Greater Iowa City, Inc. understands that the financial situation facing the Iowa City Community School District is serious and complex. The school district is an important partner in economic and workforce development, and we are closely monitoring the situation and stand ready to offer support from the business community.
The Iowa City Community School District serves 14,500 students, employs 2,400 teachers and staff, and manages over thirty buildings, making it one of the largest and most complex organizations in our county. The district’s work impacts the entire community, and Greater IC is invested in its success.
It will likely take time to untangle the situation and have a clear picture of exactly what happened. While we wait, it is important that we do not lose sight of what we already know to be true about this district.
The Iowa City Community School District is one of the best in the state of Iowa. West High has been ranked the #1 high school in Iowa by U.S. News & World Report for four consecutive years, and City High and Liberty High both rank among the top 15 in the state. This year, 21 students were recognized as National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists. The district offers more than 25 AP courses — the most comprehensive AP program in Iowa — and students are earning college credit through concurrent enrollment at Kirkwood Community College and the University of Iowa. Recently, the district saw a 9 percent reduction in chronic absenteeism and a 43 percent increase in postsecondary readiness, measured through work-based learning.
These are not just numbers. They are the result of teachers and students showing up every single day and doing remarkable work together.
There is currently a lot of uncertainty, locally and nationally. But what anchors us is this community, and the educators and young people at the heart of it. We take tremendous pride in what our students are accomplishing, and the financial challenges facing the district administration do not diminish that pride. Our students are finishing out the school year strong. Let’s keep celebrating that.
Greater Iowa City, Inc., has always stood with our local schools. Strong public schools are the foundation of a strong community. We remain committed to building the curriculum, services, and student collaborations that connect our business community to the next generation of Johnson County talent.
