Five new public charter schools and four existing schools will receive funding for start-up costs or expansion. The recipients include schools in Davenport, Cedar Rapids and Des Moines.
Oct. 27, 2026.
By Hola America News
DES MOINES, Iowa — Nine public charter schools across Iowa have been awarded $8,517,980 in grants to support new schools and expand existing programs. The funding includes five start-up awards and four expansion awards, with recipients in Davenport, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines and other Iowa communities.
The Iowa Department of Education announced the awards on Oct. 22 through the Iowa Charter School Program Grant. The money comes from a larger federal grant awarded to Iowa to support the development and growth of public charter schools.
Charter schools are public schools that do not charge tuition. The awards go to the schools for approved expenses; they are not individual scholarships or direct payments to families.
The five schools classified as new will receive up to $1.2 million each for start-up costs. Four existing schools will receive $780,000 each to expand their programs. A start-up award does not establish that a school has already opened or is accepting students.
Five new charter schools receive up to $1.2 million each
The following schools were selected for start-up funding:
- Future Frontiers — Sumner-Fredericksburg: A new charter school associated with the Sumner-Fredericksburg community school district.
- Great Oaks High School and Career Center — Davenport: A high school focused on academic pathways and career preparation in Davenport.
- Great Oaks High School and Career Center — South Des Moines: A separate Great Oaks location planned for the southern part of Des Moines.
- Horizon Science Academy — Cedar Rapids: A new charter school in Cedar Rapids with an emphasis on science and related academic subjects.
- Red Barn School House — Crescent: A new charter school in the Crescent area of western Iowa.
Each award can cover approved costs associated with starting a school, subject to the grant’s conditions. The $1.2 million figure is a maximum for the start-up category, not confirmation that every recipient received exactly that amount.
In Davenport, Great Oaks High School and Career Center is located at 3562 Brady St. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was scheduled for Oct. 27, according to KWQC. The school’s presence on the grant list does not, by itself, confirm its current enrollment availability.
In Cedar Rapids, Horizon Science Academy is preparing for a future opening. KCRG reported that the school plans to open in August 2027. Its start-up grant should therefore not be interpreted as evidence that the school is already operating.
Four existing charter schools receive $780,000 each for expansion
The four expansion awards went to:
- Great Oaks High School and Career Center — Des Moines.
- Hamburg Charter School — Hamburg.
- Opportunity Education Network – Cedar Rapids Prep — Cedar Rapids.
- Opportunity Education Network – Des Moines Prep — Des Moines.
These schools were identified by the state as existing, high-performing charter schools eligible to expand their educational models.
The distinction matters in Des Moines: Great Oaks High School and Career Center in Des Moines is an existing-school expansion recipient, while Great Oaks in South Des Moines is listed separately as a new-school start-up recipient.
Cedar Rapids also has two different awardees: Horizon Science Academy received a start-up award, while Cedar Rapids Prep received an expansion award.
The complete roster and award categories appear in the Iowa Department of Education’s Oct. 22 announcement.
Iowa charter schools are tuition-free public schools
Iowa’s charter schools operate under governing boards and are authorized by the Iowa State Board of Education or the University of Northern Iowa.
They have flexibility to organize their academic programs around particular goals, teaching approaches or subject areas, but must meet state accountability requirements, including student assessments.
Some schools focus on career preparation, science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or educational approaches designed for students whose needs may not be fully met by other programs.
Charter schools are different from private schools that participate in Iowa’s Students First Education Savings Account program. ESA funds may help eligible families pay tuition and qualifying expenses at accredited nonpublic schools. Public charter schools do not charge tuition, and these charter school grants are not part of the ESA benefit paid on behalf of individual students.
Enrollment dates and procedures depend on each charter school
Families considering a charter school must follow that school’s own enrollment procedures and application deadlines. Iowa’s regular public school open enrollment process does not apply to charter school admissions.
The Iowa Department of Education’s charter school directory provides information about authorized schools, including locations, grade levels and available school websites.
The grant announcement does not establish a statewide enrollment deadline for the nine recipients. It also does not confirm that each new school has begun classes or currently has openings.
The state’s list of authorized charter schools and each school’s enrollment information are the appropriate starting points for confirming the opening year, grades offered and application procedures.
The $8.5 million is part of a five-year federal grant to Iowa
The awards are funded through the federal Expanding Opportunities Through Quality Charter Schools Program, which supports states in opening and expanding eligible public charter schools.
Iowa received a five-year federal award totaling approximately $43.3 million. The nine school grants announced in October account for $8,517,980 of that broader funding.
The Department of Education reported that all nine schools applying for this round of grants received awards. As of the October announcement, Iowa had 13 operating charter schools and four additional schools approved to open in August 2027.
A separate grant application period is underway for schools seeking fiscal year 2027 funding. The Iowa Charter Schools Program lists Feb. 3, 2027, as the application submission deadline for that funding round. That deadline applies to school grant applicants, not families seeking to enroll a student.
Stay in the know with stories that matter — visit HolaAmericaNews.com for the latest news, culture and community updates!
Facebook Comments