The District > Philosophy > 76 Good Reasons to Send Your Kids to School on 76th Avenue

1. MISSION
   "To ensure quality learning today for tomorrow" is our mission at Prairie. We strive to meet the unique needs of all of our learners in their pursuit of academic excellence.
   
   
2. VISION
   “Success for All” is the College Community vision and we work to offer the assistance and tools every student needs to be successful in school and life.
   
   
3. DISTRICT OUTCOMES
   Being self-directed learners, responsible citizens, cooperative contributors, creative problem solvers, complex thinkers and effective communicators are the goals the district has for all students upon graduation.
   
   
4. QUALITY EMPHASIS
   The College Community emphasis on quality learning is based on a few simple, yet dramatically, effective principles. The district believes that everyone can learn and that learning is intrinsic; students can take responsibility for their learning and can monitor process; students are colleagues; feedback enables learners to evaluate progress; there is joy in learning; quality is not achieved through mass inspection of test scores; quality leadership is essential; and quality improvement is the basis for lifelong learning.
   
   
5. QUALIFIED TEACHERS
   Nearly 280 well-trained and experienced teachers will teach your students. Each teacher has earned a bachelor degree with specialized training in his or her teaching areas. Nearly half have earned a masters degree and many have completed additional graduate work beyond this level.
   
   
6. SCHOOL COUNSELORS
   Our highly trained guidance staff assists students of all ages and their parents. Each building has one or more full-time guidance counselors who work closely with classroom teachers and administrators to meet the unique needs of each and every student including self-esteem and self-awareness activities as well as academic advising and post-graduation planning at the secondary level.
   
   
7. SUPPORT STAFF
   In addition to extraordinary teachers, College Community has an exceptional support staff including paraprofessionals, secretaries, cooks, custodians, bus drivers, maintenance workers, and nurses. These people help create a conducive learning environment.
   
   
8. NATIONWIDE RECOGNITION
   Prairie schools have been recognized nationally, as well as locally and regionally, for our exemplary programs. We have earned five Iowa First in the Nation in Education (FINE) awards and several of our programs have been recognized as models of excellence.
   
   
9. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
   A district-wide professional development program for teacher effectiveness has been a priority since 1979. In 2000, College Community reaffirmed this priority and approved a new innovative school calendar for 2001-02. The calendar eliminated early dismissal days and included seven and a half days for professional development.
   
   
10. SMALL CLASS SIZE
    Prairie understands the importance of class size in student achievement and we strive to reduce class size each year. During the 2002/03, 18.9 was the average class size for K-2 grade and 24 for upper elementary classes. Middle school core classes average 22.3 students and the high school class sizes vary depending on subject area.
    
    
11. HIGHLY MOTIVATED STUDENTS
    Prairie High School graduates often include Iowa Scholars and National Merit Scholarship finalists. In addition, student success in journalism, art, music, and athletics earn them scholarships both in and out of state. Many of our high school students chose a rigorous course of study, often exceeding state and national recommendations.
    
    
12. COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
    All students who are district residents are eligible for transportation services.
    
    
13. DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION
    Students who require additional challenge as well as those who need extra help have many options at College Community. Classroom teachers, Learning Strategists, and Basic Skills teachers develop and implement differentiated lessons to provide the appropriate level of challenge for all students.
    
    
14. EXTENDED LEARNING PROGRAM
    The Extended Learning Program employs a caring approach to the identification of talented and gifted children. ELP seeks to help children develop their special abilities in a nonrestrictive environment and ensure these students are challenged in their academic studies.
    
    
15. TECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATE
    Prairie High School is the only high school is the State of Iowa to require students to earn a Technology Skill Certificate, through demonstrating proficiency in basic technology skills, prior to graduation.
    
    
16. ALTERNATIVE KINDERGARTEN
    There is an alternative to all-day, every-day kindergarten at Prairie. Parents may request to send their children to half-day, every-day alternative kindergarten. This early kindergarten experience helps ensure student success the following year in traditional Kindergarten.
    
    
17. ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN
    This program for very young Prairie students seeks to build a solid foundation for success. It strives to complement a child's natural desire to learn in a child-centered, rather than teacher-directed, classroom. Learning centers teach students how to complete activities and work with others.
    
    
18. EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
    Prairie was the second school district in Iowa to establish an on-campus center for young children. Children from birth to five years old participate in age-appropriate activities on the same campus where their older siblings go to school. In addition, we offer before and after school care for school-aged children.
    
    
19. STANDARDIZED TESTING
    The standardized test scores of our students are above national averages in all areas tested and at all grade levels.
    
    
20. PRAIRIE SCHOOLS FOUNDATION
    The Prairie Schools Foundation is another example of Prairie pioneering. Believed to be the first of its kind in the state, the Foundation is a non-profit tax-exempt organization established to develop new sources of income for the district.
    
    
21. ATHLETICS
    Prairie students also excel in athletics. Always a force to contend with, the Prairie Hawks have won recognition in wrestling, football, basketball, and girls' swimming. Prairie offers 20 different sports for male and female athletes. Athletics, like other school functions, receives strong patron support. At Prairie, it's not a bad idea to arrive early for most school events.
    
    
22. MIDDLE SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY
    Our middle school staff works hard to meet the unique needs of the early adolescent, both academically and personally. In athletics, for instance, there is a "no cut' philosophy, so any student who wants to be on a team plays every game. Not every individual will play the same amount of time, but everyone will play.
    
    
23. TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION
    Some schools focus on the number of computers in classrooms, the speed of their connectivity to the web, and a bigger, better server. Although we are leaders on each of these fronts, we focus on how the technology can impact student achievement. The technology is simply a tool; our focus is on learning and sharing best practices.
    
    
24. SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES
    Prairie meets the unique needs of nearly 530 students requiring special assistance. The district has 41 special education programs, 34 of which are offered on campus. Prairie Edge offers 7 other programs off campus and addresses the needs of many of the students who reside at Four Oaks and College Community residents with severe behavior disorders. The programs receive special support services from nearby Grant Wood Area Education Agency.
    
    
25. DISTRICT NEWSLETTERS
    College Community's newsletteræPrairie Newsæ goes to district patrons to keep all informed of school-related news. Because we want our residents to let us know how we're doing and offer suggestions, our phone number and web address is on the front page of each issue.
    
    In addition to the traditional newsletter, parents and other interested people can subscribe to electronic newsletters, which are created by both teachers and administrators.
    
    
26. FAMILY AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
    There are many opportunities for families to get involved at College Community. The Superintendent’s Parents Advisory Group provides continuous communication between home and school. Each building has a parent teacher organization that supports school functions and raises thousands of dollars for the schools. Groups like the Prairie Booster Club, Prairie Schools Foundation, PCN and Prairie Music Association are also key.
    
    In addition to these organized groups, many adults volunteer in buildings and classrooms each day. They read with students, help in offices, and offer an extra pair of hands when needed.
    
    
27. QUALITY FACILITIES
    Our facilities are continually updated to meet the changing needs of our students and our community. Construction was completed in October 2001 on an expansion to the high school, which was funded through an $8,500,000 bond issue that voters approved in 1999.
    
    Most recently, voters passed a $14.5 million bond issue in March 2001 to build a new elementary and expand both Prairie View and Prairie Heights elementary schools. Students moved in the Heights and View additions in August 2002 and Prairie Ridge Elementary in August 2003.
    
    
28. FUN PLAYGROUNDS
    Prairie's elementary schools have updated outdoor facilities for student and community use. Prairie Heights Elementary has the well-recognized wooden playground structure, which was planned with the advice of the children and designed by an internationally recognized playground architect. Prairie View, Prairie Ridge, and Prairie Crest have wonderful newer play structures that challenge and engage all children. In addition to recess time, many families use these for recreation.
    
    
29. OPEN DOOR POLICY
    Our entire district is open to the community. Residents and guests are encouraged to visit with administrators and teachers, tour the schools, or share ideas with Board of Education members. Simply stop in the school office to register and receive a visitor’s badge.
    
    
30. WORLD LANGUAGES
    World languages are an important part of the College Community curriculum. Students begin Spanish instruction in Kindergarten and continue through fifth grade. When students enter the Middle and High School, they have additional opportunities to continue their studies in Spanish or expand into German. Learning a second language has many hidden benefits such as a clearer understanding of a child’s first language and a broader perspective on the world.
    
    
31. DISCIPLINE
    The district is proud of our students' behavior both in and out of school. Making young people responsible for their own behavior and instilling a sense of self-esteem is paying off. Positive self-discipline is encouraged through programs like Conflict Managers and the high school demerit system, which allows students to develop a service plan to reduce demerits.
    
    
32. CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
    Seventy-seven percent of Prairie High School and the vast majority of Prairie Middle School students participate in co-curricular activities including band, speech, debate, drama, music, cheerleading, dance team, and sports as well as other clubs and organizations. Prairie students have won state championships in speech and math contests and our cheerleaders have won both state and national recognitions.
    
    
33. OUTDOOR EDUCATION
    Each year, more than 95 percent of Prairie's seventh-grade students spend three days at Camp Wapsi with teachers and eighth grade counselors. They learn about the environment, survival skills, and nature as well as make memories that will last a lifetime.
    
    
34. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
    College Community's curriculum includes environmental education at all levels. Our students learn about the planet and how they can help make the world a better place. Under the direction of their Science teachers, middle school students recycle buckets full of batteries preventing toxic chemicals from leaking into soil and groundwater. High School students work with the DNR to help monitor water quality in area creeks and streams.
    
    
35. HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT CURRICULUM
    The district recognizes that interagency collaboration, community cooperation, and parent involvement are crucial to ensure healthy human growth and development. The curriculum is abstinence-based and open for parental inspection. Per state statute a participation exemption exists.
    
    
36. COMMUNITY SERVICE
    Many of our staff and administrators are active in a variety of community organizations. Our students can be found helping with food drives, visiting the elderly, or raising money for needy causes. Community involvement is a College Community tradition, which culminates in recognizing graduating seniors for their work.
    
    
37. QUALITY INFORMATION AND MEDIA CENTERS
    Each building has a fully equipped IMC, a high tech, modern version of a library, for students and staff. Students can access a wide variety of information through the web or paper sources. Highly skilled staff teach students to access information.
    
    
38. DISCIPLINE-BASED ART
    Other subjects, such as history and language, are integrated into the study of art. College Community art students actively participate in community art shows and many of our artists have earned special recognition.
    
    
39. MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION
    Teachers strive to offer a multicultural understanding within the context of daily lessons. In addition special programs highlight these such as Prairie Heights Elementary’s yearly international studies unit where partnerships with nearby colleges bring international students into our schools. And foreign exchange students are a regular part of our classrooms. They help promote knowledge of foreign languages, customs, cultures, and people.
    
    
40. SUMMER SCHOOL
    Summer school is a vital and growing program at College Community. Over 1,000 students participate in summer school courses that help students with basic skills, offer additional academic challenge, and expand horizons.
    
    
41. DEDICATED SCHOOL NURSES
    College Community has three registered nurses who provide health services for the entire campus. The nurses provide comprehensive service, which includes dispensing medicine, responding to accidents or illnesses on campus, providing educational health materials to students and parents as well as maintenance of medical records.
    
    
42. NUTRITIOUS FOOD SERVICE
    Our lunch and breakfast programs follow USDA guidelines in offering students nutritionally sound and attractive meals for the maintenance of good health. Students also learn to make food choices as their options expand when they progress through elementary, middle school, and high school.
    
    
43. EVERY CHILD READS
    This district-wide elementary initiative is focused on research-based strategies to increase student reading comprehension. Teachers and administrators continually learn more about reading best practices to improve student achievement in reading.
    
    
44. MUSIC PROGRAMS
    Top-notch school musicals and talented student groups provide quality musical entertainment throughout the year. Our band and choral groups also have received special recognitions.
    
    
45. BASIC ACADEMIC SKILLS CERTIFICATE
    The College Community School Board adopted a Basic Academic Skills Certificate (BASC) graduation requirement that requires students to reach an appropriate minimum level of competency in math, reading, and language arts.
    
    Although this is a graduation requirement, it is a district-wide initiative. Students start Achievement Level Testing (basic academic skills tests) in third grade and are tested annually until they meet the minimum scores. Most students will reach the basic scores by 10th grade. The annual tests allow us to profile each child so that no student falls through the cracks.
    
    
46. PROGRESSIVE SCHOOL BOARD
    The College Community Board of Education members are true proponents of education. They set policies that support our mission and vision.
    
    
47. LAFF PROGRAM
    Learning and Family Fun (LAFF) is designed for elementary children and their families to experience success in the school setting. The program focuses on building positive family interactions, encouraging parents to assist their children in the learning process, targeting children with special needs to help enrich their learning, helping families feel comfortable with the school staff, and building a strong school/parent partnership.
    
    
48. BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS
    We welcome the involvement of business people in our schools. At the secondary level, partnerships exist where local professionals agree to host job shadows, internships, and interview our juniors. At the elementary level, students learn about careers and hobbies from community leaders as well as benefit from many tangible donations.
    
    
49. SUBSTANCE ABUSE AWARENESS
    College Community is committed to helping students and parents understand the implications of substance abuse. Efforts include a Students Against Destructive Decisions Chapter at the high school, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team (ADAPT) at the middle school, and an Area Substance Abuse Counselor on campus one day each week in the High School Guidance Office. Elementary students also participate in awareness programs.
    
    
50. CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
    Prairie students learn early how to become effective problem solvers. Students at the fifth-grade level are selected by their peers and teachers to serve as conflict managers; they are trained in ways to help their peers best solve disputes. These conflict managers continue their roles at the middle school.
    
    
51. BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
    Travel is a full emersion learning experience. Each year, more than half of the district's eighth grade students participate in a three-day trip to Washington, DC to learn more about the history of our nation. The D.C. trip is enhanced with a history unit studying the development of our country.
    
    In the high school, World Language students are offered the opportunity for European travel to augment their classroom studies. And the music program travels every two years to a major competition.
    
    
52. SMALL TOWN, BIG CITY
    While Prairie students come from several local towns, College Community is right in the middle of an urban area. The campus is located within three miles of the Cedar Rapids airport and within 15 miles of Iowa City, home of the University of Iowa and Big 10 athletics.
    
    
53. CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES
    When not enjoying Prairie activities, residents have a variety of cultural events at their doorsteps. A local symphony orchestra, several community theaters, an art museum and a civic center all provide enriching entertainment. Nearby are historical sites such as the Amana Colonies, Czech Village as well as the Kalona Mennonite and Amish communities.
    
    
54. CAREER EDGE
    College Community has teamed up with Kirkwood Community College and other area high schools to create Career Edge. This program allows students to enroll in a career academy within their high school in specialized fields and earn both high school and college credit. Several Prairie class fall within a career academy such as web page design, photography, Cisco Networking and more.
    
    
55. WWW.PRAIRIEPRIDE.ORG
    In addition to the central campus, Prairie Schools share a common web address-www.prairiepride.org. This site provides a variety of information and is one of our primary communication tools. In addition to more static information, it offers dynamic tools that allow parents, teachers, and students to share information regarding classroom activities, attendance, exemplary student work, and more.
    
    
56. CONTINUING EDUCATION
    Seventy-nine percent of Prairie students continue their education after graduation, either in a four-year school or a two-year transfer program.
    
    
57. FRIENDSHIP FORCE
    At College Community, there are no age barriers. This program teams up high school students with Prairie Elementary students weekly for good times. Its goal is to provide students appropriate models for friendships.
    
    
58. VOLUNTEERS
    Volunteers contribute to the success of our students and teachers They can be found in classrooms working with students, helping with a dramatic production, contacting community resources that add new dimensions to curriculum, working at special events, conducting fund-raisers, or working to make Prairie a special place for their children. The hundreds of hours volunteers donate each year is a shining example of Prairie Pride.
    
    
59. SUCCESS CENTERS
    Both the middle school and the high school have Success Centers. These Centers provide extra opportunities for all students with an emphasis on preparing students to achieve the Basic Academic Skills requirements, premeditating course work as needed, and helping all students make academic gains.
    
    
60. TAX RATE
    The general fund tax rate is among the lowest in Eastern Iowa in spite of numerous successful bond issues. This is due to the large amount of residential and business growth in the district. This positive growth is expected to continue. This will help us maintain an attractive tax rate and, at the same time, make it possible for us to generate the funds needed to keep Prairie on top.
    
    
61. SCHOLARSHIPS
    Each year, Prairie students earn an average of $40,000-$50,000 in scholarships. That exemplifies the academic and co-curricular activity excellence of our students.
    
    
62. DIVERSE AND CHALLENGING GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
    In addition to meeting rigorous course requirements for graduation, Prairie High School students must present their performance-based portfolio during a senior presentation, earn a Basic Academic Skills Certificate, a Technology Skill Certificate, and participate in annual mini courses.
    
    
63. INNOVATIVE, CLASSROOM STRUCTURE
    The College Community Schools offer a variety of classroom structures. Students may have multi-year contact with a teacher or teaching team. Students may work across grade levels depending on individual needs, developmental level, and progress toward established standards.
    
    
64. EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM SERVICES
    Each school supports student success and quality performance through after-school services. Tutoring, homework assistance, enrichment activities, and basic skill support are offered to all students. Parents who desire additional student learning assistance are invited to contact the building principal in arranging this "success support."
    
    
65. QUALITY LEADERSHIP
    College Community Schools are led by a dedicated and highly knowledgeable group of central and building administrators whose vision and quality management styles promote continuous growth in the district. The leaders of Prairie ensure cooperation and nurture trust in an environment of effective and meaningful change for the education of Prairie children.
    
    
66. CENTRAL CAMPUS
    Prairie boosts a central campus where all College Community students come to learn and grow. The 170-acre campus consists of six schools: four K-5 buildings, a 6-8 middle school, and a 9-12 high school. The campus also houses the entire maintenance department, the bus garage, little league fields, a complete athletic complex, and native prairie grass.
    
    
67. PARTNERS IN PRINT
    Kindergarten teachers and school principals start to build relationships with incoming kindergartens before school starts through Partners in Print. This program strives to connect parents to the school and make them partners in teaching their child to read.
    
    
68. SPORTSMANSHIP...
    Sportsmanship is very important at Prairie High School. Prairie won the Metro Sportsmanship Trophy all three years of its existence since the 1989-90 school year. Prairie also won the Mississippi Valley Sportsmanship Trophy eight times in the last ten years.
    
    
69. Prairie Crest Elementary
    (319) 848-5280
    
    
70. Prairie Heights Elementary
    (319) 848-5230
    
    
71. Prairie Ridge Elementary
    (319) 848-5100
    
    
72. Prairie View Elementary
    (319) 848-5260
    
    
73. Prairie Edge
    (319) 298-3406
    
    
74. Prairie Middle School
    (319) 848-5310
    
    
75. Prairie High School
    (319) 848-5340
    
    
76. Early Childhood Center
    (319) 848-5295

For more information about the College Community School District, call (319) 848-5200.

Updated: 12/5/03