CRCSD's Iowa School Performance Profile Results | |
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The state of Iowa releases a public school performance assessment each year. The Iowa School Performance Profile is an annual report card that reflects how each public school performed on a set of core accountability measures, such as proficiency, growth, school climate, and graduation rate. At Cedar Rapids Community School District, we are committed to providing the best education possible for our students and preparing them for the future. We use the Iowa School Performance Profile results to help guide our work so that our district remains a place where every student can succeed and reach their full potential.
Cedar Rapids Community School District has made remarkable progress in its 2023 Iowa School Performance Profile. Our elementary and middle schools' Math proficiency rates have returned to pre-pandemic levels, with ELA (English and Language Arts) only a few percentage points away. 75% of our schools have improved their scores from last year. Among the notable achievements, three schools, Jefferson, Wright, and Grant Wood, have raised their performance ratings by two levels. For the first time as a District, three of our schools, Maple Grove, Viola Gibson, and Harding, have been categorized as "High Performing,” which is a significant milestone. Viola Gibson was our highest-scoring school, with more than 80% of the students rating as “Advanced” or “Proficient” in ELA and Math.
Click here to see the District's Iowa School Performance Profile.
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The Cedar Rapids Community School District is offering several more opportunities for the community to learn more about the November 7th bond referendum. At the meetings, district officials will provide an overview of the bond, the projects included under the bond, the financial impacts on residents, and more. Those in attendance will also have the chance to ask questions.
- Monday, October 30 - Kennedy HS Cafeteria - 5:30-6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 1 - Harding MS Cafeteria - 5:30-6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, November 2 - Franklin MS Stage/gym - 7:00-8:00 p.m.
- Monday, November 6 - Jefferson HS Cafeteria - 7:00-8:00 p.m.
If you cannot attend one of these events in person, please check out the videos below.
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The CRCSD bond referendum is now officially on the ballot for the November 7th election. We wanted to provide you with some educational information about the bond so you can make an informed decision on election day. | |
Bond Basics
What is Proposed?
The $220 million bond referendum on the November 7th ballot would provide funds to address needed infrastructure upgrades to provide modern, safe, and equitable facilities for middle and high schools.
Why Now?
CRCSD has been fiscally responsible and has not asked for a G.O. bond vote in 23 years. 75% of the district’s buildings were built before 1970, and 5 are 100+ years old. As buildings continue to age, the cost of upkeep will continue to rise.
What is the Plan?
If approved, the bond will -
- Construct a new 6th-8th middle school in the Kennedy feeder system on a site that still needs to be acquired.
- Add Career and Technical Education (CTE) additions to Jefferson, Kennedy, and Washington High Schools to expand and improve the district’s vocational and technical education programs to help ensure students graduate career and college-ready.
- Install a new turf practice field at Jefferson, Kennedy, and Washington, offering safer and more versatile playing surfaces for sports teams, marching bands, and PE classes.
- Renovations and Upgrades to the Kennedy cafeteria and kitchen, Metro High School gym, and Franklin Middle School to make needed repairs and improve overall functionality.
What Does It Mean For Me?
If approved, the district’s property tax levy will increase by $2.70 per $1,000 of taxable value. A home valued at $200,000 would see a $23.50 monthly increase (less than $1 a day). Despite this rise, the district’s property tax levy tax rate would remain comparable to or less than neighboring districts.
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News, Updates, and Reminders | |
4th Annual Trunk-or-Treat
Join district teachers, staff, and administrators for the fourth annual CREA/CRCSD Trunk-or-Treat on Sunday, October 29th. The event will be held from 1:00-4:00 p.m. in the Kingston Stadium parking lot. District staff will have decorated trunks and will be handing out candy and/or trinkets to kids in attendance. Kids are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. This is a rain-or-shine event. We hope to see you there!
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Cheer Team Takes Honors
The Washington High School Cheer Team is celebrating their third-place finish in the Iowa Heartland Championships last weekend in Waukee. The competition features cheer and dance teams from across the state. The Washington Cheer squad competed in the “Game Day Spirit” category, which required teams to perform the school fight song and a crowd-leading cheer. Besides walking away with 3rd place, the team also received a Star Award for having the most team energy and team spirit of the entire competition!
Washington’s cheer program continues to grow each year under the direction of Kira Hayden (WHS Physical Education Teacher) and Katy Schlomer (WHS Mathematics Teacher). Both coaches are no strangers to cheer, both competing in high school and at the collegiate level. They both said this remarkable achievement is a testament to the team’s dedication, hard work, and spirit. The team is now looking forward to competing in the state cheer competition coming up on November 4th.
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Metro Greenhouse Open House
The Metro High School is celebrating the completion of its new greenhouse and outdoor classroom space. The community is invited to a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house event to be held at the greenhouse on the Metro campus on Thursday, November 2, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Metro students will also be giving tours of the school’s STEAM Academy and showcasing student projects during the event.
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Kennedy Leadership Retreat
The annual Kennedy Leadership Retreat was held this week. 100 freshmen and sophomore Cougar students learned valuable leadership lessons from mentors in the junior and senior classes. This year's retreat theme was Leading the Right Way and focused on ways to be a great leader regardless of your title.
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All-State Music Honors
The annual All-State Music Festival is one of the most prestigious music events in the state, featuring the top high school musicians and vocalists from around Iowa. Students must audition to be selected to perform in the 278-piece All-State Band, 214-piece All-State Orchestra, and 602-member All-State Chorus. The selection process is very competitive, with only about 17% of auditionees being selected to perform, making it one of the highest individual honors an Iowa high school performer can receive.
Congratulations to the following CRCSD students who have been selected for either the Iowa All-State Band, Orchestra, or Choir, along with 2 alternates. Three students, Owen Kilgore, Emma Bennet, and Grace Wolle, also receive special recognition for being selected for all 4 years of high school. This year’s All-State Festival Concert will take place on November 18th at Hilton Coliseum on the Iowa State University Campus. The performance will also be broadcast on Iowa PBS on November 23rd and 26th.
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Volleyball, Swimming, and Diving Honors
This week, the Mississippi Valley Conference bestowed honors for more fall high school sports. The organization released the all-district awards for girls swimming and diving, along with volleyball. Jefferson senior Zoey Skriver was named “Diver of the Year,” and Kennedy coach Chad Derlein received the “Coach of the Year” honors. CRCSD would like to congratulate these athletes on being recognized for their hard work and dedication.
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Glance Around The District | |
Iowa State Supreme Court Justice David May stopped by Jefferson High School on Wednesday to meet with Dr. Dostal's United States government class. Justice May discussed federalism, how the court system works, and the separation of powers between the state and U.S. government. | |
This week, the first graders at Hiawatha Elementary School are using flashlights to learn about shadows in science. | |
Check out the beautiful artwork covering the walls at Johnson STEAM Academy. In art class, students have been working on creating, presenting, and making connections to things they are learning and the world. | |
First graders at Harrison Elementary School are getting into the Halloween spirit as they learn about bats and how they help the environment. They even got to make their own bat puppets. | |
Students at Harding Middle School have created some literary pumpkins for their library. The pumpkin faces are based on characters from books they have read. | |
On Monday, Kindergarteners at Cedar River Academy took a field trip to a farm to see first-hand the animals they have been reading about in class. They saw chickens, baby lamps, and a donkey. | |
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In case you missed it, here are some of the recent stories in the news media about or of interest to students, teachers, and parents of Cedar Rapids Community School District.
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Non-Discrimination Policy
It is the policy of the Cedar Rapids Community School District not to discriminate in educational programs and/or activities on the basis of race, creed, color, gender, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity, socioeconomic status, national origin, religion, disability, age (except for permitting/prohibiting students to engage in certain activities) or genetic information and in employment opportunities on the basis of age, race, creed, color, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability or genetic information. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact Darius Ballard, Chief of Human Resources, Educational Leadership and Support Center, 2500 Edgewood Rd NW, Cedar Rapids, IA, (319) 558-2000.
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