Two more charter schools plan to open in C.R. next year

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CEDAR RAPIDS — A fourth charter school — called Horizon Science Academy — is seeking approval from the Iowa State Board of Education next month to open in Cedar Rapids.

If approved, Horizon plans to open August 2026 to about 140 K-5th graders in the Northwest Neighborhood. The school will grow by one grade level each year, eventually offering K-12 programming.

Mike Huguelet, executive director of the Iowa Coalition for Public Charter Schools, said Horizon will be one of six charter schools applying to be considered by the State Board of Education next month.

Over the last three years, charter schools have been “clustered” around Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport, Huguelet said.

“This c