With the start of the 2023-24 school year only a few weeks away, we are eagerly looking forward to the return of our students and families. As always, we remain committed to providing unparalleled support to each and every one of you as you embark on this exciting new academic year. To ensure a successful school year for your student, we have compiled a wide range of valuable back-to-school resources for your convenience. We encourage you to check this page regularly, as we will be updating it with new and relevant information as it becomes available. Rest assured that we are here to help you navigate any challenges that may arise to ensure that our student has the best possible educational experience at Cedar Rapids Community School District.

Back-to-School Open Houses

Some of our schools will be holding back-to-school events, such as orientations and open houses, to allow students to prepare for their first day of school. It will give them the opportunity to visit their classrooms and meet their new teacher, and drop off school supplies. Click here to view the full list of back-to-school events dates and times.

Annual Verification Reminder

CRCSD asks ALL parents and guardians to complete a yearly Annual Verification for their students. This verification lets us know that your student will be attending a school in the CRCSD for the upcoming school year so that we can adequately plan for classroom assignments and transportation needs. Parents can also sign all permission slips needed for the year (media release, field trip permission, and technology use) and complete forms to qualify for reduced school fees. Click here to log into the Infinite Campus Parent Portal to complete your Annual Verification before school starts. Please contact your student's school office if you have any questions or concerns.

Bus Reminder for All Students

As we prepare for the start of the new school year, our Transportation Department is working hard to finalize bus routes and student pick-up and drop-off times.

To help with this process, we are asking for your assistance. If your student rode the school bus last year, the transportation department is already planning for them to ride it again this year. If that is NOT the case, we ask that you please communicate that to your student’s school office as soon as possible. If your student just needs busing for only before school or only after school, and not both, please communicate that as well. This information is essential to help us better plan bus routes for the new school year. 

The Transportation Department plans to release student bus transportation details on Thursday, August 17th, and this information will be posted in your student's section of the Infinite Campus Portal and in the StopFinder parent app.

Middle Schoolers First Day of School Change

Student’s first day of school will be August 23rd; however, if your student is in 7th or 8th grade, their first day will be August 24th. Why, you may ask? This will allow our up-and-coming 6th-grade students to have the entire middle school building to themselves on August 23rd, hopefully easing their transition to middle school. This will allow them the opportunity to navigate the hallways, meet their teachers, figure out their schedules, and everyone's favorite - have time to get their locker combination just right.

Magnet Institute Week Kicks-off

Staff from the district’s six magnet schools met this week for a “Magnet Institute” professional development opportunity. The goal was to kick off the 2023-24 school year aligned in purpose, vision, and strategies. During the week-long “Magnet Institute,” staff learned about curricular design, course-specific academic content, social-emotional learning, and school-specific magnet themes. Magnet schools are theme-based schools that focus on diversity, innovative curriculum, academic excellence, leadership, and family and community partnerships.

School Bus Inspections

On Monday, the Iowa State Patrol and the Iowa Department of Education inspectors visited the district to inspect all of our 114 school buses and 49 passenger vans. They have a rigorous list of requirements that each vehicle must pass to ensure safe transportation for our students. All school transportation vehicles are inspected twice a year.

Preschool Openings Still Available

CRCSD still has half-day 4-year-old preschool openings available for this school year. Cedar Rapids Early Learning provides a nurturing environment for young students and helps lay the foundation for their educational success. We would love to help your young learners grow. For more information on how to enroll in our half-day preschool program, click here.

Please note that the three-year-old preschool and All-day preschool slots at Truman are at capacity. 

High-School Sports Fall Activities Beginning

August 7th is the official start date for fall sports practices in Iowa, although many athletes have been working through the summer with workouts and camps. However, all competitions must wait until the week of August 24th. The high school marching band season also gets underway next week with band camps for our musicians. We would like to wish all the athletes and musicians across CRCSD the best of luck for their season ahead. 

Tax-Free Weekend

Iowa’s Tax-Free Weekend officially started today and runs through Saturday. This is your once-a-year opportunity to get clothes and footwear for your student without having to pay state and local sales tax. However, there are some restrictions. Unfortunately, school supplies like pencils and paper are not included in the tax-free weekend. But if you still want to get started on your school supply shopping while you are out this weekend, here is the supply list for each grade.