The state of Iowa is utilizing its resources to invest wisely in choice education, providing a total of $8.5MM in grant funds for 9 charter schools in the state – via the Iowa Charter School Program Grant. Funds will be provided by the US Department of Education and will be distributed to support the success of public schools.
With 4 new charter schools looking to open in the fall of 2027, Horizon Science Academy Cedar Rapids is wasting no time in making the most of this financial support. The current team is working diligently and blazing trails to ensure a successful launch in the upcoming academic year, and they are devoted to ensuring that every dollar invested in HSA Cedar Rapids remains true to the mission of the school: to provide the best experience for each student who depends on this campus to provide the highest possible quality of education and to prepare them for a future that is yet to be determined.
“This $1.2 million grant is about more than start-up costs. It's about the families who have told us they want something different for their children,” said Angelica Brothers, a passionate educator and now the founding Principal of HSA Cedar Rapids (and possessor of two Master’s degrees with concentrations in Educational Leadership, Curriculum, and Instruction). “Horizon Science Academy Cedar Rapids will be a tuition-free public school where every child – whatever their background, zip code, or home language – is seen, challenged, and supported. We are grateful for this investment and are excited to build a school worthy of our community's trust."
The spectacular news of earning this award could not have come at a better time or more important season for the team at HSA Cedar Rapids. As one of multiple new schools to be opened in 2027 by Concept Schools – a premiere charter school network – an enterprise-wide push for enrollment is currently underway to ensure student spots are reserved and ready before the first day of the 2027-2028 academic year. More than 40 schools in the network are championing to come together and achieve their enrollment goals, and by no means is HSA Cedar Rapids excluded from the network-wide push to fill their classrooms.
For Principal Brothers, the monumental task takes on a personal note. Her career in education has enabled her to work with a diverse collection of students, families, and communities of Iowa, and she is driven by a restless pursuit towards the dedication of creating impactful, culturally responsive learning opportunities for all students. Her presence as the leader of the school is a win for Concept Schools as much as it is for members of the community and the entirety of Cedar Rapids.
In the coming months, Horizon Science Academy Cedar Rapids aims to secure its new campus, hire dedicated staff of educators and faculty, acquire the necessary resources to create the best possible academic environment in the state of Iowa, and to bring forth its inaugural class of students. This is perhaps equally exciting as it is daunting, yet the team behind the launch of this new charter school is confidently capable of ensuring that the families of Cedar Rapids will be given the highest possible gift for their children: a high-quality, STEM-focused, career-driven and future-proof education among a student body whose values pertain to the enrichment of each family it serves.
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Learn more about Horizon Science Academy Cedar Rapids, e-meet Principal Brothers, and submit your interest and/or enrollment form at HSACedarRapids.org
