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 54% (versus the Iowa public elementary school average of 66%), 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 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 78% has decreased from 84% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (IA)
#299 out of 327 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
53%
64%
57%
70%
50%
63%
78%
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
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Lou Henry Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
312 Rachael St
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2860
Grades: K-5
| 456 students
Rank: #22.
Hoover Middle School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
630 Hillcrest Rd
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2830
Grades: 6-8
| 831 students
Rank: #33.
Kingsley Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
201 Sunset Rd
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2210
Grades: K-5
| 355 students
Rank: #44.
Orange Elementary School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
5805 Kimball Ave
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2880
Grades: PK-5
| 507 students
Rank: #55.
Poyner Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1138 Central Ave
Evansdale, IA 50707
(319) 433-1534
Grades: PK-5
| 360 students
Rank: #66.
Highland Elementary School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
812 Idaho St
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2630
Grades: PK-5
| 462 students
Rank: #77.
Kittrell Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1304 Oregon St
Waterloo, IA 50702
(319) 433-2910
Grades: PK-5
| 613 students
Rank: #88.
Irving Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1115 W. 5th Street
Waterloo, IA 50702
(319) 433-2800
Grades: K-5
| 388 students
Rank: #99.
Bunger Middle School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
157 S Roosevelt Rd
Evansdale, IA 50707
(319) 433-2550
Grades: 6-8
| 469 students
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Lincoln Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
302 Cedar Bend St
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-1990
Grades: PK-5
| 492 students
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Lowell Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1628 Washington St
Waterloo, IA 50702
(319) 433-1900
Grades: PK-5
| 480 students
Rank: #1212.
Central Middle School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1350 Katoski Dr
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2100
Grades: 6-8
| 466 students
Rank: #1313.
Fred Becker Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1239 Sheldon St
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2180
Grades: PK-5
| 457 students
Rank: #1414.
Cunningham School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1224 Mobile St
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2600
Grades: PK-5
| 401 students
Rank: #1515.
George Washington Carver Academy
(Math: 38% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1505 Logan Ave
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2500
Grades: 6-8
| 447 students
Rank: #1616.
Expo Alternative Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1410 Independence Ave
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-1930
Grades: 6-12
| 578 students

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • District size: 19 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 10,619 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 60%
  • : 78% (Btm 50% in IA)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 53% (Btm 50%)
  • : 57% (Btm 50%)
  • : 50% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IA Dept. of Education

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