Local educators help develop a tuition-free middle and high school focused on academic excellence and college readiness.

Cedar Rapids Prep, a new tuition-free public charter school, is set to open in Fall 2025 in NE Cedar Rapids, providing an innovative educational opportunity for local students focusing on academic excellence and a college prep experience. 

The school will launch with two grade levels—6th and 7th—with 140 students in each grade. The enrollment window opens on February 1, 2025, and applications are accepted through March 31, 2025, or until spots are filled. 

All applications are submitted online on the school’s website at www.cedarrapidsprep.org.      

If the number of applications exceeds the number of openings, a blind lottery will occur to select students. Applicants will be notified by email of acceptance by April 5, 2025. Students not selected during the initial lottery will be placed on a waitlist and contacted should openings occur. 

Families interested in an option for an 8th-grade class can place their names on a waitlist and will be notified if there is sufficient interest to add an additional grade level. 

Cedar Rapids Prep is part of Opportunity Education Network, a non-profit foundation that has supported student learning for 20 years. Opportunity Education Network schools are high-performing independent and charter schools focused on active and engaged learning. 

Providing a premier college prep foundation with robust extracurricular offerings and state-of-the-art facilities, Cedar Rapids Prep will be unlike any other in the community. With no religious or political affiliation and no academic prerequisites for admission, it ensures an inclusive environment where all students can thrive. 

“Cedar Rapids Prep will provide a college-prep, private school feel at no cost to families,” said Justin Blietz, an experienced local educator and the school’s founding leader and principal. 

“We believe students learn best when they feel seen, heard, and valued. By maintaining a small school environment, we can build strong relationships with students and families while upholding high expectations that promote excellence and provide a premier college prep experience,” said Blietz.

Students are paired with advisors to provide guidance throughout their school experience. 

The college prep-focused curriculum includes a framework to ensure each student will have at least two acceptance letters to best-fit colleges before graduation.

“We know that some students may ultimately select a path other than college, but we believe all students should have the education that prepares them to go if they choose,” said Blietz. 

Charter schools are public schools that operate independently from traditional school districts, allowing for greater flexibility in curriculum and instruction while remaining accountable for student success. Cedar Rapids Prep’s personalized approach will ensure that students receive the support they need to excel academically and develop the skills necessary to lead ambitious and purpose-driven lives. 

The school will initially be located in the former Transamerica office building at 4515 North River Boulevard NE. It is currently undergoing extensive renovations, which are scheduled to be completed before the August 2025 opening date. 

Construction of a new building and expansive campus will begin on the adjacent 19-acre lot in the spring. 

“Our new state-of-the-art campus will provide incredible opportunities for our students,” said Blietz. “With college-level labs and STEM spaces, a new turf stadium, a premier e-sports center, outdoor classrooms that embrace the beauty of our natural landscape, and so much more, we’re providing an environment where students can thrive and prepare for the future.”

The plan is to add an 8th grade and continue adding one grade per year until the school is fully enrolled in grades six through 12. A second Opportunity Education school, Des Moines Prep, will also open in August for the 2025-2026 school year. 

Families interested in learning more can visit CedarRapidsPrep.org for updates and application details.

About Cedar Rapids Prep
Cedar Rapids Prep offers a learning experience that’s rooted in excellence and joy. Our approach to academics empowers thoughtful, engaged, and community-oriented students to discover and pursue the right path for their future success.