The top reported proficiency rate is 67% in Math. The lowest is 53% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on West Willow Elementary School
West Willow Elementary School serves students from preschool through fifth grade and is one of the newest buildings in the Cedar Rapids Community School District, having opened in 2023 as part of a district-wide elementary facilities master plan. That plan replaced older, aging schools with new construction, and West Willow sits on the southwest side of Cedar Rapids, a mid-sized city that functions as the economic hub of Eastern Iowa, shaped significantly by grain processing and the presence of major employers such as Collins Aerospace and a large Quaker Oats mill. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and draws its attendance from redrawn boundaries that accompanied the broader consolidation effort.
State testing results from the 2024-25 school year provide the first academic picture of West Willow, since the school is too new to have a multi-year trend. In math and English language arts, roughly two-thirds of students scored at the proficient level or above on the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress. Science results, which come from a smaller testing cohort, show about half of students reaching proficiency. When compared across all tested subjects and grades, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile among elementary schools in Linn County. The county-wide median is higher, and several nearby districts report stronger performance. With only a single year of data, it is too early to see a trajectory, but the early results suggest there is room for growth, particularly in science.
The student body is diverse in its composition. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic mix of the surrounding neighborhood. Racially, the majority of students are white, followed by Black students, and smaller but meaningful shares of Hispanic students and students who identify with two or more races. The school is a neighborhood elementary, and its peer environment reflects the broader demographics of southwest Cedar Rapids. The district has not yet reported special education or English learner counts for this school, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the support structures in place for those students.
Cedar Rapids itself offers a mix of residential neighborhoods and industrial zones, with the Cedar River running through the city. Housing in the area around West Willow is moderately priced relative to the state, and rents have risen noticeably in recent years, which is consistent with broader national trends in shelter costs. The city has seen steady metro-area growth and a major data center investment announced recently, signaling continued economic activity. The school district, however, is navigating a period of declining overall enrollment and recently implemented budget reductions that included staff cuts and program adjustments. West Willow, as a new school, may benefit from modern facilities, but it operates within a district that is tightening resources elsewhere.
For a family considering this school, the main factors are that it is a brand-new building with a single academic year on record, performance that currently trails many of its county peers, and a district undergoing both facility upgrades and financial belt-tightening. The strengths are a modern physical environment and the stability of a traditional public school in a city with a diversified economy. The weaker proficiency numbers, particularly in science, are worth a conversation with the school to understand what instructional strategies and supports are in place. Given that the attendance boundaries have recently shifted, it is also worth confirming which middle and high school pathways West Willow feeds into, as those structures affect a child's full journey through the district.
See more original research from School Decision →