Cedar Rapids Comm School District, IA

Original Research by School Decision on Cedar Rapids Comm School District

Cedar Rapids Community School District is the large public school system serving Iowa's second-largest city and several surrounding communities, including Hiawatha, Marion, Palo, Robins, Center Point, Shellsburg, and Toddville. It is a PK through 12 district of substantial size, operating dozens of elementary schools, multiple middle and high schools, alternative programs, and a virtual academy. The district draws from a broad geography of housing conditions. Home values in the community range from more modest areas of Cedar Rapids itself to higher-priced pockets in suburbs like Robins and the 52411 zip code. Rental costs have been rising across the area, and the typical rent-to-income ratio remains manageable relative to national norms. The housing picture is one of a region with a wide spread of affordability, anchored by a major urban center.

The district's student body is diverse. White students make up a little more than half of enrollment, with Black students representing a substantial share, followed by students who identify as two or more races and Hispanic students. Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native students each make up a much smaller presence. The district’s enrollment has been experiencing decline, and this demographic shift has driven significant operational changes. The district has been navigating a budget shortfall that has led to staff cuts and program adjustments. At the same time, it has been executing a multi-year elementary facilities master plan that has opened new schools and consolidated or closed older ones, funded through a statewide sales tax rather than new local property levies. A new secondary option, City View Community High School, has opened with a focus on experiential, community-based learning, adding to the range of high school choices families can consider.

On state assessments for grades three through eight, the district’s proficiency rates in math, English language arts, and science each sit below the midpoint of the county’s districts, placing it in the bottom quartile of the comparison set of Linn County districts. The science proficiency rate is the weakest of the three subjects. Chronic absenteeism is a notable soft spot, with a rate that places the district well above the county median and in the bottom quartile of the peer group. The district’s per-pupil spending is in the upper range among Lynn County districts, reflecting the cost of running a large, urban system with aging infrastructure and ongoing capital investments. A high school graduation rate for the district was not available in the data provided.

The district offers a range of school types within its system. There are traditional neighborhood elementary and middle schools, STEAM-focused academies, a leadership academy, a creative corridor business academy, and a virtual academy option at the elementary and middle levels. At the high school level, in addition to the comprehensive high schools, students can attend City View High or Metro High School. This range gives families different pedagogical pathways, from project-based and thematic programs to fully online instruction. A parent choosing this district is selecting into a large, urban-district context with considerable internal variety in school philosophy and facility condition. The recent facilities investment and consolidation means that some families will be assigned to brand-new buildings, while others may attend schools that were part of the consolidation plan. The budget reductions and enrollment decline are real conditions that affect class sizes and program breadth, and a prospective family would want to ask about specific school-level impacts. The academic performance picture, as measured by state tests, is weaker than many of the county's smaller and suburban districts, which may matter for families benchmarking against peer schools. The absenteeism rate is high, and this is a dimension where the district could benefit from focused attention. For families who value programmatic choice, a large and varied system with multiple high school options and specialty elementary programs provides opportunities to find a fit. For those prioritizing top-tier test scores or lower absenteeism, this district may not align, and visiting individual schools within the system to understand their specific culture and results would be a sensible next step.

See more original research from School Decision →

District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

15,589

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 9%

Black 22%

White 55%

Asian 2%

Two+ 11%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 1%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

43%

78%

Gr 4

53%

80%

Gr 5

48%

75%

Gr 6

47%

80%

Gr 7

53%

85%

Gr 8

61%

86%

Gr 38

51%

81%

Math

Gr 3

55%

86%

Gr 4

53%

81%

Gr 5

50%

76%

Gr 6

42%

76%

Gr 7

46%

77%

Gr 8

47%

80%

Gr 38

49%

80%

Science

Gr 5

43%

70%

Gr 8

44%

74%

Gr 38

43%

72%

Schools in this District

34 schools are officially reported under this district.

Maple Grove Elementary

Arthur Elementary School

Cleveland Elementary School

West Willow Elementary School

Erskine Elementary School

Franklin Middle School

Garfield Elementary School

George Washington High School

Grant Wood Elementary School

Harding Middle School

Harrison Elementary School

Hiawatha Elementary School

Hoover Elementary School

John F Kennedy High School

Johnson STEAM Academy School

Kenwood Leadership Academy School

Madison Elementary School

McKinley STEAM Academy

Nixon Elementary School

Pierce Elementary School

Roosevelt Creative Corridor Business Academy

Metro High School

Taft Middle School

Cedar River Academy at Taylor

Thomas Jefferson High School

Van Buren Elementary School

Wilson Middle School

Wright Elementary School

Viola Gibson Elementary School

Grant Elementary School

Cedar Rapids Virtual Academy Middle

Cedar Rapids Virtual Academy Elementary

Truman Early Learning Center

City View High

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

1 grade reported

62%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

63%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

56%

Grades 3-8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$283,424

Year-over-year change+3.6%

Range across 13 ZIP codes$124K to $453K

vs. state typical1.21x

vs. national typical0.77x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (13 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
52324	Palo	$344K	+4.5%	28.0%
52403	Cedar Rapids	$206K	+1.6%	14.6%
52404	Cedar Rapids	$200K	+3.3%	13.5%
52405	Cedar Rapids	$209K	+2.6%	12.5%
52411	Cedar Rapids	$453K	+3.8%	12.0%
52402	Cedar Rapids	$203K	+2.8%	8.3%
52233	Hiawatha	$257K	+5.2%	3.3%
52332	Shellsburg	$319K	+9.5%	2.6%
52302	Marion	$274K	+3.3%	2.0%
52328	Robins	$410K	+4.2%	1.9%
52401	Cedar Rapids	$124K	+7.0%	1.0%
52341	Toddville	$421K	+5.5%	0.3%
52213	Center Point	$319K	+5.1%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,201/mo

Year-over-year change+12.9%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$1,121 to $1,364/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
52403	Cedar Rapids	$1,256	+13.1%	14.6%
52404	Cedar Rapids	$1,160	+12.7%	13.5%
52405	Cedar Rapids	$1,121	+15.4%	12.5%
52402	Cedar Rapids	$1,283	+9.9%	8.3%
52233	Hiawatha	$1,133	—	3.3%
52302	Marion	$1,276	+8.9%	2.0%
52401	Cedar Rapids	$1,364	—	1.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,430/mo

Home price / national median income3.4x

Annual rent / national median income17.2%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$229/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$234,891 (+3.9% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.