CRCSD found this historical data to be interesting and helpful in the context of the Facilities Master Plan. CRCSD has a significant history of repurposing buildings in a productive and fiscally-responsible manner and making adjustments to buildings and acquisitions based on enrollment fluctuations and community growth patterns.
“There have been factors over the years such as enrollment shifts and economic recessions that have played a role in CRCSD repurposing or selling buildings,” said Matt Dunbar, long-time Custodial and Grounds employee. “But very few school buildings have been torn down. The schools have been repurposed for good within the community.”
Matt Dunbar, Custodial and Grounds Manager, has been with CRCSD since 1975
Cedar Rapids Village School
Address: 2nd Ave. and 5th St. SE
In Service: 1847 – 1855
Repurposed: Single-family residence
Cedar Rapids 1st Ward School
Address: 400 Block of 4th Ave. SE
In Service: 1855 – 1890
Site Repurposed: Washington High School
Jefferson School
Address: 716 A Ave. NE
In Service: 1868 – 1940
Repurposed: In 1927, the building became the Educational Service Center, sold to the Knights of Columbus in 1940
Cedar Rapids Washington High School
Address: 400 Block of 4th Ave. SE
In Service: 1891 – 1935
Sold: City of Cedar Rapids
Madison School
Address: 310 2nd Ave. SW
In Service: 1871 – 1935
Sold: In 1937 city of Cedar Rapids built a new police station on site
Monroe School
Address: 921 3rd Street SE
In Service: 1873 – 1922
Repurposed: Warehouse for Witwer Grocery Company.
Jackson Elementary (original)
Address: 4th Ave. & 12th St.
In Service: 1883 -1970
Sold to: Tenth Street Association
Van Buren Elementary (original)
Address: 14th Ave. & 3rd St. West
In Service: 1884 -1969
Sold to: Iowa State
Highway Commission
Harrison Elementary (original)
Address: 1200 Block 6th St. NW
In Service: 1885 -1929
Sold to: School destroyed by fire
Tyler Elementary
Address: 1212 7th St. SE
In Service: 1886 – 1982 (New building 1970)
Site Repurposed: Metro High School (1982 – present)
Taylor Elementary
Address: 720 7th Ave. SW
In Service: 1889 – Present (New building 1974)
Site Repurposed: Cedar River Academy at Taylor Elementary School
Polk Elementary
Address: 1500 B Ave NE
In Service: 1893 – 2012 (New Building in 1970)
Site Repurposed: Polk Alternative Education Center in 2012
Fillmore Elementary School (original)
Address: C Ave. & 10th St. West
In Service: 1895 -1970
Sold to: Salvation Army
Pierce Elementary School (original)
Address: Belle Avenue SW
In Service: 1898 -1916
Repurposed: Single-family home
Lincoln Elementary
Address: 912 18th Ave SW
In Service: 1910 -1973
Repurposed: 1973 – agreement with Kirkwood Comm College, agreement reversed back to CRCSD, 2014 sold to Sanctuary Ministries
Johnson Elementary School
Address: 355 18th Street SE
In Service: 1910 – Present (New Building in 1970)
Site Repurposed: Johnson STEAM Academy Magnet School (2014)
Grant Vocational High School / ESC
Address: 346 2nd Ave SW
In Service: 1915- 2008 Flood
Repurposed as Educational Service Center in 1940 sold to Steve Emerson in 2012
Hayes Elementary
Address:1942 D St SW
In Service: 1915 – 1981
Repurposed: Hamilton Business College & Kaplan University, currently Four Oaks Children’s and Family Services
Buchanan Elementary
Address: 2000 Mt. Vernon Rd SE
In Service: 1920 -1973
Repurposed: City of CR Ambroz Rec. Center
Cleveland Elementary (Original Building)
Address: 1500 1st Avenue NW
In Service: 1920 -1950
Repurposed: Office facilities for Church of Christ
Kenwood Elementary (1921 Building)
Address: 327 35th Street NE
In Service: 1921 -1950
Repurposed: Kenwood Park Presbyterian Church
New Adams Elementary
Address:1635 Linmar Dr NE
In Service: 1961 – 1984
Respurposed: Issac Newton Christian Academy
Eisenhower Elementary
Address: 1800 46th St NE
In Service: 1961 – 1978
Repurposed: Eastern Iowa FCA, New Covenant Bible Church, Faith Bible Church
New Fillmore Elementary
Address: 520 11th St SW
In Service: 1961 – 1982
Repurposed: Linn County Mental Health Association
Monroe Elementary
Address: 3200 Pioneer Ave SE
In Service: 1961 – 2012 (Permanently Closed)
Repurposed: 1975 Monroe Elementary repurposed to Monroe Development Center; July 1991 Monroe repurposed to Monroe Early Childhood Center, September 2017 final sale to Affordable Housing Network of Iowa
Truman Elementary
Address: 441 West Post Road NE
In Service: 1961 – 2022 (Truman Early Learning Center 2022)
Repurposed: Truman Early Learning Center
Truman Annex (2 buildings)
Address: 200 Carter NW and 199 Day St NW
In Service: 1961 -1973
Repurposed: Fallon Harris & Milner Klouda
Ronald Mitchell
Coolidge Elementary School
Address: 6225 1st Avenue SW
In Service: 1967 – 2021
Site Repurposed: West Willow Elementary
Jackson Elementary
Address: 1300 38th Street NW
In Service: 1970 – 2022 (Building was closed 1986 – 1993)
Site Repurposed: Maple Grove Elementary
Squaw Creek Elementary
Address: Mt Vernon Rd and County Rd F24
In Service: 1970 – 1985
Repurposed: Commercial office / multipurpose facility. Barry B. Smith
ESC Carpenter & Paint Shop
Address:: 405 1st Ave SW
In Service: Closed due to 2008 Flood
Repurposed: 2011 December – Sniggel Holdings
District Warehouse
Address: 605/615 G Ave NW
In Service: 1960’s – 2008 Flood
Repurposed: 2011 December – Neighborhood Development Corp.
District Purchasing/Food & Nutrition
Address: 605 G Ave NW
In Service: 1960’s – 2008 Flood
Repurposed: 2011 December – Neighborhood Development Corp.
Metro HS East (original)
Address: 404 17th St. SE
In Service 1974 – 1982
Repurposed: Joanne Stevens, currently repurposed as the Harambee House