Skip to main content

Below Average

#1117 of 1,280 schools in IA

East High School

High School · Waterloo Comm School District · Waterloo, IA

A Waterloo Comm School District high school serving grades 9th – 12th.

214 High St, Waterloo, IA 50703

  • Math 47% vs IA 67% (2025)
  • Reading 57% vs IA 74% (2025)
  • 87.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress3.4Needs Improvement25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.46 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics3.7Needs Improvement25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency46.8% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency57.2% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg-19.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-19.9 pts
Overall Proficiency52% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)55% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected-2.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile18th
College Readiness6.8Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate87%
AP Participation6.1%
IB ProgramYes
Resources & Environment1.8Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio19.5:1
District spending per student$14,652
Chronic Absenteeism66.1%

Students at East High School score 52% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 55%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 ISASP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.

Math Proficiency47%(2025 ISASP)
School
State
67%(2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency57%(2025 ISASP)
School
State
74%(2025 ISASP)

Trend

→ Steady

Proficiency is down 10 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 52% recently.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
61%
ELA
63%
2010
Math
64%
ELA
70%
2011
Math
67%
ELA
77%
2012
Math
67%
ELA
79%
2013
Math
71%
ELA
71%
2014
Math
65%
ELA
69%
2015
Math
75%
ELA
69%
2016
Math
72%
ELA
72%
2017
Math
77%
ELA
72%
2018
Math
52%
ELA
57%
2019
Math
52%
ELA
57%
2020*
Math
39%
ELA
58%
2021*
Math
39%
ELA
58%
2022
Math
40%
ELA
57%
2025
Math
47%
ELA
57%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 58% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 65% (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 score

Free/reduced lunch

73.6%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where East High 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 60Somewhat Walkable
  • Transit 35Some Transit
  • Bike 58Bikeable
  • City Safety: High2,946/100K

Powered byWalk Score

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

AP/IB Programs1AP course offeredIB Programme
6.1% participation·State avg: 1.7 AP courses·23 IB enrolled·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Expo Alternative Learning CenterEnrollment path unverified3.96–121.2 mi578Compare →
West High SchoolEnrollment path unverified4.99–122.4 mi1,713Compare →
Columbus Catholic High SchoolPrivate · tuition6.5private9–122.7 mi247Compare →
Waterloo Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition5.8privateK–123.4 mi241Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

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
#17 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

East High School is listed in Waterloo Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About East High School

East High School is a public high school in Waterloo, IA, part of Waterloo Comm School District, serving approximately 1,013 students in grades 9th-12th with a 19.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.2 out of 10 and ranks #1,117 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 58% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about East High School

What grades does East High School serve?

East High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend East High School?

East High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,013 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at East High School?

The student-teacher ratio at East High School is 19.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does East High School rank in IA?

East High School ranks #1,117 of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is East High School's MySchoolScout rating?

East High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.2 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 East High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, East High School has 58% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is East High School a charter school?

No, East High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is East High School a Title I school?

No, East High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for East High School?

73.6% of students at East High 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
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,013
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
52
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Black Hawk County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
66.1%
4-Year Graduation
87.0%
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

About our data · How we calculate scores

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.