The top reported proficiency rate is 48% in Math. The lowest is 30% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Johnson Steam Academy School
Johnson STEAM Academy School is a regular public elementary school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in the Cedar Rapids Community School District. As the school's name signals, it operates as a STEAM Academy, an educational approach that integrates science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics into the curriculum. This focus on project-based and interdisciplinary learning is the school's central identity, distinguishing it from a traditional elementary model and giving families a choice within the district for a pedagogy centered on those fields.
The school is located in the southeast part of Cedar Rapids. Cedar Rapids itself is a mid-sized city and the economic hub of Eastern Iowa, with a strong industrial base anchored by major employers like Collins Aerospace and grain processing facilities from companies such as Archer Daniels Midland and Cargill. The city's downtown sits on the Cedar River and offers cultural institutions like the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. The district context matters here. Cedar Rapids Community School District has been actively reshaping its elementary footprint, opening new schools and closing older ones as part of a long-term facilities plan. This means the physical conditions and attendance boundaries affecting Johnson STEAM Academy are part of a district-wide change, not static.
The student body at Johnson STEAM Academy is diverse in composition. The largest groups identify as White and Black, with a notable share of students identifying as two or more races and a smaller Hispanic population. A substantial share of the students come from low-income households, as measured by free or reduced-price meal eligibility. Data on the share of students with Individualized Education Programs or English Learner status was not reported in the available information.
On state assessments administered in the most recent school year, performance across subjects shows a clear pattern. In math, just under half of students scored at a proficient level. In English language arts, about a third of students met the proficiency benchmark. In science, less than a third of students scored proficient. When compared to other schools within Linn County, Johnson STEAM Academy's overall proficiency across all tested subjects falls in the bottom quartile. The school's participation rates on the tests were high, so the results reflect nearly all enrolled students. This is the most straightforward academic picture of the school: achievement is below the midpoint of other schools in the county, with reading and science showing particular soft spots that a parent may want to look into further with the school.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Similarly, data on chronic absenteeism was not available. Several areas that are often part of a school's profile, such as specific course access, staffing ratios, and discipline data, were also absent from the available information. A parent interested in class sizes or the range of elective or enrichment programs would need to ask the school directly for those details.
In short, Johnson STEAM Academy is a purpose-built elementary school for families who want a STEAM-focused pathway within a large, changing district. The academic numbers show it is a school where proficiency rates trail those of many other schools in Linn County, particularly in reading and science. The diversity of its student body and its economic makeup are defining characteristics of the school community, and the broader district's ongoing facility changes mean the school's context will continue to evolve.
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