Our Community

Fort Madison, a town of about 10,000, is located along the Mississippi River in the southeast corner of Iowa. Fort Madison is nestled between small bluffs to the north and one of the widest portions of the river to the south.

Fort Madison was the location of the first U.S. military fort in the upper Mississippi region; a replica of the original fort stands along the river in Riverview Park. Sheaffer Pens were developed and made in Fort Madison for many years. The city is the location of the Iowa State Penitentiary, the state's maximum-security prison. Fort Madison has the last remaining double swing-span bridge on the Mississippi River. It has a top-level for cars and a bottom level for trains; it is also the world's largest. Fort Madison is known for the Tri-State Rodeo, Mexican Fiesta, Art In Central Park, and the annual Fort Madison Parade of Lights.

Click here to take a virtual tour of Fort Madison

The Beginning of Our Computer Science Journey

The Fort Madison Community School District is excited and grateful to be included in the Computer Science is Elementary Grant! The mission of the Fort Madison Community School District is to ensure all students learn the academic and life skills necessary for personal success and responsible living. The goal of the FMCSD Computer Science is Elementary program is to create a PK-12 pathway of computer science instruction that builds from the early years. The PK-3 focus is for all students, but especially our female and minority students, to experience computer science as a creative tool for self-expression while utilizing problem-solving processes. Our goal is to ensure that all students learn the fundamental skills of computer science and gain an understanding of the career possibilities for them in their futures.

Our elementary schools are in a unique situation. They are currently two separate schools, but will be combined at a new location in a few years. With an eye to the future and becoming one building, the original Richardson Computer Science Cohort has expanded to include teachers from Lincoln. This means that all elementary students in Fort Madison are receiving computer science instructions and teachers are looking for opportunities to integrate computer science in all core areas!