51±¬ÁÏ

Waterloo Comm School District

1516 Washington St
Waterloo, IA 50702
(District boundaries shown in map)
1/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Waterloo Comm School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Iowa for:

Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 16 public elementary schools serving 7,762 students in Waterloo Comm School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Iowa.
Public Elementary Schools in Waterloo Comm School District have an average math proficiency score of 58% (versus the Iowa public elementary school average of 70%), and reading proficiency score of 55% (versus the 69% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 61% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Iowa public elementary school average of 29% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (IA)
# Schools
19 Schools
924 Schools
# Students
10,619 Students
320,020 Students
# Teachers
716 Teachers
23,100 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Waterloo Comm School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 325 school districts in Iowa (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 71% has decreased from 84% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (IA)
#307 out of 327 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
57%
68%
57%
70%
50%
63%
71%
90%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.73
0.47
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
3%
3%
% Hispanic
14%
13%
% Black
28%
7%
% White
40%
71%
% Hawaiian
4%
1%
% Two or more races
11%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $16,536 is higher than the state median of $16,468. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $15,469 is less than the state median of $16,042. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (IA)
Total Revenue
$176 MM
$8,262 MM
Spending
$164 MM
$8,048 MM
Revenue / Student
$16,536
$16,468
Spending / Student
$15,469
$16,042

Best Waterloo Comm School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Kingsley Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
201 Sunset Rd
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2210
Gr: K-5 | 355 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #22.
Orange Elementary School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
5805 Kimball Ave
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2880
Gr: PK-5 | 507 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #33.
Lou Henry Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
312 Rachael St
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2860
Gr: K-5 | 456 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #44.
Hoover Middle School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
630 Hillcrest Rd
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2830
Gr: 6-8 | 831 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #55.
Poyner Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1138 Central Ave
Evansdale, IA 50707
(319) 433-1534
Gr: PK-5 | 360 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #66.
Highland Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
812 Idaho St
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2630
Gr: PK-5 | 462 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #77.
Irving Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1115 W. 5th Street
Waterloo, IA 50702
(319) 433-2800
Gr: K-5 | 388 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #88.
Kittrell Elementary School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1304 Oregon St
Waterloo, IA 50702
(319) 433-2910
Gr: PK-5 | 613 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #99.
Bunger Middle School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
157 S Roosevelt Rd
Evansdale, IA 50707
(319) 433-2550
Gr: 6-8 | 469 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #1010.
Lincoln Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
302 Cedar Bend St
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-1990
Gr: PK-5 | 492 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #1111.
Lowell Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1628 Washington St
Waterloo, IA 50702
(319) 433-1900
Gr: PK-5 | 480 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #1212.
Fred Becker Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1239 Sheldon St
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2180
Gr: PK-5 | 457 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #1313.
Central Middle School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1350 Katoski Dr
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2100
Gr: 6-8 | 466 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #1414.
Cunningham School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1224 Mobile St
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2600
Gr: PK-5 | 401 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Rank: #1515.
George Washington Carver Academy
(Math: 47% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1505 Logan Ave
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2500
Gr: 6-8 | 447 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #1616.
Expo Alternative Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1410 Independence Ave
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-1930
Gr: 6-12 | 578 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 61%

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Quick Facts (2025)

  • District size: 19 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 10,619 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 60%
  • : 71% (Top 50% in IA)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 57% (Btm 50%)
  • : 57% (Btm 50%)
  • : 50% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education

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