The Lewis Central Community School District
"A larger school with a small school feel"
by Mark Schweer
April 01, 2008
Focus on Instruction
The district has made a commitment to provide staff development for both certified and classified staff for the purpose of improving student achievement. Our teachers are competent and well prepared with over 57% holding Masters Degrees.
Comprehensive Program
The Lewis Central Community Schools provides a comprehensive program to meet the needs of all of our students including Talented and Gifted (TAG), English Language Learners (ELL), and Special Education. High School students have the opportunity to earn college credit through Iowa Western Community College. The district's ACT scores are consistently higher than national and state averages. We have numerous support services in place to meet the needs of At-Risk students as well. To complement their academic program, students at Lewis Central can choose to participate in a strong Fine Arts Program and a wide array of extra-curricular activities.
Strong Community Support
The Lewis Central Community Schools is the beneficiary of strong community support. Individual parents and patrons as well the Lewis Central Booster club, the Parent Teachers Association at the K-5 level, the Middle School Parent Group, and the Lewis Central Foundation provide both financial assistance and volunteer support to the district. The passage of the Bond Issue for construction of the High School and the passage of the Local Option Sales Tax are other noteworthy examples of community support.
Partnerships
The Lewis Central Community Schools recognizes the importance of partnering with other educational institutions and the community to better meet the needs of our students. We are partnering with Iowa Western Community College, Iowa School for the Deaf, the Council Bluffs Community Schools (Tucker Center), the Iowa West Foundation, the Area Education Agency, Jennie Edmundson Hospital, and a host of businesses within our community in the form of expanded course opportunities, mentoring programs, and support services.
Facilities
$26.1 million has been spent for construction and renovation of the district's facilities over the past 5 years with an additional $4 million projected to be spent in the next several years.
Financial Position
The district enjoys a favorable financial position due to stable enrollment, a 3:1 positive ratio of open enrolled in compared to open enrolled out students, and increase assessed valuation within the district.
Location
Lewis Central is ideally located near the Council Bluffs/Omaha metropolitan area. We are within a short driving distance to institutions of higher learning, cultural opportunities, and a major airport. New housing, commercial, and industrial developments should provide for stable enrollment and an increasing tax base for the district.
