—take that adulting.

  4. Academic & Arts Excellence

    • High schools such as Kennedy High offer 32 AP courses, including Chinese, German, and Japanese, and show choir “Happiness, Inc.” has national honors.
    • Jefferson High has twice been named a Blue Ribbon National School of Excellence, that’s the academic Olympics

    Not to brag, but… actually, brag a little.

  5. A Team of Certified Excellence

    • CRCSD boasts the most nationally board‑certified teachers in Iowa, plus it’s been spotlighted by Forbes as a Best‑in‑State Employer.
    • Their career and technical education counselor was named a national award finalist, because they build career pathways from day one.

    With mentors like that, kids aren’t just set up—they’re tuned up for success.

  6. Community & Volunteer Spirit

    • Thousands of volunteers keep Lego leagues, art programs, talent shows, and after‑school events thriving and kids loving school.
    • Partnerships with local business leaders, city officials, and nonprofits mean what happens in classrooms resonates in the community and beyond.

    CRCSD isn’t just part of the community, it helps build it.

  7. Infrastructure for the Future

    Cedar Rapids Community Schools

    A rendering shows a planned addition at Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids that would provide space for the new School of Aviation and Engineering. (Invision Architecture)

    • District buildings are undergoing modernization—including designing new elementary schools slated to open in 2027—that emphasize accessibility, sustainability, and flexible learning spaces.
    • They’re offsetting aging infrastructure and making sure students everywhere get spaces worthy of their potential. The school of tomorrow, under construction today.

    In a nutshell: what makes CRCSD great?

    • Purpose‑driven: Vision “Every Learner. Future Ready.” truly means preparing students for success in life, not just tests.
    • Inclusive and Equity‑focused: Celebrates diversity with support for English‑language learners, gifted programs, magnet schools, and community engagement.
    • Forward‑looking and hands‑on: From Iowa BIG to career academies to JA, students are doing real work earlier and loving it.
    • Strong roots, open doors: Long history and community trust, with ambitions to keep evolving.

Let’s wrap it up

If I were writing a tagline-worthy summary:Cedar Rapids Community Schools is where big ideas meet real‑world opportunities, backed by amazing teachers, cutting‑edge programs, and a community that shows up.”

Whether you’re a parent plotting a move, a student curious about your future, or just someone thrilled by smart public education in action,Cedar Rapids Community Schools delivers. This isn’t your grandma’s school district, it’s a future‑ready launchpad.
If you are ready to make the move to Cedar Rapids, reach out to one of our LKR Agents to get started.