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 2025-26 school year, there are 5 public middle schools serving 2,791 students in Waterloo Comm School District. This district's average middle testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in Iowa.
Public Middle Schools in Waterloo Comm School District have an average math proficiency score of 53% (versus the Iowa public middle school average of 68%), and reading proficiency score of 54% (versus the 71% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 62% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Iowa public middle school average of 25% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (IA)
# Schools
19 Schools
376 Schools
# Students
10,619 Students
127,807 Students
# Teachers
716 Teachers
8,868 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
0.43
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
3%
2%
% Hispanic
14%
11%
% Black
28%
6%
% White
40%
75%
% 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 Middle Schools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #33.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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 (2025-26)

  • 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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