The district is in Black Hawk County and includes almost all of the Cedar Falls city limits as well as a small section of Waterloo.

The district's motto is, "Educating each student to be a life-long learner and a caring, responsible citizen."

In 1846, Mrs. Jackson Taylor opened the first school in her home at Waterloo Road and East 13th Streets.

Early residents recalled seeing parents escort their children to school because Native Americans living in the area were sighted in the woods near the Taylor home.

An addition was added in 1914 and this building was used until 1953, then served as a recreation center itself until the early 1990s, when it was demolished to make way for the current facility.