The top reported proficiency rate is 63% in English language arts. The lowest is 46% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Grant Wood Elementary School
Grant Wood Elementary School serves students from preschool through fifth grade as a regular public school within the Cedar Rapids Community School District. It sits in a residential area of Cedar Rapids, a mid-sized city that functions as the economic hub of Eastern Iowa, anchored by major employers such as Collins Aerospace and large grain-processing facilities operated by companies like Archer Daniels Midland and Cargill. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, with downtown cultural institutions including the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art and the Paramount Theatre shaping civic life.
The school enrollment is moderate for an elementary school and draws a diverse student body. The student population includes a substantial share of white students, alongside Black students and students who identify as two or more races, with smaller shares of Hispanic and Asian students. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a community with significant economic need. Data on special education identification and English learner status were not available, a gap a parent may want to discuss directly with the school to understand the full picture of student support.
Grant Wood’s academic results on the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress in the most recent testing year place the school’s overall proficiency index in the bottom quartile relative to districts across Linn County. That comparison set includes thirteen districts, and Grant Wood’s results sit below the county median. In English language arts, a majority of students scored at or above the proficient level, giving the school a solid foundation in reading and writing instruction. Math proficiency was lower, with just over half of students meeting the bar, and science proficiency was lower still, with fewer than half of tested students reaching the proficient level. Because only one year of proficiency data was available for analysis, it is not possible to determine whether these results reflect a trend or a single snapshot. A parent interested in academic growth may want to ask how the school is addressing math and science performance specifically.
As an elementary school serving grades PK through 5, Grant Wood has no graduation rate to report, which is typical for a school with no high school grades. The same applies to course access metrics like Advanced Placement or career and technical education pathways, which are not relevant at this grade band. The school does not have magnet or charter status, and its Title I status was not provided. Discipline data and staffing ratios were also absent from the available information, so a parent seeking those details would need to follow up with the school or district.
The Cedar Rapids district context matters at Grant Wood. The district has been implementing a facilities master plan that opened three new elementary schools in recent years while closing older buildings and redrawing attendance boundaries, a process that affects where children are assigned and the condition of the buildings they attend. At the same time, the district approved budget reductions for the recent school year, including staff cuts and program adjustments, driven by declining enrollment and state funding that has not kept pace with costs. These district-level choices shape the resources and class sizes at individual schools like Grant Wood.
Housing in the area around the school carries a weighted home value that sits below the statewide benchmark, making it a relatively more affordable entry point into the Cedar Rapids market. Rental costs in the area have risen recently, and the estimated monthly rent is higher than the estimated mortgage payment on a typical home after a standard down payment, a pattern that favors buying if a family can manage the upfront costs. The unemployment rate in the broader economy is moderate and has been stable.
Grant Wood offers a neighborhood elementary option within a large, changing district. The school’s academic results suggest that while a majority of students meet the English language arts standard, math and science proficiency are areas where the school is working from a lower baseline. For a family considering this school, the district-level budget pressures and facility changes are worth understanding, as they affect the day-to-day classroom experience. The school’s mix of student backgrounds and high economic need may matter to families choosing a peer environment.
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