The Cedar Rapids School District announced the location of its forthcoming City View Community High School during the Feb. 27, 2023, School Board meeting. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The location for the new magnet school in Cedar Rapids, City View Community High School, was revealed during the Feb. 27, 2023, School Board meeting.

Dan DeVore, principal of the forthcoming magnet school, said the school will be located in the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance building, 501 First St. SE.

“We’ve chosen a space within the heart of this city,” DeVore said, touting the location within walking distance of businesses partnering with the new school.

More: Name of new Cedar Rapids elementary school revealed

Without detailing the cost, DeVore said the site was also the most economical of several locations visited.

“The business community has been excited about this project for reasons beyond the location,” said Doug Neumann, executive director of the Economic Alliance and husband of School Board member Jennifer Neumann.

The Economic Alliance will move its staff to the second floor of the building and will share some common meeting spaces on the first floor with the school, as well as continuing to host some public and business events on the first floor.

School leaders noted that the school district was awarded a $14.8 million federal Magnet School Assistance Program grant last year to expand and enhance the magnet school program and City
View students will have a non-traditional school day filled with community projects, workshops, classes, job shadows and internships.

“Students will work alongside local businesses and community leaders experiencing a rigorous and personalized learning experience so they have a plan, a pathway, and a passion for their future in the workforce, trades or college/university,” a press release from the school district stated.

City View has so far accepted 53 students for its first year, expected to start in fall 2023 with 200 ninth- and tenth-grade students. Only three of those students are Black, leading to questions from School Board members on how students are being recruited. Twenty percent of Cedar Rapids School District students are Black, with 9.3 percent of students having two or more races.

Another round of 33 applicants are being reviewed, and DeVore said he is open to recruiting ideas.

More: Learn how the cost of the Cedar Rapids School District’s elementary plan has skyrocketed.

Doug Neumann, executive director of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, speaks during the Feb. 27, 2023, School Board meeting. (photo/Cindy Hadish)