Cedar Rapids Community School District uses a semester schedule with the school year divided into two 16-week terms. CRCSD students must earn a minimum of 40 credit hours in grades nine to 12 to qualify for a diploma. Under the semester-based credit system, a passing grade in a semester course earns one credit. There are some credit exceptions for music courses. Contact your counselor for more information.

The credit hours required for graduation shall include the following minimum subject area requirements:

English language arts: eight credit hours
Mathematics: six credit hours
Science: six credit hours
Social studies: six credit hours
Physical education: four credit hours

Iowa Code requires all physically-able students in grades nine to 12 to participate in physical education each semester they are enrolled. Currently, CRCSD receives a Chapter 12 waiver from the Iowa Department of Education.  This allows students to enroll in daily physical education for one semester instead of two semesters each school year. Students are also expected to participate in a CPR course per Iowa Code 281-IAC 12.5(20).

Financial literacy: one-half unit (currently fulfilled within the economics curriculum)
Elective courses: 10 credit hours (these courses vary upon interest of the student)

Students must select and enroll in both required and elective courses every year to make progress towards meeting graduation requirements. The minimum course load expectations are as follows:

• Six classes each semester and PE one semester in grade 9
• Five classes each semester and PE one semester in grade 10 and 11
• Four classes each semester and PE one semester in grade 12

Note: Course offerings are based on student request and student need. If there are not enough students interested in a particular course, it may not be offered.

Over 85% of Kennedy graduates pursue a degree beyond high school. On average, 60% of our graduates go directly to a four-year college. Many more begin at a community college and eventually transfer to a four-year institution.

A general plan for meeting minimum college entrance requirements is shown below. 

• English/language arts: four years
• Mathematics: three years
  • Algebra I, geometry, algebra II
• Science: three years
  • Includes earth/environmental science, biology, chemistry, and physics
• Social studies: three years
  • Includes world history, U.S. history, American government, and economics
• Foreign/world language: two years of a single language

Schedule changes will be prioritized based upon academic necessity. Our goal is to maintain balanced class sizes and use limited resources wisely. Changes to a student’s schedule will only be made if circumstances are compelling and supported by data. Priority will be given to changes that are deemed academically necessary, such as when a student:

• Is missing a required class
• Is scheduled for multiple courses in a single period
• Has a need-based on a documented disability
• Needs to make up a class that was failed in the past

The following are examples that are NOT of academic necessity:

• Student wishes to change a teacher
• Student wishes to change order of classes or the hour of study hall/release
• Students wishes to change the hour of PE or type of PE