Kennedy High School is a public high school located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that is known for academics, athletics and the performing arts. Kennedy was founded in 1967. The building was dedicated by Senator Edward M. Kennedy, younger brother of the school's namesake President John F. Kennedy. The school's athletic teams are known as the Cougars.AcademicsKennedy is regularly recognized U.S. News and World Report and Newsweek as one of the best high schools nationwide. In 2013, Kennedy was ranked as the best high school in Iowa and the 550th-best high school in the country by U.S. News and World Report. In 2012, Kennedy appeared on Newsweek's list of America's Best High Schools, which highlights the top 1,000 public high schools in the nation. Kennedy offers 32 Advanced Placement classes, including AP Chinese. Kennedy is well known for its high AP scores; in 2012, the school placed third on the Iowa AP Index, a ranking system developed by the University of Iowa's Belin-Blank Center. The Iowa AP Index recognizes AP participation among public and private high schools in Iowa.AthleticsThe Kennedy Cougars are one of the best teams in all-around sports in the Mississippi Valley Conference. The Cougars have won five consecutive Cedar Rapids Men's All-Sports Titles. The Cougar Golf Team has been a top-ranked state team for the past 3 years with 3rd, 4th, and 2nd-place finishes. The Cougars won a State Baseball Championship in 2010. The Cougars also won the Girls State Soccer Championship in 2012 after upsetting top-ranked Ankeny in the finals.
