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Online School for Cedar Rapids Families | Forest Trail Academy
Your family knows that Cedar Rapids runs on hard work, whether your household depends on a shift at the Quaker Oats plant, a contract at Collins Aerospace, or a route out of CRST’s transportation hub, your schedule doesn’t always fit a traditional 8-to-3 school day. Forest Trail Academy gives your child a fully accredited K-12 education that bends around your life, not the other way around. And if Cedar Rapids’ spirit of rebuilding after the 2008 flood taught this community anything, it’s that there’s more than one way to move forward.
Why Cedar Rapids Families Choose FTA
A lot of Cedar Rapids parents come to us because the traditional school calendar simply doesn’t work for them. When a parent is pulling overnight shifts at one of the city’s major employers, Collins Aerospace, Quaker Oats, or one of the dozens of manufacturing facilities along the Cedar River corridor, someone has to be available to help with homework at 2 PM or supervise study time at 6 AM. With FTA, your student logs in when it makes sense for your household. There’s no bell schedule, no required Zoom at 9 AM, and no penalty for learning on a weekend. It’s genuinely flexible, and families here tell us that flexibility is the reason they stayed.
Cedar Rapids also has a strong youth sports culture, the city’s wrestling and track programs are among the most competitive in Iowa, and plenty of FTA families are managing travel meets, early-morning practices, and tournament weekends alongside their academics. FTA lets student-athletes keep their training commitments without falling behind. Your child can finish coursework between practices, on the bus to a meet, or during an off-season break. We’ve also seen it work well for families who relocated here after the flood years and found Cedar Rapids to be home, FTA travels with you if work or life ever moves you again, keeping your child in the same school without missing a beat.
What You Get
- Cognia Accreditation: Your FTA diploma is accepted by all universities near Cedar Rapids and nationwide.
- No Fixed Class Times: Study before training, after your shift, on weekends.
- Open Enrollment: Start any week, no waiting for September.
- Same School Through Every Change: Military PCS, relocations, and life changes don’t interrupt enrollment.
Getting Started from Cedar Rapids
- Call 800-890-6269 or submit an inquiry online
- Submit transcripts from your Cedar Rapids-area school
- Start coursework within days, no waiting
Questions?
Is FTA’s diploma recognized near Cedar Rapids?
Yes, our Cognia-accredited diploma is accepted by all Iowa universities and 1,000+ colleges nationally.
Can we enroll mid-year from Cedar Rapids?
Yes, open enrollment, start any week.
Part of the Iowa FTA Community
Cedar Rapids families are part of FTA’s larger Iowa community. Learn more about FTA for all Iowa students →
Online High School in Cedar Rapids, Grades 9 to 12
Most Cedar Rapids families who search for online school are looking for high school. Forest Trail Academy’s online high school program for grades 9 through 12 carries the full graduation-requirement sequence, Advanced Placement courses, and NCAA-approved core courses for student athletes. Enrollment is open year-round, so a student can start any week rather than waiting for a semester.
Students in Cedar Rapids who are behind on credits can use online credit recovery to make up individual courses without repeating a year. Families moving mid-year can follow the sequence on our switch schools mid-year page. Tuition runs $3,069 to $4,269 per year depending on grade level, with monthly payment plans from $236 for elementary, $286 for middle school, and $336 for high school, plus a one-time $225 registration fee. See the tuition page for the full breakdown.
Programs Available to Cedar Rapids Families
All Forest Trail Academy programs are fully online, self-paced, and open for enrollment year-round.
