Architect hired to begin construction of Cedar Rapids high schools’ college and career academies

CEDAR RAPIDS — Jefferson High School will feature an Engineering and Transportation Academy and Washington High School will have an Engineering and Manufacturing Academy, and freshman academies will be built at both high schools, by Invision Architecture.

The Cedar Rapids school board approved without discussion Monday an agreement with Invision Architecture of Waterloo to renovate and build additions to the two schools.

The creation of college and career academies and pathways is an effort to increase graduation rates and ensure students leave the Cedar Rapids Community School District with something more than a diploma — such as college credit or an industry certification.

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“We are preparing our kids to choose to stay here and work here and contribute to our city,” Cedar Rapids schools Director of Operations Chad Schumacher said in an interview with The Gazette.

The school district is preparing to launch freshman programs at three high schools for the 2025-26 school year. The academies will be small and supportive learning environments contained within a larger high school setting. The following year — the 2026-27 school year — the district will launch academies for sophomores, juniors and seniors at the schools.

The plan is for Jefferson and Washington high schools to have academies where students take courses with a college and career theme for at least two years, taught by a team of teachers from different disciplines. Academies also have partnerships with local employers and bring in resources from outside the high schools.

Kennedy High will offer a slightly different version of college and career education, called pathways. Pathways are series of three or more courses with a specific college and career focus. Students in a pathway can take courses alongside peers with broader career interests for a more traditional high school experience.

The goal is to have the theme of the academies based on local workforce needs and student interest.

The career-focus of the pathways and academies at each high school will be different. Students likely will be able to choose which career field they’re interested in, and attend a different high school than the one that’s within their residential attendance boundary.

To fund the construction of the academies and pathways, the school district is leveraging $30 million from its Physical Plant and Equipment Levy, an existing capital projects fund for the purchase and improvement of grounds, construction and remodeling of buildings, major equipment purchases including technology.

The tax levy, which expires in 2025, must be renewed by district voters every 10 years. The ballot question could appear in a September election. If approved, an extension would not raise the existing PPEL property tax rate.

An additional $30 million from Secure An Advanced Vision for Education, an existing statewide sales tax, also is being set aside to fund infrastructure for college and career learning.

SAVE is another capital projects fund for the purchase and improvement of grounds and purchase, construction and remodeling allocated by the state to school districts based on enrollment.

Schumacher said it will cost “significantly more” than the combined $60 million to fund the college and career academies and pathways.

The school district also is eyeing taking a school bond referendum to district voters in November 2025. School officials currently are working to create a new plan to address facility needs and support academic programs after voters rejected a bond last fall.

The agreement with Invision Architecture details the square footage of the academies at each school.

Jefferson High’s freshman academy will be 51,500 square feet, which includes 37,500 square feet of existing space renovation and 14,000 square feet of new construction.

The Engineering and Transportation Academy at Jefferson High will be 35,000 square feet, which includes 20,000 square feet of existing space renovation and 15,000 square feet of new construction

Washington High’s freshman academy will be 79,000 square feet, which includes 23,000 square feet of existing space renovation and 19,000 square feet of new construction.

The Engineering and Manufacturing Academy at Washington High will total 37,000 square feet, which includes 20,000 square feet of existing space renovation and 17,000 square feet of new construction.

Comments: (319) 398-8411; grace.king@thegazette.com