Magnet Schools: Cedar Rapids School District Moves Forward Strategy, More Choices For Families

Cedar Rapids Community School District wants to provide more choices for the families to attract more enrollees. Thus, the district is opening more magnet schools at every academic level over the next few years.

Trace Pickering, associate superintendent at Cedar Rapids Community School District said when it comes to best education choices, parents initially think that it can only be found in private schools and charter schools. Hence, many parents sent their students to the schools outside the district.

So, to reverse the years of falling enrollment, the district moved forward by creating magnet schools. Moreover, the district aims to meet the students' learning needs. "What we're trying to respond to our community is, we can do that in the schools that the public owns," Pickering explained to The Gazette. "The public schools can offer these kind of choices."

Cedar Rapids Magnet Schools

Last August, the district opened its first magnet school, the Johnson STEAM Academy, which focuses on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. To accelerate the district's progress and to provide more choices for the families and the students, the district will be launching its second magnet school next year. The forthcoming magnet school is called the Kenwood Leadership Academy and it will focus on teaching leadership to students, according to KCRG.

The Lottery

Any student who wish to enroll at the district's magnet schools can enter the lottery. Children residing in other school districts are welcome to apply as well. To identify the interested enrollees, the district has opened a lottery since February.

Parents can virtually enter the child's name in the application form. On April 16, the district will randomly pick the students that will fill the spots at Johnson STEAM Academy and at Kenwood Leadership Academy.

The Magnet Schools Expansion Plan

Cedar Rapids District is planning to apply for a federal grant that could provide a substantial amount of money to create more magnet schools. If the district will be permitted to receive the money, it wants to add five more magnet schools over the next three years.