Average
#824 of 1,280 schools in IA
Cunningham School
Elementary School · Waterloo Comm School District · Waterloo, IA
A Waterloo Comm School District elementary school where students score 3 points below what's typical for similar communities.
1224 Mobile St, Waterloo, IA 50703
- Math 48% vs IA 75% (2025)
- Reading 36% vs IA 72% (2025)
- 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Cunningham School score 42% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 10 points since 2020, reaching 42% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 42% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 40% (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
91.5%
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 Cunningham 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 30Car-Dependent
- Transit 20Minimal Transit
- Bike 34Somewhat Bikeable
- 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
$49,412
Median home value
$92,500
Median rent
$926/mo
College educated
12.6%
Homeownership
57.7%
Poverty rate
18.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 50703; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Legacy Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 5.9private | PK–6 | 0.7 mi | 33 | Compare → |
| Highland Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.5 | PK–5 | 1.2 mi | 462 | Compare → |
| Lowell Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.3 | PK–5 | 1.7 mi | 480 | Compare → |
| Irving Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.0 | K–5 | 2.0 mi | 388 | 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
- #13 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
Cunningham School is listed in Waterloo Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Cunningham School
Cunningham School is a public elementary school in Waterloo, IA, part of Waterloo Comm School District, serving approximately 401 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 out of 10 and ranks #824 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 40% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Cunningham School
What grades does Cunningham School serve?
Cunningham School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Cunningham School?
Cunningham School has an enrollment of approximately 401 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cunningham School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cunningham School is 12.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Cunningham School rank in IA?
Cunningham School ranks #824 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Cunningham School's MySchoolScout rating?
Cunningham School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 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 Cunningham School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Cunningham School has 42% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 40% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Cunningham School a charter school?
No, Cunningham School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Cunningham School a Title I school?
No, Cunningham School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Cunningham School?
91.5% of students at Cunningham 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
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 401
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 33
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Black Hawk County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 37.7%
- Phone
- (319) 433-2600
- Area population (ZIP 50703)
- 18,397
- Area average commute
- 17 min
- Area median age
- 37.3
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 50703; 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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