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 19 public schools serving 10,619 students in Waterloo Comm School District. This district's average testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in Iowa.
Public Schools in Waterloo Comm School District have an average math proficiency score of 53% (versus the Iowa public school average of 64%), and reading proficiency score of 57% (versus the 70% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 60% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Iowa public school average of 29% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (IA)
# Schools
19 Schools
1,320 Schools
# Students
10,619 Students
501,674 Students
# Teachers
716 Teachers
34,800 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
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.
Overall District Rank
#299 out of 327 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
53%
64%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
57%
70%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
50%
63%
Graduation Rate
78%
90%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.73
0.47
# American Indian Students
22 Students
1,876 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
n/a
# Asian Students
335 Students
12,487 Students
% Asian Students
3%
3%
# Hispanic Students
1,464 Students
65,144 Students
% Hispanic Students
14%
13%
# Black Students
2,995 Students
35,173 Students
% Black Students
28%
7%
# White Students
4,255 Students
358,105 Students
% White Students
40%
71%
# Hawaiian Students
436 Students
3,371 Students
% Hawaiian Students
4%
1%
# Two or more races Students
1,112 Students
25,133 Students
% of Two or more races Students
11%
5%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
568
23,213
# Students in K Grade:
806
36,488
# Students in 1st Grade:
749
34,545
# Students in 2nd Grade:
776
35,477
# Students in 3rd Grade:
686
35,334
# Students in 4th Grade:
757
35,902
# Students in 5th Grade:
760
35,813
# Students in 6th Grade:
762
35,551
# Students in 7th Grade:
744
36,022
# Students in 8th Grade:
767
37,018
# Students in 9th Grade:
1,155
39,092
# Students in 10th Grade:
803
39,818
# Students in 11th Grade:
760
38,859
# Students in 12th Grade:
526
38,542
# Ungraded Students:
-
-
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.
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 Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Lou Henry Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
312 Rachael St
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2860
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2860
Grades: K-5
| 456 students
Rank: #22.
Hoover Middle School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
630 Hillcrest Rd
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2830
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2830
Grades: 6-8
| 831 students
Rank: #33.
Kingsley Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
201 Sunset Rd
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2210
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2210
Grades: K-5
| 355 students
Rank: #44.
Orange Elementary School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
5805 Kimball Ave
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2880
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2880
Grades: PK-5
| 507 students
Rank: #55.
Poyner Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1138 Central Ave
Evansdale, IA 50707
(319) 433-1534
Evansdale, IA 50707
(319) 433-1534
Grades: PK-5
| 360 students
Rank: #66.
West High School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
425 E Ridgeway Ave
Waterloo, IA 50702
(319) 433-2700
Waterloo, IA 50702
(319) 433-2700
Grades: 9-12
| 1,713 students
Rank: #77.
Highland Elementary School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
812 Idaho St
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2630
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2630
Grades: PK-5
| 462 students
Rank: #88.
Kittrell Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1304 Oregon St
Waterloo, IA 50702
(319) 433-2910
Waterloo, IA 50702
(319) 433-2910
Grades: PK-5
| 613 students
Rank: #99.
Irving Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1115 W. 5th Street
Waterloo, IA 50702
(319) 433-2800
Waterloo, IA 50702
(319) 433-2800
Grades: K-5
| 388 students
Rank: #1010.
Bunger Middle School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
157 S Roosevelt Rd
Evansdale, IA 50707
(319) 433-2550
Evansdale, IA 50707
(319) 433-2550
Grades: 6-8
| 469 students
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Lincoln Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
302 Cedar Bend St
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-1990
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-1990
Grades: PK-5
| 492 students
Rank: #11 - 1211. - 12.
Lowell Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1628 Washington St
Waterloo, IA 50702
(319) 433-1900
Waterloo, IA 50702
(319) 433-1900
Grades: PK-5
| 480 students
Rank: #1313.
East High School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
214 High St
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2400
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2400
Grades: 9-12
| 1,013 students
Rank: #1414.
Central Middle School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1350 Katoski Dr
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2100
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2100
Grades: 6-8
| 466 students
Rank: #1515.
Fred Becker Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1239 Sheldon St
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2180
Waterloo, IA 50701
(319) 433-2180
Grades: PK-5
| 457 students
Rank: #1616.
Cunningham School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1224 Mobile St
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2600
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2600
Grades: PK-5
| 401 students
Rank: #1717.
George Washington Carver Academy
(Math: 38% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1505 Logan Ave
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2500
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2500
Grades: 6-8
| 447 students
Rank: #1818.
Expo Alternative Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1410 Independence Ave
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-1930
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-1930
Grades: 6-12
| 578 students
Rank: n/an/a
316 Mc Coy Rd
Evansdale, IA 50707
(319) 433-2660
Evansdale, IA 50707
(319) 433-2660
Grades: PK
| 131 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Waterloo Comm School District?
Waterloo Comm School District manages 19 public schools serving 10,619 students.
What is the rank of Waterloo Comm School District?
Waterloo Comm School District is ranked #299 out of 325 school districts in Iowa (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Iowa school districts for: Most diverse schools (Top 1%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Waterloo Comm School District?
40% of Waterloo Comm School District students are White, 28% of students are Black, 14% of students are Hispanic, 11% of students are Two or more races, 4% of students are Hawaiian, and 3% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Waterloo Comm School District?
Waterloo Comm School District has a student/teacher ratio of 15:1, which is higher than the Iowa state average of 14:1.
What is Waterloo Comm School District's spending/student ratio?
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.
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