Very Good
#379 of 1,280 schools in IA
Top 30% in state
Central Middle School
Middle School · Waterloo Comm School District · Waterloo, IA
A Waterloo Comm School District middle school where students score 30 points above what's typical for similar communities.
1350 Katoski Dr, Waterloo, IA 50701
- Math 77% vs IA 73% (2025)
- Reading 80% vs IA 77% (2025)
- 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Central Middle School score 79% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 49%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 31 points since 2020, reaching 79% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 60% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 56% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 35 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
84.5%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Central Middle School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 17Car-Dependent
- Transit 25Some Transit
- Bike 55Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,946/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Waterloo), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$62,857
Median home value
$183,400
Median rent
$846/mo
College educated
29.8%
Homeownership
67.1%
Poverty rate
15.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 50701; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.8private | K–12 | 2.1 mi | 241 | Compare → |
| Peet Junior High SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.1 | 7–9 | 2.5 mi | 690 | Compare → |
| Hoover Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.2 | 6–8 | 2.8 mi | 831 | Compare → |
| Blessed Maria Assunta Pallotta Middle SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.6private | 6–8 | 3.5 mi | 148 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Waterloo Comm School District
- Schools in district
- 18
- Rank in district
- #6 of 18
- District spending per student
- $14,652NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 20.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
Central Middle School is listed in Waterloo Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Central Middle School
Central Middle School is a public middle school in Waterloo, IA, part of Waterloo Comm School District, serving approximately 466 students in grades 6th-8th with a 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10 and ranks #379 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 56% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Central Middle School
What grades does Central Middle School serve?
Central Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend Central Middle School?
Central Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 466 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Central Middle School is 14.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Central Middle School rank in IA?
Central Middle School ranks #379 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Central Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Central Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Central Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Central Middle School has 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 56% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Central Middle School a charter school?
No, Central Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Central Middle School a Title I school?
No, Central Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Central Middle School?
84.5% of students at Central Middle School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 466
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 33
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Black Hawk County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 59.4%
- Phone
- (319) 433-2100
- Area population (ZIP 50701)
- 29,745
- Area average commute
- 15 min
- Area median age
- 37.8
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 ISASP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 ISASP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 50701; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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