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Wilson Middle School

Public Grades 6-8

339^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 344 Iowa Middle Schools

Better than 1% of Iowa middle schools

Summary

Wilson Middle School is a public middle school located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 397 students. The school is part of the Cedar Rapids Community School District, which is ranked 279 out of 313 districts in Iowa and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Wilson Middle School has consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 21.6% to 50.7% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the state and district averages. Additionally, the school's test scores in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science are consistently lower than the district and state averages. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, the percentage of 8th-grade students proficient or better in English Language Arts was 53.2%, compared to 73.5% for the district and 80.2% for the state. Wilson Middle School also has a very high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 72.15% to 82.12% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the district and state averages.

When comparing Wilson Middle School to other nearby middle schools in the Cedar Rapids area, it becomes clear that Wilson is underperforming. For instance, Harding Middle School, which is also part of the Cedar Rapids Community School District, has significantly higher test scores and a lower percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch. Additionally, Wilson Middle School's performance, as measured by its statewide ranking and SchoolDigger star rating, has been declining over the past several years, going from ranking 299 out of 318 Iowa middle schools in 2017-2018 to ranking 339 out of 344 in 2024-2025, with a consistent 0 or 1-star rating.

422

Students ?

13.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,810

Per pupil spending ?

78%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2301 J St SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

(319) 558-3387

District: Cedar Rapids Community School District

Students who attend Wilson Middle School usually attend:

High:

Thomas Jefferson High School

Feeder schools for Wilson Middle School:

Elementary:	Cedar River Academy at Taylor
	Grant Elementary School
	Van Buren Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

35.8%

African American:

32.0%

Hispanic:

18.5%

See top rated Iowa middle schools

Compare Wilson Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 4th percentile in 2015 → 1st in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Iowa average (42% vs 74% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (1st percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (51% vs 22% Iowa)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school42%

District avg63%

Iowa avg74%

339^th of 344

Iowa public middle schools ?

Bottom 1%▼ down 2 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Iowa Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 6Middle Schools in the Cedar Rapids Community School District

279^th of 313Cedar Rapids Community School District among Iowa districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Iowa percentile	Rating
2025	0.7	339 of 344	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	3.2	326 of 337	3.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	15.1	300 of 334	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.8	303 of 337	10.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	7.4	305 of 324	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	15.5	307 of 342	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	10.9	299 of 318	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	4.4	320 of 327	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	5.7	331 of 343	3.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	4.7	336 of 349	3.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	3.5	329 of 337	2.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	15.9	329 of 350	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	38.0	261 of 349	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Iowa (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts47%-29 vs state

Mathematics39%-34 vs state

Science36%-34 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

5★0

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent on FaceBook
Monday, January 12, 2015

We have lived all over the US and have raised 7 kids. This is absolutely one of the worst schools we have ever came across!! Our last child went here the first year of middle school..... then we moved him to another city and school. The theft rate for anything (not talking just electronics... talking shoes, jackets etc) is very high. There is heavy swearing amongst students and some staff. Violence at this school is some of the highest we have seen. We felt that this principle was not very qualified or didn't have the proper tools to run this middle school..... he refers to any and all problems "Its' because this is a highly diversified school." Before he became the principle of this school in the year 2012/2013 he was a liaison at Jefferson High School. One of the reasons it has one of the smallest student bodies of the Cedar Rapids School District is because it was just changed over to a middle school in 2012/2013. Before that it was an elementary/middle school for grades 2 through 8th. On another more positive note the band teacher is totally awesome and the majority of the 6th grade teachers are compassionate and caring!! Close Quote

Schools Near Wilson Middle School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ISASP English Language Arts (2025)				ISASP Mathematics (2025)				ISASP Science (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISASP English Language Arts 5th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 6th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 7th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 8th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 5th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 6th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 7th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 8th Grade	ISASP Science 5th Grade	ISASP Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Wilson Middle School	Public	6-8	2301 J St SW	Cedar Rapids	52404	Linn County	Cedar Rapids Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 558-3387	422	31	13.6	78.0%	151 (35.8%)	135 (32.0%)	78 (18.5%)	5 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	10 (2.4%)	42 (10.0%)	0.7	339^th of 344 public middle schools	1.5%		3.2	326^th of 337 public middle schools	3.3%	13		41.1	47.6	53.2		36.3	39.7	40.5		36.0	$17,810	$271	$17,539
McKinley STEAM Academy	Public	6-8	620 10th ST SE	Cedar Rapids	52403	Linn County	Cedar Rapids Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 558-2348	426	32	13.4	60.6%	216 (50.7%)	117 (27.5%)	34 (8.0%)	3 (0.7%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	50 (11.7%)	12.6	312^th of 344 public middle schools	9.3%		14.6	308^th of 337 public middle schools	8.6%	4		64.2	67.8	61.8		52.6	59.0	54.2		52.7	$16,456	$251	$16,204
Roosevelt Creative Corridor Business Academy	Public	6-8	300 13th ST NW	Cedar Rapids	52405	Linn County	Cedar Rapids Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 558-2153	484	34	14.2	71.1%	166 (34.3%)	196 (40.5%)	50 (10.3%)	7 (1.4%)	3 (0.6%)	12 (2.5%)	50 (10.3%)	6.1	324^th of 344 public middle schools	5.8%		11.7	315^th of 337 public middle schools	6.5%	9		51.5	60.2	67.5		43.8	50.0	53.3		45.0	$15,027	$360	$14,667
Franklin Middle School	Public	6-8	300 20th ST NE	Cedar Rapids	52402	Linn County	Cedar Rapids Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 558-2452	469	34	13.8	58.6%	271 (57.8%)	93 (19.8%)	39 (8.3%)	5 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.6%)	56 (11.9%)	17.3	301^st of 344 public middle schools	12.5%		18	298^th of 337 public middle schools	11.6%	3		65.7	66.2	75.0		55.5	52.5	64.1		50.6	$15,204	$665	$14,539
Prairie Point	Public	7-8	8015 Kirkwood Blvd	Cedar Rapids	52404	Linn County	College Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 848-5500	868	55	15.8	37.6%	586 (67.5%)	145 (16.7%)	40 (4.6%)	23 (2.6%)	2 (0.2%)	6 (0.7%)	66 (7.6%)	35.6	264^th of 344 public middle schools	23.3%		47.1	208^th of 337 public middle schools	38.3%	56			68.2	81.0			66.7	76.1		58.0	$11,981	$180	$11,800
Taft Middle School	Public	6-8	5200 E Ave NW	Cedar Rapids	52405	Linn County	Cedar Rapids Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 558-2243	593	38	15.4	46.5%	395 (66.6%)	82 (13.8%)	38 (6.4%)	13 (2.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	63 (10.6%)	45	227^th of 344 public middle schools	34.0%		38.2	244^th of 337 public middle schools	27.6%	17		75.0	74.9	85.5		69.8	69.1	71.5		66.5	$15,361	$386	$14,975
Prairie Creek	Public	5-6	8451 Kirkwood Blvd SW	Cedar Rapids	52404	Linn County	College Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 848-5310	846	59	14.2	34.2%	582 (68.8%)	120 (14.2%)	61 (7.2%)	14 (1.7%)	3 (0.4%)	8 (0.9%)	58 (6.9%)								(n/a)	74.9	72.5			69.5	69.1			63.2		$12,382	$358	$12,023
Harding Middle School	Public	6-8	4801 Golf ST NE	Cedar Rapids	52405	Linn County	Cedar Rapids Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 558-2254	710	44	15.9	43.8%	472 (66.5%)	48 (6.8%)	84 (11.8%)	28 (3.9%)	1 (0.1%)	8 (1.1%)	69 (9.7%)	56.3	163^rd of 344 public middle schools	52.6%		53.8	178^th of 337 public middle schools	47.2%	15		67.7	77.8	83.2		72.9	76.4	81.5		81.5	$14,559	$562	$13,997
Vernon Middle School	Public	5-8	1350 4th Avenue	Marion	52302	Linn County	Marion Independent School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 377-9401	587	46	12.8	37.8%	470 (80.1%)	31 (5.3%)	38 (6.5%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	5 (0.9%)	40 (6.8%)	55.2	170^th of 344 public middle schools	50.6%		54.2	177^th of 337 public middle schools	47.5%	7	73.7	69.5	81.4	80.4	82.7	78.6	76.4	79.1	66.2	71.4	$11,914	$388	$11,527
Excelsior Middle School	Public	7-8	3555 N 10th St	Marion	52302	Linn County	Linn-Mar Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 447-3130	594	45	13.2	28.5%	469 (79.0%)	35 (5.9%)	35 (5.9%)	17 (2.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (6.1%)	65.9	111^th of 344 public middle schools	67.7%		75.4	62^nd of 337 public middle schools	81.6%	49			83.2	88.8			82.1	76.8		72.6	$13,096	$300	$12,796

Frequently Asked Questions about Wilson Middle School

How many students attend Wilson Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 422 students attended Wilson Middle School.

Is Wilson Middle School a good school?

Wilson Middle School ranks in the bottom 1.5% of Iowa middle schools.

What high school do graduates of Wilson Middle School attend?

Students who attend Wilson Middle School usually go on to attend Thomas Jefferson High School

What is the racial makeup of Wilson Middle School?

Students at Wilson Middle School are 36% White, 32% African American, 18% Hispanic, 10% Two or more races, 2% Pacific Islander, 1% Asian.

What district is Wilson Middle School in?

Cedar Rapids Community School District

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Iowa Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.