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Needs Improvement

#1222 of 1,280 schools in IA

Thomas Jefferson High School

High School · Cedar Rapids Comm School District · Cedar Rapids, IA

A Cedar Rapids Comm School District high school where students score 6 points below what's typical for similar communities.

1243 20th St SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

  • Math 49% vs IA 67% (2025)
  • Reading 64% vs IA 74% (2025)
  • 82.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress2.0Needs Improvement25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-2.04 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics3.4Needs Improvement25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency48.5% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency63.7% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg-18 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-13.4 pts
Overall Proficiency56% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)62% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected-6.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile16th
College Readiness4.0Below Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate82%
AP Participation15.2%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment2.3Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio18.3:1
District spending per student$14,623
Chronic Absenteeism45.8%

Students at Thomas Jefferson High School score 56% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 62%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 ISASP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.

Math Proficiency49%(2025 ISASP)
School
State
67%(2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency64%(2025 ISASP)
School
State
74%(2025 ISASP)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency is down 20 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 56% recently.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
71%
ELA
82%
2010
Math
79%
ELA
82%
2011
Math
78%
ELA
78%
2012
Math
79%
ELA
75%
2013
Math
74%
ELA
72%
2014
Math
71%
ELA
68%
2015
Math
75%
ELA
74%
2016
Math
70%
ELA
65%
2017
Math
65%
ELA
59%
2018
Math
59%
ELA
65%
2019
Math
59%
ELA
65%
2020*
Math
41%
ELA
62%
2021*
Math
41%
ELA
62%
2022
Math
38%
ELA
55%
2025
Math
49%
ELA
64%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 62% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 68% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 35 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

59.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

The neighborhood

Where Thomas Jefferson High School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 47Car-Dependent
  • Transit 24Minimal Transit
  • Bike 43Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High2,957/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Cedar Rapids), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$62,304

Median home value

$159,700

Median rent

$885/mo

College educated

22.5%

Homeownership

67.4%

Poverty rate

12.5%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 52404; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs2AP courses offered
15.2% participation·State avg: 1.7 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics22sports offered
11 boys'·11 girls'·64 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Metro High SchoolEnrollment path unverified3.79–122.4 mi343Compare →
Isaac Newton Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition6.2privatePK–123.1 mi274Compare →
Prairie EdgeEnrollment path unverified3.5K–123.6 mi70Compare →
George Washington High SchoolEnrollment path unverified4.09–124.1 mi1,233Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Cedar Rapids Comm School District

Schools in district
34
Rank in district
#28 of 31
District spending per student
$14,623NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
14.7%Census SAIPE · 2024

Thomas Jefferson High School is listed in Cedar Rapids Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Thomas Jefferson High School

Thomas Jefferson High School is a public high school in Cedar Rapids, IA, part of Cedar Rapids Comm School District, serving approximately 1,575 students in grades 9th-12th with a 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.0 out of 10 and ranks #1,222 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 68% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Thomas Jefferson High School

What grades does Thomas Jefferson High School serve?

Thomas Jefferson High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Thomas Jefferson High School?

Thomas Jefferson High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,575 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Thomas Jefferson High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Thomas Jefferson High School is 18.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Thomas Jefferson High School rank in IA?

Thomas Jefferson High School ranks #1,222 of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is Thomas Jefferson High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Thomas Jefferson High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.0 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Thomas Jefferson High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Thomas Jefferson High School has 62% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 68% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Thomas Jefferson High School a charter school?

No, Thomas Jefferson High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Thomas Jefferson High School a Title I school?

No, Thomas Jefferson High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Thomas Jefferson High School?

59.7% of students at Thomas Jefferson High School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,575
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
86
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Linn County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
45.8%
4-Year Graduation
82.0%
Area population (ZIP 52404)
42,582
Area average commute
18.6 min
Area median age
33.7
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 52404; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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