Iowa / Cedar Rapids Schools (Washington, Colo: middle-class, transfer, top school)

[Philip T]

Hello,

Generally from the Texas / Dallas and a few other forums here . . . and this may seem like a really goofy question -- but how are the schools around Iowa, and Cedar Rapids, in particular?

Looking at getting involved in a project up there, and may stay around longer.

We have a 10, 7, and 5 year old, so schools are a Big Deal to us. Like I say being concerned about schools may seem goofy, but in our area it is a Huge issue.

Do you like your schools, do your kids seem to, do you consider them decent quality?

Thanks.

[defdumbandblonde]

I lived in Kentucky before I moved here, which at the time ranked about 46th in education. I went to private school, but where I was living had nothing like that available, and my child struggled horribly. Schools were actually one of the main reasons I moved to Iowa, but she was so far behind it was rough for a couple of years. I think generally people will say that the parochial schools are the best, Lin-Mar is considered a top school, but when my daughter transferred there I did not really like it.

My daughter attended McKinley and Washington High School. As far as i'm concerned, Washington High School is the best thing that ever happened to her. These two schools have such a diverse mix of students; poor, middle-class, rich, all races, all religions....the kind of people you meet and deal with in real, everyday life after school. The principal called me my first name when I stopped in, and my daughter was there 9 years ago. She had learning difficulties and the teachers bent over backwards to help her. I really have never seen such a concentrated effort to help a child before.

Actually, there really are no bad schools here as far as I've encountered.

[Philip T]

Hey d,d,and b --

Wanted to thank you for your answer.

Pretty much what i was hoping to hear.

Same thing we heard in Colorado -- there folks just look a little puzzled and say -- "What are you asking, Phil? All the schools are pretty good."

Great.

You understand, that as we are in Texas, like you describe Kentucky -- schools are a Major Issue.

Diverse is very fine by us, it just seems that quality of schools speaks very loudly to the community values.

[smpliving]

The schools are EXCELLENT here. My kids were 4 and 6 when we moved to Cedar Rapids from southern California. They are now 22 and 24, both graduated from college (one just this spring from the University of Iowa). Mine went to the Cedar Rapids school district, i.e, Nixon Elementary, Harding Middle, and Kennedy High. My oldest one is a middle school teacher now, but in the Kansas City area.

[Philip T]

Thanks . . . but sort of curious . . . are all the schools there named after US Presidents?

[smpliving]

Just the schools in the Cedar Rapids district. Linn Mar and College Community not so.