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City Hall Hiawatha Iowa January 2011Photo: RifeIdeas · CC BY-SA 3.0
D
Schools in Hiawatha · Cedar Rapids Community School District

Hiawatha’s public schools score below 94% of Iowa districts on tests and graduation

On the state math tests, 51% of Hiawatha’s students scored proficient, below the Iowa average (64%). The grade covers the public school district serving Hiawatha, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Iowa, not nationally.

#126of 140 Iowa townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Iowa state tests taken in spring 2022, when 95% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
61%
▼ 9 pts vs IA 70%
2021–22
Math proficiency
51%
▼ 13 pts vs IA 64%
2021–22
Graduate on time
78%
▼ 10 pts vs IA 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$14.9K
▲ 9% vs IA $13.7K
FY2024
Students per teacher
14.6
IA 14.1
Schools in town
3
8,158 students on the public path
In brief

Hiawatha’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 61% of tested students were proficient in reading and 51% in math, against 70% and 64% statewide; 95% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

78% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Iowa. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $14,892 per student, against $13,713 across Iowa (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then six middle and four high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is up 6% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Essential Montessori (private) is in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Hiawatha’s grade

D Test scoresD Graduation

D: better than 6% of Iowa school districts, #126 of 140 Iowa towns. Both inputs trail the Iowa average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

Iowa school districts we grade (326)Better than 6%
Lower resultsHigher results
Iowa towns with similar household incomes (641)Better than 6%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 9,662 test results and a graduating class of 1,206 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 95% of Hiawatha’s students in the tested grades sat them (9,674 in math, 9,651 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Hiawatha, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC−
6–86 middle schoolsDepends on your addressD to C+
9–124 high schoolsDepends on your addressC− to B

Hiawatha’s public schools are run by Cedar Rapids Community School District, which also serves Bertram, Cedar Rapids, Palo and Robins. Parts of Hiawatha (8% of its land) are served by Alburnett instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Cedar Rapids Community School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 31 schools · 15,003 students, up 6% since 2020–21 · 14.6 per teacher (IA 14.1)
$14,892IA $13,713 · FY2024
D
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading61%
State average 69.7% · 9651 students tested
Math51%
State average 63.8% · 9674 students tested

Hiawatha vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Iowa towns that share Hiawatha’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
HiawathaDCedar Rapids
Cedar RapidsDCedar Rapids PK–12 · College PK–12
RobinsDCedar Rapids PK–12 · Alburnett PK–12

All 2 neighbors share Cedar Rapids with Hiawatha, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Hiawatha

13 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Iowa’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Hiawathaby address
Hiawatha Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C−
334 students12:1Rate it →
Nixon Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C−
289 students12:1Rate it →
Also serving Hiawathain other towns
Harding Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Cedar Rapids
C+
710 students16:1Rate it →
Taft Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Cedar Rapids
C
593 students15:1Rate it →
Roosevelt Creative Corridor Business Academy
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Cedar Rapids
D
484 students14:1Rate it →
Franklin Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Cedar Rapids
C−
469 students14:1Rate it →
McKinley STEAM Academy
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Cedar Rapids
D
426 students13:1Rate it →
Wilson Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Cedar Rapids
D
422 students14:1Rate it →
John F Kennedy High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Cedar Rapids
B
1,648 students18:1Rate it →
Thomas Jefferson High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Cedar Rapids
C−
1,501 students18:1Rate it →
George Washington High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Cedar Rapids
C−
1,182 students15:1Rate it →
City View High
Secondary · Grades 9–11 · Cedar Rapids
100 students17:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Essential Montessori
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Nonsectarian
39 studentsRate it →

Questions about Hiawatha’s schools

Are Hiawatha’s schools good?

On Iowa’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Hiawatha children attend score below 94% of Iowa’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D Schools grade, #126 of 140 Iowa towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 6%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Hiawatha in?

Cedar Rapids Community School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 15,003 students in 31 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Hiawatha are served by Alburnett.

Where do Hiawatha kids go to high school?

One of 4 high schools, depending on your address: John F Kennedy High School, Thomas Jefferson High School, George Washington High School and City View High.

What is Hiawatha’s graduation rate?

78% of the class of 2023 in Cedar Rapids Community School District graduated in four years, against 88% across Iowa.

How much does Hiawatha spend per student?

$14,892 in Cedar Rapids Community School District (FY2024), against $13,713 across Iowa. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Hiawatha?

Yes: Essential Montessori (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 39 students).

Parents talk

What Hiawatha families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Hiawatha → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Iowa. Stars are from neighbors.