Very Good
#444 of 1,280 schools in IA
Top 35% in state
Lowell Elementary School
Elementary School · Waterloo Comm School District · Waterloo, IA
A Waterloo Comm School District elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 5th.
1628 Washington St, Waterloo, IA 50702
- Math 56% vs IA 75% (2025)
- Reading 51% vs IA 72% (2025)
- 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Lowell Elementary School score 54% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 53%).
2025 ISASP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IA average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 12 points since 2020, reaching 54% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 51% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 49% (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
77.3%
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 Lowell Elementary 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 58Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 27Some Transit
- Bike 68Bikeable
- 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
$59,784
Median home value
$145,800
Median rent
$926/mo
College educated
21.2%
Homeownership
59.5%
Poverty rate
12.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 50702; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irving Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.0 | K–5 | 0.8 mi | 388 | Compare → |
| Kittrell Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.5 | PK–5 | 0.9 mi | 613 | Compare → |
| Royal Legacy Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 5.9private | PK–6 | 1.3 mi | 33 | Compare → |
| St Edward SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.3private | K–5 | 1.3 mi | 307 | Compare → |
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
- #8 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
Lowell Elementary School is listed in Waterloo Comm School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Lowell Elementary School
Lowell Elementary School is a public elementary school in Waterloo, IA, part of Waterloo Comm School District, serving approximately 480 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10 and ranks #444 of 1,280 schools in IA. State assessment records show 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 49% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Lowell Elementary School
What grades does Lowell Elementary School serve?
Lowell Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Lowell Elementary School?
Lowell Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 480 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lowell Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Lowell Elementary School is 12.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Lowell Elementary School rank in IA?
Lowell Elementary School ranks #444 of 1,280 schools in IA.
What is Lowell Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Lowell Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 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 Lowell Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Lowell Elementary School has 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 49% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Lowell Elementary School a charter school?
No, Lowell Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Lowell Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Lowell Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Lowell Elementary School?
77.3% of students at Lowell Elementary 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
- 480
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 39
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small City
- County
- Black Hawk County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 27.1%
- Phone
- (319) 433-1900
- Area population (ZIP 50702)
- 21,197
- Area average commute
- 17.7 min
- Area median age
- 36
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 50702; 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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