What Cedar Falls Community School District does

Cedar Falls Community School District is a public K-12 school district headquartered in Cedar Falls, Iowa, operating 11 schools (7 elementary, 2 junior high, 1 high school, plus an administrative center) and serving approximately 5,243 students across a 60.6-square-mile boundary. Founded in 1853, it is the 17th largest school district in Iowa and one of the largest employers in Black Hawk County, with nearly 800 full- and part-time employees including 388 teachers, 55% of whom hold Master's degrees. The district delivers core academic programming aligned with Iowa Core standards, supplemented by differentiated offerings including CF CAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies), Project Lead the Way STEM pathways, the Leader in Me leadership program (since 2009), a district-wide Social-Emotional Learning framework, Special Education, English Language Learner programming across 39 native languages, and a Talented and Gifted Extended Learning Program.

The district's technology stack is standard K-12 edtech: PowerSchool for the student information system, Schoology as the learning management system, RapidIdentity for single sign-on and identity management, Chromebooks for 1:1 student computing, and Constant Contact for parent communications. There is no disclosed proprietary technology, no AI/ML capabilities, and no patents or trademarks. In 2024 the district opened a new high school building with dedicated STEM classrooms and a makerspace and launched SME PRIME 2.0, an evolution of its 2012 manufacturing education program that articulates into University of Northern Iowa degree pathways and partners with regional manufacturers including Power Engineering and Manufacturing, Advanced Heat Treat Corp., and Viking Pump.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid public funding model: local property taxes (rate of $12.82531 per $1,000 of assessed valuation against a tax base of $1,835,687,949), Iowa state aid (including the State-Wide Penny through 2029), federal education funding (including ESSER), and ancillary registration and activity fees. The go-to-market is enrollment-based within geographic boundaries, with open enrollment available for non-resident students. The district is governed by an elected School Board and led by Superintendent Dr. Andy Pattee and CFO Kimberly Gomez; supporting entities include the Cedar Falls Schools Foundation (scholarships, Excellence Grants, and PRIME 2.0 sponsorship) and partnerships with UnityPoint Health, Central Rivers AEA, and the Cedar Falls Police Department.

Name

Cedar Falls Community School District

Legal name

Cedar Falls Community School District

Website

https://cfschools.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Cedar Falls Community School District is a public K-12 school district in Cedar Falls, Iowa, operating 11 schools that serve approximately 5,243 students. Funded by property taxes, state aid, and federal grants, it delivers Iowa Core-aligned academics alongside CF CAPS, PLTW STEM, Leader in Me, and special education programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cedar Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Revenue: Local property taxes constitute a significant portion of district funding. Tax rate is $12.82531 per $1,000 assessed valuation. Tax valuation of property within school district is $1,835,687,949.
2. State Funding: Iowa state funding for public education, including State-Wide Penny through 2029
3. Federal Funding: Federal education funding including ESSER funds mentioned on the district website
4. Registration and Activity Fees: Fees for registration, athletics, and extracurricular activities

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cedar Falls Community School District is a publicly-funded K-12 school district delivering comprehensive academic education across 11 schools (7 elementary, 2 junior high, 1 high school) serving 5,243 students in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Core offerings include standard K-12 academic programming aligned with Iowa Core standards, supplemented by career exploration through CF CAPS, STEM pathways through Project Lead the Way, leadership development through Leader In Me, district-wide Social Emotional Learning, Special Education, English Language Learner programming for students representing 39 native languages, and Talented and Gifted enrichment.

Product overview

Cedar Falls Community School District operates a K-12 public school district with 11 schools serving approximately 5,243 students. The district offers a comprehensive educational portfolio centered on core K-12 Academic Programs aligned with Iowa Core standards. Key programmatic offerings include CF CAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies) for career exploration, Project Lead the Way for STEM education, and the Leader In Me program for character development. The district provides extensive support services including Special Education, English Language Learner programming (serving students speaking 39 native languages), and Talented and Gifted enrichment. The Cedar Falls Schools Foundation supports the district through Classroom Excellence Grants and Scholarships. Technology infrastructure includes PowerSchool, Schoology LMS, and RapidIdentity authentication. A new high school opened in 2024 featuring dedicated STEM classrooms and makerspaces.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CF CAPS: Cedar Falls Center for Advanced Professional Studies - helps students discover their strengths, build confidence and develop skills through immersive partnerships with community businesses and real-world projects
• Tiger Pride
• Cedar Falls Schools Foundation

Products and services

• K-12 Academic Programs Comprehensive K-12 educational curriculum aligned with Iowa Core standards, serving elementary, junior high, and high school students across 11 schools (7 elementary, 2 junior high, 1 high school).
• CF CAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies) Immersive career exploration program where high school students experience real-world projects through partnerships with community businesses, developing communication, problem-solving, collaboration, and resilience skills, with supporting fundraising through the Make It Real Campaign.
• Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Technology-focused STEM curriculum with high school pathways including engineering, computer science, welding, and metal technology, delivered in partnership with SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers) and the University of Northern Iowa.
• Leader In Me Program Whole-school leadership development framework based on Stephen Covey's 7 Habits, building leadership skills for students K-12 across all 11 district schools since 2009.
• Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Program District-wide social emotional learning framework aligned with Iowa SEL competencies, providing resources for educators, families, and All Staff Learning for adults in the school community.
• Special Education Services Comprehensive special education programming including specialized teaching, Section 504 accommodations, and preschool special education, supporting 10.9% of district students through direct services and Central Rivers AEA partnerships.
• English Language Learner (ELL) Programming English as a Second Language education supporting 2.4% of students district-wide who collectively speak 39 native languages, with dedicated instructional services.
• Talented and Gifted (Extended Learning Program) Extended Learning Program (ELP) providing enrichment opportunities for gifted and talented students across K-12, complementing standard academic programming.
• SME PRIME 2.0 Manufacturing Engineering Program Manufacturing engineering program launched in 2024 as an evolution of the original 2012 PLTW PRIME program, providing students access to engineering, computer science, welding, and metal technology pathways supported by SME, the University of Northern Iowa, and industry employers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple schools designated as Blue Ribbon Schools (Lincoln Elementary 2010, Peet Junior High 2006)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024SME PRIME 2.0 partnership provides platform for funds and curriculum to ensure students have access to state-of-the-art technology and educators receive necessary professional development in engineering, computer science, welding, and metal technology.
• University of Northern IowacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Partnership with University of Northern Iowa to create pathways directly into workforce, 2-year degree programs, or 4-year degree programs for students in the PRIME 2.0 manufacturing engineering program.
• Power Engineering and ManufacturingmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Local manufacturing partner dedicated to investing in youth and future manufacturing careers. Students can acquire insights into the company and explore potential career paths.
• Advanced Heat Treat Corp.majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024AHT educates students on heat treatment processes important to manufacturers in agriculture, aerospace, automotive, and other industries.
• Viking PumpmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Key employer in the Cedar Valley that hosts CAPS students and provides internship and career exploration opportunities. Looks forward to evolution of partnership through PRIME 2.0.
• Central Rivers AEAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArea Education Agency providing shared services and support to the school district including special education services and staff.
• Cedar Falls Police DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool resource officers and police liaison services provided to maintain school safety and student well-being.
• Community Businesses (CAPS Program)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough CF CAPS, community businesses partner with the district to provide immersive real-world projects and professional mentorship for students.
• Jack HenryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal technology company that supports the district through employee giving campaigns. Donated to Excellence Grants program.
• SCHEELSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal retailer involved in Tiger Performance Fundraising Committee supporting district athletics and activities.
• UnityPoint HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing mental health therapists and health services including nurses embedded in schools.
• Cedar Falls Schools FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit foundation that supports district through scholarships, Excellence Grants, and fundraising. First sponsor of PRIME 2.0.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dubuque Community School District: Northeast Iowa public K-12 district of comparable scale. Comparable as a similarly-sized Iowa public school district competing in the same statewide open-enrollment market and operating under identical state funding and accountability frameworks.
• Cedar Rapids Community School District: One of Iowa's larger public K-12 districts serving the Cedar Rapids metro area. Directly comparable as a public Iowa school district of similar scale, sharing the same state funding model, open enrollment dynamics, and community-employer partnership ecosystem.
• Waterloo Community School District: The neighboring school district in Black Hawk County, Iowa, serving the Waterloo metro area. Highly comparable as a same-county, similar-size Iowa public K-12 district competing directly with Cedar Falls for open-enrollment students and employer partnerships in the Cedar Valley region.
• Waukee Community School District: One of Iowa's fastest-growing suburban public K-12 districts in the Des Moines metro. Comparable as a high-performing Iowa public district investing aggressively in facilities and STEM programming, similar to Cedar Falls' facilities modernization trajectory.
• Ankeny Community School District: High-growth suburban Des Moines-metro public K-12 district. Comparable as an Iowa public district operating under the same open-enrollment rules and competing for the same family demographic, with comparable emphasis on STEM and career pathways.
• Johnston Community School District: Suburban Des Moines-metro public K-12 district known for academic excellence and facilities investment. Comparable as a high-performing Iowa public district with a similar profile of teacher credentials, STEM emphasis, and college-readiness outcomes.
• Linn-Mar Community School District: Public K-12 district serving the Marion/Hiawatha area adjacent to Cedar Rapids. Comparable as a similarly-sized Iowa public district operating under the same state funding model with comparable suburban/urban demographic mix.
• Iowa City Community School District: Public K-12 district anchored by the University of Iowa. Comparable as a similarly-sized Iowa public district with strong higher-education linkages, college-preparatory focus, and university partnership pathways that parallel Cedar Falls' UNI partnership strategy.
• Des Moines Public Schools: Iowa's largest public school district. Comparable as an Iowa public K-12 system operating under the same state funding model, though larger in scale; useful as a reference point for how district programming, employer partnerships, and foundation models scale.
• West Des Moines Community School District: Suburban Des Moines-metro public K-12 district of comparable size. Comparable as an Iowa public school district with strong employer partnerships, modern facilities, and similar student demographic profile to Cedar Falls.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cfjillwhite
• Facebookfacebook.com/CFHSClassOf1998
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cedar-falls-community-school-district

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cedar Falls Community School District