2023 Best Schools for STEM in the Cedar Rapids Area

• Iowa City Community School District, IA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.02 out of 5  326 reviews

Senior: I like how involved the faculty are, they want you to do well. My teachers challenged me to take harder classes and were involved in helping me not just do well on the test, but actually understand. I also like how West High is committed to making the school equitable for everyone, constantly working to make West High a safe environment for every student. The students are also very welcoming and tend to stay away from the stereotypical high school social hierarchy.... Read 326 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,466

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Iowa City Community School District, IA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  223 reviews

Senior: Iowa City High is a great campus full of insanely talented individuals. Students work together at this school to produce works better than many smaller universities. That being said, that also makes the school quite competitive... Read 223 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,572

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Cedar Rapids Community School District, IA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  337 reviews

Freshman: So I'm class of 2025, meaning I've only had one year of high school. The classes I took my freshman year were as follows; LA 9, Biology, Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Advanced Algebra 2, Performance PE, AP Human Geography, Spanish 1, and Study Skills. That's a full schedule. On top of that I did Cross Country in the fall and Soccer in the spring. So yeah, I thrive when I'm busy. They have two wonderful counselors dedicated to just Freshman. The counselors visited my middle school and helped us all plan out our classes. Officer Tran is our school resource officer. He walks around the hallways and talks to people, very approachable. Also the band program is great! I'm not the best musician but I felt very much at home with marching band. The sports I've done were well organized and had very positive environments. Every classroom is different. Most of my teachers were very kind and supportive people. And I'm running out of words. So, basically everything was amazing except the food!... Read 337 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,661

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Iowa City Community School District, IA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.26 out of 5  19 reviews

Senior: Liberty High is a very nice establishment with high-end facilities. There is plenty of room for all of their students, faculty members, and staff. Everyone is given their own computers, books, and all of the necessary resources. There are so many opportunities to meet new people and make friends. But for those who may be struggling, the teachers help make it a very good and inclusive environment. They offer many different programs and extracurriculars that help bring people together. I know I was really nervous when I was first going into high school but this made it really easy to like Liberty from the start. My experience with Liberty High was very good overall and given the opportunity, I think I would do it all over again.... Read 19 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,155

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Linn-Mar Community School District, IA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.84 out of 5  296 reviews

Senior: I like the classes offered, the list is very diverse and there are many paths available for whatever interests students have. When I talk with my friends from other schools in the area they say we have way more classes. Even with good academics there are still some bad parts about the school, there are many people (students and very few teachers) who are discriminatory against people in the LGBTQ+ community. There also isn’t equal funding through out the entire school, for example the sports is funded much more than the arts like music or theater.... Read 296 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,233

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Williamsburg Community School District, IA•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  95 reviews

Alum: I moved from an area with 300 students per grade to the Williamsburg School District, and there was a large and positive difference! The smaller class size means that classes are more personalized and tailored to each student, and there are more classes to choose from. This school also uses a DualEnrollment plan with Kirkwood Community College where students are able to earn transferable college credit while still in high school. There are plenty of AP and advanced classes, shop classes, and multiple clubs and programs to join as well.... Read 95 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 581

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Iowa Valley Community School District, IA•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.55 out of 5  11 reviews

Junior: My experience at Iowa Valley involves me doing volleyball, color guard, basketball cheer, and being very involved in the music department (specifically choir). Overall, my experience has been really good so far and I have lots of great friends. There are always room for improvement though. Some things would be more student involvement, especially from the student council. I would like to see them try to find ways they can get the students involved and new ways to improve this school in general.... Read 11 reviews

• grade B

• Students 247

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Highland Community School District, IA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.56 out of 5  27 reviews

Senior: I like the small school experience and how I was able to connect with all of my teachers and peers. The teachers, especially our school counselor, open us up to so many opportunities. I have been able to be involved in things such as earning college credits in high school, many red cord opportunities, job shadows and so much more.... Read 27 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 171

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• West Branch, IA•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.22 out of 5  37 reviews

Parent: My daughter started attending Scattergood as a freshman and it has been the best experience for her academically, socially and for her mental health as well! She is challenged academically, accepted for who she is at Scattergood and flourishes as a person. She has a wonderful and diverse group of friends. When coming back from a weekend at home as we pulled into the driveway, she said - "It's Scattergood, my favorite place in the world." We couldn't be more pleased with this school and are certain of the positive impact it will have on our daughter for the rest of her life.... Read 37 reviews

• grade A

• Students 26

• Student-teacher ratio 3:1

• Cedar Rapids Community School District, IA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.99 out of 5  169 reviews

Senior: Washington is a very good school, everyone supports each other and there is a great deal over diversity here. There are many clubs that make you feel welcome, dungeons and dragons, the schools literary press, we have even have different clubs that teach different cultures! Our fine arts department also gets a lot of support, many parents, friends, and family show up to performances and give very generous donations. Not only does Washington have good clubs and a supportive environment but there are many opportunities to get ahead for college, They have beneficial AP courses with teachers who actually take the time to teach and make sure everyone is on the same page, you can be involved in college classes while still being in highschool or you can pick classes that go at a slower pace, there are many classes to choose so you can find the best ones accommodated for you. It’s a positive environment that welcomes any feedback!... Read 169 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,189

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Iowa, IA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  88 reviews

Senior: Being a international student coming into this school, it created a environment that's safe and friendly for me. The teachers and staff all contribute to provide the best experience for everyone. They pushes you to do your best and become the best version of yourself. The administration is very well organized and provides weekly updates to the parents. Regina provides a wide variety of clubs and activities and the school community is very supportive at sporting events. The coaching staff are very experienced and the sport programs have very successful history. Cafeteria food is in need of improvement and lunch time are short, however, the basic nutrition need are met. Regina have a very good college readiness with the help from the counselor but visit with the counselor is limited due to the fact that we only have one counselor. Resources and facilities are all well maintained and provided with Indoor baseball/softball facility and newly built lifting room and wrestling room.... Read 88 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 920

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Cedar Rapids, IA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  216 reviews

Senior: I truly love to Xavier and everything about it. The teachers and staff are wonderful and try their best to make Xavier feel like a second home. The teachers and staff at Xavier push you harder than you’ve ever been pushed before, because the want you to succeed. The classes can be very challenging but they are challenging so that students continue to be interested and push themselves. It is a great environment to send your kids to!... Read 216 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 662

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Solon Community School District, IA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.01 out of 5  79 reviews

Senior: I love Solon high school! Through out my 4 years here, I have felt welcomed and at home. I have received a tremendous education thanks to the great teachers and staff. I decided to take some of the harder, advanced classes here. These math and science courses have made me feel prepared for college! All athletics at Solon High School are fantastic. The support from parents and our community is amazing and I know that all of our athletes appreciate it. Our fine arts are also a big part of what makes Solon high school so great. I have been apart of both choir and jazz choir. These groups have shaped me to be the person I am today. If someone was considering coming to Solon high school, I would encourage them to do so! They will not only get a fantastic education, but their life would be impacted greatly for the better.... Read 79 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 500

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Mount Vernon Community School District, IA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.89 out of 5  54 reviews

Senior: Overall, Mount Vernon is a very good school. This can be seen in our test scores, our well-rounded performance in sports and the fine arts, and in the large amount of students who chose to open enroll here every year. Mount Vernon is a great school not only for it's academics, but for the values that are instilled in us. It's rare to find a student in the high school who isn't multi-involved (often in sports and fine arts) working at least one job, and volunteering for several organizations and causes. We also excel because of our teachers, who (overall) are strong and passionate. The small size of the school really allows for one-on-one help for those who want it. Despite the school's strength, there are things that need to change. The main issue with Mount Vernon is diversity. You can count the number of students of color on your hands, and we only have 1 staff member of color, who is a softball coach. I am the only Asian womxn in my high school, and it's been kind of isolating.... Read 54 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 441

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Mid-Prairie Community School District, IA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.02 out of 5  54 reviews

Junior: My experience with this school so far has been amazing! All of the teachers are involved and want to help students succeed. Many of the teaching staff are more than willing to stay late, come early, and sometimes miss lunch breaks to help me as a student. Due to the teachers involvement, I can be involved in many of the various extracurricular activities such as soccer, cross country, concert, jazz, pep, and marching band, as well as the math, tech, and makers clubs. The only small problems I have is that the food is not the best quality and there isn't always enough of the main dish for the whole school and I am not always challenged when it comes to certain areas at school, such as the English and some of the history classes, but the teachers that run them are incredible at there jobs and making the subjects enjoyable.... Read 54 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 344

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Clear Creek Amana Community School District, IA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  145 reviews

Alum: Clear Creek Amana High School is a great school district to achieve your goals towards college. Teachers are great at helping their students with homework and achieving their dreams.... Read 145 reviews

• grade B

• Students 707

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Marion Independent School District, IA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  101 reviews

Alum: I loved taking college classes in high school. Many high schools in my area pushed students to take AP classes rather than college courses, but because Marion paid for college courses at our local community colleges, I earned over 20 college credits by the time I graduated!... Read 101 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 690

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• West Branch Community School District, IA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.48 out of 5  42 reviews

Senior: West Branch is a school that has options for most students. We have programs that can teach students in becoming themselves. We have an amazing FFA program that brings students from all around and teaches them the importance of family and work balance. Our ACE program is great for students looking to not go into college but something other like construction. Something that I would like to see change is the athletics. It is more know for football in our school. Other sports that aren't as popular aren't getting much of a spotlight that they earned for. I think that having this can better change the school in showing that they are about even the littlest sports in the world.... Read 42 reviews

• grade C+

• Students 238

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1