Waterloo Comm School District
School District · Waterloo, Iowa
Avg Rating
6.6
out of 10
Schools
18
11 elem, 4 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,652
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
Avg Rating
6.6
out of 10
Schools
18
11 elem, 4 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,652
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
Evaluating Waterloo Comm School District?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Waterloo Comm School District as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Poyner Elementary
Evansdale · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Irving Elementary School
Waterloo · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Orange Elementary School
Waterloo · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
Iowa rank
#171 of 310
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.3
above Iowa avg
Per-pupil spending
$14,652
+$1,630 vs Iowa median
District size
10,606 students
Much larger than Iowa median
The short answer
Waterloo Comm School District ranks #171 of 310 Iowa districts by overall school rating. Waterloo Comm School District's schools with real test data average 6.6/10 across 18 schools. Its top-rated schools are Poyner Elementary (8.6/10), Irving Elementary School (8.0/10), and Orange Elementary School (7.9/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 8.6/10 despite 68% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.0 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Waterloo Comm School District schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Waterloo Comm School District
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (18 of 18). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poyner Elementary | 8.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Irving Elementary School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Orange Elementary School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 4 | Kittrell Elementary School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Central Middle School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Highland Elementary School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Lowell Elementary School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Kingsley Elementary School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Hoover Middle School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Lincoln Elementary School | 6.9 / 10 |
See all 18 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Waterloo Comm School District
Waterloo Comm School District is a Waterloo, Iowa school district serving 18 schools. The district educates 10,606 students with a student-teacher ratio of 14.4:1. The district invests $14,652 per student annually.
With an average rating of 6.6/10, Waterloo Comm School District demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Poyner Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.6/10.
In standardized testing, Waterloo Comm School District students show an average math proficiency of 57.7% and ELA proficiency of 56.8%.
The district includes 11 elementary schools , 4 middle schools , and 3 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Waterloo Comm School District, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Waterloo Comm School District with test data.
Schools in Waterloo Comm School District
18 schools Elementary Schools 11
Middle Schools 4
District Details
- State
- Iowa
- City
- Waterloo
- Total Enrollment
- 10,606
- Teachers (FTE)
- 735
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.3%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Waterloo Comm School District?
Waterloo Comm School District has 18 schools in total — 11 elementary, 4 middle, and 3 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Waterloo Comm School District?
The average composite rating for Waterloo Comm School District is 6.6/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Waterloo Comm School District?
Waterloo Comm School District spends $14,652 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Waterloo Comm School District?
The average student-teacher ratio in Waterloo Comm School District is 14.4:1.
What is the top-rated school in Waterloo Comm School District?
Poyner Elementary is the highest-rated school in Waterloo Comm School District with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What are the test scores in Waterloo Comm School District?
Across schools in Waterloo Comm School District with test data, the average math proficiency is 57.7% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 56.8%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Waterloo Comm School District compare to other districts in Iowa?
Waterloo Comm School District has an average school rating of 6.6/10 across 18 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in Iowa by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.6/10
- Math Proficiency
- 57.7%
- ELA Proficiency
- 56.8%
Resources
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in IA
Compare Waterloo Comm School District with neighboring districts in the state.
- Des Moines Independent Comm School District (59)
- Cedar Rapids Comm School District (34)
- Iowa City Comm School District (29)
- Davenport Comm School District (27)
- Sioux City Comm School District (21)
- Dubuque Comm School District (18)
- Waukee Comm School District (18)
- Ankeny Comm School District (17)
- Council Bluffs Comm School District (15)
- West Des Moines Comm School District (14)
- Linn-mar Comm School District (12)
- Ottumwa Comm School District (11)
- Southeast Polk Comm School District (11)
- Cedar Falls Comm School District (10)
- College Comm School District (10)
- Marshalltown Comm School District (10)
- Mason City Comm School District (9)
- Muscatine Comm School District (9)
- Ames Comm School District (8)
- Burlington Comm School District (8)
- Johnston Comm School District (8)
- Pleasant Valley Comm School District (8)
- Western Dubuque Comm School District (8)
- Bettendorf Comm School District (7)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Iowa Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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