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 2026-27 school year, there are 3 public high schools serving 3,273 students in Waterloo Comm School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in Iowa.
Public High Schools in Waterloo Comm School District have an average math proficiency score of 48% (versus the Iowa public high school average of 65%), and reading proficiency score of 59% (versus the 71% statewide average).
Public High School in Waterloo Comm School District have a Graduation Rate of 71%, which is less than the Iowa average of 87%.
The school with highest graduation rate is West High School, with 85% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Iowa or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 58% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Iowa public high school average of 28% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (IA)
# Schools
18 Schools
365 Schools
# Students
10,484 Students
169,146 Students
# Teachers
764 Teachers
11,046 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%)

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

57%
68%

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

57%
70%

Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

50%
63%
71%
87.5%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

(2022-23)
46.9%
24.7%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.74
0.46

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
3%
2%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Hispanic
15%
13%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

% Black
29%
7%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% White
38%
72%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Hawaiian
4%
1%
% Two or more races
11%
5%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $18,112 in this school district is less than the state median of $18,179. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $17,774 is less than the state median of $18,122. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (IA)
Total Revenue
$190 MM
$9,049 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending
$186 MM
$9,021 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Revenue / Student
$18,112
$18,179

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending / Student
$17,774
$18,122

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Best Waterloo Comm School District Public High Schools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
West High School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
425 E Ridgeway Ave
Waterloo, IA 50702
(319) 433-2700
Gr: 9-12 | 1,696 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #22.
East High School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
214 High St
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2400
Gr: 9-12 | 1,016 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #33.
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 (26-27)

  • 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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