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Needs Improvement

#1146 of 1,280 schools in IA

Expo Alternative Learning Center

High School · Waterloo Comm School District · Waterloo, IA

A Waterloo Comm School District high school where students score 15 points below what's typical for similar communities.

1410 Independence Ave, Waterloo, IA 50703

  • Math 28% vs IA 70% (2025)
  • Reading 44% vs IA 75% (2025)
  • 47.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress7.9Very Good25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-0.33 pts/yr
Data Period2010–2025
TrendStable
Academics1.8Needs Improvement25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency28.1% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency44.1% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg-44.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-31.7 pts
Overall Proficiency36% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)51% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected-14.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile3th
College Readiness3.0Needs Improvement30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate47%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment3.0Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio18.1:1
District spending per student$14,652

Students at Expo Alternative Learning Center score 36% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 51%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 ISASP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.

Math Proficiency28%(2025 ISASP)
School
State
70%(2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency44%(2025 ISASP)
School
State
75%(2025 ISASP)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2010–2025), then recovered 12 points since 2020, reaching 36% in 2025.

Show all 14 years
2010
Math
37%
ELA
37%
2011
Math
27%
ELA
37%
2012
Math
32%
ELA
37%
2013
Math
27%
ELA
27%
2014
Math
37%
ELA
37%
2015
Math
42%
ELA
37%
2016
Math
42%
ELA
42%
2017
Math
37%
ELA
37%
2018
Math
17%
ELA
37%
2019
Math
17%
ELA
37%
2020*
Math
17%
ELA
31%
2021*
Math
17%
ELA
31%
2022
Math
20%
ELA
40%
2025
Math
28%
ELA
44%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 28% (multi-year average, 2010-2025) · reading/ELA 38% (multi-year average, 2010-2025)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 36 test records from IA state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

81.5%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Expo Alternative Learning Center 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 47Car-Dependent
  • Transit 22Minimal Transit
  • Bike 38Somewhat Bikeable
  • 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

Advanced STEM Courses2of 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
East High SchoolEnrollment path unverified4.29–121.2 mi1,013Compare →
West High SchoolEnrollment path unverified4.99–122.9 mi1,713Compare →
Columbus Catholic High SchoolPrivate · tuition6.5private9–123.0 mi247Compare →
Waterloo Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition5.8privateK–124.2 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
#18 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

Expo Alternative Learning Center is listed in Waterloo Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Expo Alternative Learning Center

Expo Alternative Learning Center is a public high school in Waterloo, IA, part of Waterloo Comm School District, serving approximately 578 students in grades 6th-12th with a 18.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.9 out of 10 and ranks #1,146 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2025) and 38% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Expo Alternative Learning Center

What grades does Expo Alternative Learning Center serve?

Expo Alternative Learning Center serves students in grades 6th through 12th.

How many students attend Expo Alternative Learning Center?

Expo Alternative Learning Center has an enrollment of approximately 578 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Expo Alternative Learning Center?

The student-teacher ratio at Expo Alternative Learning Center is 18.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Expo Alternative Learning Center rank in IA?

Expo Alternative Learning Center ranks #1,146 of 1,280 schools in IA.

What is Expo Alternative Learning Center's MySchoolScout rating?

Expo Alternative Learning Center has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.9 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 Expo Alternative Learning Center?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Expo Alternative Learning Center has 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2025) and 38% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2025).

Is Expo Alternative Learning Center a charter school?

No, Expo Alternative Learning Center is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Expo Alternative Learning Center a Title I school?

No, Expo Alternative Learning Center is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Expo Alternative Learning Center?

81.5% of students at Expo Alternative Learning Center 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 – 12th
Enrollment
578
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
32
Type
alternative
Setting
Small City
County
Black Hawk County
4-Year Graduation
47.0%
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, 2010-2025; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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