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 8 public preschools serving 3,849 students in Waterloo Comm School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in Iowa.
Public Preschools in Waterloo Comm School District have an average math proficiency score of 61% (versus the Iowa public pre school average of 73%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 69% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 64% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Iowa public preschool average of 28% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (IA)
# Schools
18 Schools
484 Schools
# Students
10,484 Students
151,361 Students
# Teachers
764 Teachers
11,213 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 Preschools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #33.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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: #66.
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: #77.
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: #88.
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%

Recent Articles

Can Your Child Get Into School Clubs and Activities?
Can Your Child Get Into School Clubs and Activities?
Discover whether your child can access advertised school clubs and activities, including enrollment limits, tryouts, fees, transportation, scheduling conflicts, and essential questions parents should ask before choosing schools today.
Who Supervises Students When Their Teacher Is Out?
Who Supervises Students When Their Teacher Is Out?
Discover who supervises students when regular teachers are absent, how schools arrange classroom coverage, what qualifications substitutes need, and which questions parents should ask about safety and learning continuity.
When the School Nurse Isn't There: Parent Guide
When the School Nurse Isn't There: Parent Guide
Learn what happens when school nurses are absent, how public schools handle medications and emergencies, and which essential questions parents should ask to protect their children's health and safety daily.

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

Quick Links