Just curious, what is your job?
I believe you coach or have coached at a few of the different area schools? Do you work directly for or with any of the area schools?
Cedar Rapdis school open enrollment question
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I believe you coach or have coached at a few of the different area schools? Do you work directly for or with any of the area schools?
Depends on how good your kid is at sports.
Yes, I have coached at three area schools for a total of twenty years. I used to work in higher education as an instructor, and last Summer I took a position working for a university administration and two high schools to prepare and connect students to colleges and careers.
I'm not going to share specifics bc they're personal experiences of people, some of whom you'll likely know, and God knows what you'll do with the info.
One is a very respected longtime faculty member who only shared some info with me bc I've known him for years.
Numerous other friends of mine, many who were Jefferson graduates themselves, have either pulled their kids out of the school or moved to get them out in the last 5+ years.
Yes a big part of the problem is due to some of the students there. That's obvious. Their making the learning environment shitty and unsafe is a huge part of why most consider it a poor school right now.
It's unfortunate and it's not like those accepting the current reality take pleasure in it, but again, intentionally enrolling your kid at Jeff right now would be idiotic when you have far better options.
So how is the learning environment “shitty” or “unsafe”? Can you at least give specifics on that? Because I don’t know any incidents that made the staff feel unsafe, or conditions that made the environment not conducive to learning? Because (and I’m not necessarily saying this about your info) it’s second hand and flat out misinformation about 100 percent of the time. Same goes for Wash. Complaints tend to be less about substance and more to simple race and class snobbery because they are urban schools. A simple walk through on just about any day would prove that and dispel many myths. This is what I’d strongly recommend to any parent.
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Yep, there it is... everyone commenting on issues at Jeff and to an extent Wash are just snobs and racists. I sometimes forget what an angry toxic person you are.
Going overboard with your LinnMar and Xavier hate pretty much killed any credibility you had in this thread with anyone from CR anyway.
OP, ignore this guy, trust us.
OR you’ve bought in to a load of bullshit. Did you not catch multiple people lay out the EXACT issues with Linn Mar and Xavier here? You think they are ALL just lying? I know far more than you on this subject, and I have a mountain of empirical evidence to back it up.
You’ve been pushing that propaganda pretty hard for a long time. Because you work for them and feel loyal. I get it, that’s understandable. But, anyone who lives in this area knows it isn’t true.
Again, you’re gaslighting every person in this thread who has testified to every truth I have uttered. You’re in the Catholic cult. We get it. You get soccer. You are a good mod. But you’re gaslighting us on Cedar Rapids area schools if you think all of us, the only ones who have actually provided evidence in this thread, are all lying.
I live in the area and you’re wrong, so there goes your theory about “anyone who lives in the area”.
Well, that settles it I guess. OP, send your kids to Jefferson.
And, please do come back and give us your experience in a few years.
And, please do come back and give us your experience in a few years.
I hate to bring it up, but there was an exodus of teachers from Kennedy to Linn Mar over the past few years. Probably didn't want the higher salary offered and likely nothing.
College Community poached some decent administrators from there as well. Wondering if it was just an issue of salary?
Was in my wife's department. There's likely more to it, but two of her former colleagues from Kennedy wanted out and chose a lower salary at LM, albeit not a large difference in pay. May be more related to administrative policies.
I know of some rank-and-file disgruntlement from Prairie HS within the past few years.
if they redraw them anymore the kids that live across the street from kennedy will have to go to wash.
I never knew this but I have spent months admiring his “laffing” meme… pinehawk is every bit as inconsequential as I.
The difference between us is I believe in spirit of the US Constitution and he doesn’t.
Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
Stop spreading this blatant falsehood as if you actually know what has and what hasn't been done. So tired of the crap on here that is perpetuated. Now, to be clear, the scores are no longer published that's true. However, the Gazette used to publish the scores of the Cedar Rapids metro school's performance on the ITBS and that included the metro Catholic schools.
You should do some actual research before claiming to know something that you do not. I get it that this is a message board but people that should have some credibility, particularly a teacher IIRC, people tend to believe them as if they know.
I'll post a screen cap because the article is behind a pay wall and if I simple assert that this linked article has a graph you will say that it doesn't show what I say it does. Thsi is just one example and there are many others for years before and after the 20032004 link I've shown below.
Oh so what you are saying is, if you take all the bad kids out and judge it by its physical spaces, it is as good as any CR school right now? Are you actually serious?
The sort of kids in a school has a lot to do with how one's child does. Sure, there are kids strong enough to do well DESPITE these obstacles, but it is much harder at schools like Jefferson.
Stop trying to polish a turd. That is what Jefferson is for most kids. Youd be crazy to move to CR and choose to live in a Jefferson attendance area when you have so many better choices.
That is, in fact, OP's question. Where to move....
My dad and 2 uncles coached and were administrators in cr. You are not in the same league. Can't imagine how awful your teams must have been. The level of hate you bring to people who disagree with you is remarkable.
If you're wanting to have your kids attend a smaller school, I've heard really good things about both Central City and Albernett. I know the Central City principal and he is fantastic.
As far as listening to the posters on here regarding one school being great compared to another, Each will have some insight and that may be what you need, but I'd say you should see if you can visit each school. You know what is best for your children.
As far as listening to the posters on here regarding one school being great compared to another, Each will have some insight and that may be what you need, but I'd say you should see if you can visit each school. You know what is best for your children.
We went undefeated last year in my final season. Our third conference championship in dozen years as the head coach. So sorry to have to break that to you!
The interesting part is I've simply shared facts, both observed anecdotally and in the data. And all those who have disagreed have offered is distortions and anger, your post ironically included.
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Regarding the OP and where to live. I like the areas surrounding Kennedy, Linn Mar, then Prairie in that order. I really like Robbins and the north part of Hiawatha near the Fareway. Wash is really interesting due to extreme differences in the socioeconomic status. I personally don't like the Mt Vernon Rd area from a businesses perspective, but some neighborhoods are really great.
I don't like the housing areas surrounding Jeff or Marion and wouldn't recommend.
I've excluded Xavier because the posters are here want to argue about it and it really isn't relevant to your initial question.
I don't like the housing areas surrounding Jeff or Marion and wouldn't recommend.
I've excluded Xavier because the posters are here want to argue about it and it really isn't relevant to your initial question.
That wasn't, in fact, OPs question. It was where their kids should go to school. Multiple people have conflicted your ignorance on Jefferson vs other area schools with first hand accounts and data. Ts and Ps.
Fourth and Eighth grade students were going to Xavier? That's AMAZING!
Try to find any Iowa Assessment or Average ACT data that isn't self reported. Then ask yourself why they don't want to report that in comparison with the nearby public schools. Good luck!
So, no comment on your incorrect assertions about the ITBS data that I have provided irrefutable proof of your ignorance?
I normal person would say, huh, I wasn't aware of that thanks for pointing that out. I was wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
Because of this, I don't know how anyone could trust anything you say on this topic, frankly.
I have articulated my issues with Jefferson and it's based on information I have been given my a friend whose kids attended there so let's agree to disagree on that.
The high school data was below the 4th and 8th grade data. Ill post that too since you seem to need to be proven wrong. Only so much can be captured at a time in one screen. So yes, high school ITBS data for metro catholic and metro schools was published.
This one fits better on the screen. Date posted.
I stand corrected on the old ITBS. I've been here 20 years and they've never reported data in that time. Good to see that, despite their massive advantage of not needing to serve special education students, or behavior goal students, or self selecting high socioeconomic/gifted sutdents' families, they performed pretty much the same or even worse than public schools.
It’s mostly been anecdotal.
With that said, your history within the CR district does warrant some consideration to your anecdotal evidence. My wife, who currently works at a college in the area, would disagree with you on Xavier and Linn Mar students being prepared. It is her opinion that they are some of the most prepared and she has voiced that to me on many occasions. Linn Mar is also a diverse school. It’s where the Indian population in CR is sending their children, mostly because of where Collins Aerospace is located.
I get it. You’re biased and a huge supporter of public schools, especially where there’s a diverse population of students. I am too, especially in the CR/IC corridor. Unless you live in an area where public schools just aren’t good, there’s really no need to send your children to a private school. Cedar Rapids is an area where you don’t need to send your children to a private school. The only reason to do it is the religious factor that it offers and I suppose athletics in Xavier’s case.
Washington and Jefferson do have their issues that warrant significant consideration. My wife has visited those schools and the faculty has requested that she be escorted in and out every time for safety reasons. She’s never experienced that at the other schools in the area. But that doesn’t mean they are terrible schools and she has always had a good experience at those schools.
And while different, Linn Mar has issues too, namely the size of the school and classes. As you pointed out, bullying is an issue as well though I don’t know that it’s different from anywhere else. In my opinion, those need just as much consideration as Washington and Jefferson issues. The school and class sizes are huge. There also this perception that Linn Mar families are stuck up and I can totally see that.
At the end of the day, it’s about what’s important to the parents and what they want for their children. All we can do is give information and share experiences. You do a pretty decent job of doing that.
Overall, really solid take. The one issue is the bolded sentence. Sorry, but that just sounds completely fictional. Is your wife prone to hyperbole? Or are you referring to the check-in policy for volunteers at the main entrances of all CR public schools? That I could see.
Again, you and @Gus is dead are right about touring the schools and talking to parents before making a judgment. For example, they could talk to these parents.
Cedar Rapids Jefferson team brings home national academic decathlon title
J-Hawks teams have won 22 consecutive state titles, but national award is its first.
www.thegazette.com
Overall, really solid take. The one issue is the bolded sentence. Sorry, but that just sounds completely fictional. Is your wife prone to hyperbole? Or are you referring to the check-in policy for volunteers at the main entrances of all CR public schools? That I could see.
Again, you and @Gus is dead are right about touring the schools and talking to parents before making a judgment. For example, they could talk to these parents.
Cedar Rapids Jefferson team brings home national academic decathlon title
J-Hawks teams have won 22 consecutive state titles, but national award is its first.
Maybe. She has been known to exaggerate from time to time. I’m just passing along her experience as she described it to me which was mostly pleasant. She specifically said escorted, not the check in policy.
Column 1 CR Metro
Column 4 CR Metro Catholic.
Now you may think there isnt much difference. There is. 99% of Metro Catholic students took the test. 90% of CR metro did. Who do you think skipped the testing? The future Rhodes Scholars? I doubt it.
Even with this, the Metro Catholic outscored those schools by 4-9 percent. That is not 'pretty much the same or even worse than public schools'.
And...they particularly outperformed the metro CR public schools on the at risk kids. Those on free and reduced. The opposite of what you claim.
I'll just add this Wheel of Fortune puzzle. Not to add fuel to the fire or anything!
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Follow carefully here: Linn Mar, a public school, was outperforming them 20 years ago on these metrics. Other schools had similar scores at other levels DESPITE the massive advantages I listed, including keeping low socioeconomic kids if they are gifted, Isn’t it weird how as soon as they didn’t have to report this data showing that they aren’t God’s gift to education compared to a public school nearby, they didn’t keep reporting it? Hmmmmmmm….
I don't think this counts as outperforming:
Linn Mar scores in proficiency math 91.8
Catholic 88.8
Linn Mar scores in proficiency reading 81.4
Catholic 83.3
Linn Mar scores in proficiency science 86.4
Catholic 88.8
for an average of
Linn Mar average 86.5
Catholic 86.9
I hate to continue to argue as other poster will be bored of it but........ you continue to draw conclusions not based in fact. I cant let that stand. You are making up your own stats. And this is one academic year I have posted.
I posted these to make one point, but I can make others if you'd like, and that point is that you were wrong about your initial assertion that:
"Since before Xavier ever became a high school, they have never publicly reported ITBS scores because the state didn't require them to. "
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Wash should be 4A for football with their enrollment. The lines should be redrawn. That’s crazy for a school in the 2nd largest city in the state. I’m also not oblivious that this will push more kids to Prairie, LinMar and Xavier.
As far as open enrollment goes in CR, I wouldn't take the chance. Too many variables to rely upon it. Let's just say some demographics have a distinct advantage.
I would buy a house in the Viola Gibson, Harding, Kennedy district. By far the best route in CR. Nothing is perfect, but these three schools are really good.
CR schools overall are a mess. It's problems start at the ELSC. They talk a big game, but in the end don't support teachers, and dont hold kids accountable.
I'm glad I'm near the end with a Jr in High School.
I would buy a house in the Viola Gibson, Harding, Kennedy district. By far the best route in CR. Nothing is perfect, but these three schools are really good.
CR schools overall are a mess. It's problems start at the ELSC. They talk a big game, but in the end don't support teachers, and dont hold kids accountable.
I'm glad I'm near the end with a Jr in High School.
No, not “by far” the best path. Maple Grove, Taft, Kennedy is very close and may end up being better. Also decent is Erskine, McKinley, Wash and West Willow/MG,Taft, Jeff.
And Harding, sadly, has had its major incidents the last two years, including ironically today.
You are absolutely right about the gutless lack of support for teachers from the previous two superintendent administrations at the ELSC. And yes, I took on my current role under the current administration, but there has definitely been a message that the inmates will no longer run the asylum. It got especially bad at the middle school level with principals at Roosevelt and Wilson that have thankfully moved on. The DOJ thing really rattled the higher ups.
I am no help on Cedar Rapids from personal experience, we haven’t been in the USA in years and our kids go to an international school. But this data could help you. You will have to request individual schools as most is by districts. Has school maps, suspensions, test scores, ect
PK-12 Education Statistics
Explore data collected by the Iowa Department of Education (Department) in various formats for PK-12 schools in the state.
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