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 2026 school year, there are 16 public elementary schools serving 7,772 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 63% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Iowa public elementary school average of 30% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (IA)
# Schools
18 Schools
931 Schools
# Students
10,484 Students
323,671 Students
# Teachers
764 Teachers
23,684 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1

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%
(2022-23)
46.9%
24.7%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.74
0.49
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
3%
2%
% Hispanic
15%
14%
% Black
29%
8%
% White
38%
70%
% Hawaiian
4%
1%
% Two or more races
11%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $16,749 is higher than the state median of $16,596. The school district revenue/student has grown by 14% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $15,668 is less than the state median of $16,167. The school district spending/student has grown by 14% 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
$16,749
$16,596
Spending / Student
$15,668
$16,167

Best Waterloo Comm School District Public Elementary Schools (2026)

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 | 337 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
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 | 518 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
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 | 460 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
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 | 848 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
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 | 362 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
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 | 448 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
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 | 353 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
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 | 576 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
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 | 440 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
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 | 463 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
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 | 538 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
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 | 501 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
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 | 469 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 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 | 443 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
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 | 455 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
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 | 561 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 58%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 18 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 10,484 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 62%
  • : 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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