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Very Good

#444 of 1,280 schools in IA

Top 35% in state

Lowell Elementary School

Elementary School · Waterloo Comm School District

1628 Washington St, Waterloo, IA 50702

Enrollment

480

Student-Teacher

12.3:1

Score

7.3

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Iowa schools

#444 of 1,280

In Waterloo

#7 of 16

public schools

In district

#8 of 18

Waterloo Comm School District

Academic growth

8.5 / 10

Excellent

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Lowell Elementary School

7.3/10

Elementary School in Waterloo · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Kittrell Elementary School

7.5/10

0.9 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Irving Elementary School

8.0/10

0.8 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Lowell Elementary School

Lowell Elementary School is a public elementary school in Waterloo, IA, part of Waterloo Comm School District. Lowell Elementary School serves approximately 480 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Lowell Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.3 out of 10 and ranks #444 of 1,280 schools in IA.

Structured state assessment records for Lowell Elementary School show 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 49% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 7.3 · Very Good
  • District avg 7.2
  • IA avg 6.5

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.5Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-0.15 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendStable
Academics4.5Below Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency56.3% (2025 ISASP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency51.3% (2025 ISASP)
Math vs. State Avg-20.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-17.8 pts
Overall Proficiency54% (2025 ISASP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)53% (model expectation from 2025 ISASP)
vs. Expected+0.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile26th
Resources & Environment8.5Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,652
Chronic Absenteeism27.1%

Lowell Elementary School — Students at Lowell Elementary School score 54% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 53%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

77.3%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IA ISASP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 51.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
74.6% (2025 ISASP)
ELA Proficiency 48.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
72.3% (2025 ISASP)

Based on 35 test records from IA state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
52%
ELA
57%
2010
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2011
Math
52%
ELA
42%
2012
Math
57%
ELA
47%
2013
Math
47%
ELA
47%
2014
Math
52%
ELA
52%
2015
Math
57%
ELA
52%
2016
Math
52%
ELA
42%
2017
Math
52%
ELA
47%
2018
Math
47%
ELA
52%
2019
Math
47%
ELA
52%
2020*
Math
42%
ELA
42%
2021*
Math
42%
ELA
42%
2022
Math
52%
ELA
47%
2025
Math
56.3%
ELA
51.3%

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

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.5/10.

How Lowell Elementary School Compares

See how Lowell Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.3/10
65th percentile in IA
Academic
4.5/10
Below Average
Growth
8.5/10
Excellent
Environment
8.5/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
77%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
39 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
27.1%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

1628 Washington St, Waterloo, IA 50702

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Lowell Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Poyner Elementary (rated 8.6/10, 3.1 miles away, in nearby Evansdale), which scores notably higher. Another option is Irving Elementary School (rated 8.0/10, 0.8 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Kittrell Elementary School (rated 7.5/10, 0.9 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Waterloo, see our Waterloo schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Kittrell Elementary School Waterloo 0.9 mi 7.5
Irving Elementary School Waterloo 0.8 mi 8.0
East High School Waterloo 1.2 mi 4.2
ROYAL LEGACY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Waterloo 1.3 mi 5.9
COLUMBUS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL Waterloo 1.5 mi 6.5
BLESSED MARIA ASSUNTA PALLOTTA MIDDLE SCHOOL Waterloo 1.5 mi 7.6
West High School Waterloo 1.4 mi 4.9
ST EDWARD SCHOOL Waterloo 1.3 mi 6.3
Cunningham School Waterloo 1.7 mi 5.8
Highland Elementary School Waterloo 1.5 mi 7.5
Expo Alternative Learning Center Waterloo 1.6 mi 3.9
Kingsley Elementary School Waterloo 1.6 mi 7.3
Hoover Middle School Waterloo 2.1 mi 7.2
Lou Henry Elementary School Waterloo 2.2 mi 5.4
George Washington Carver Academy Waterloo 2.6 mi 6.2
Lincoln Elementary School Waterloo 2.9 mi 6.9
WATERLOO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Waterloo 2.6 mi 5.8
Fred Becker Elementary School Waterloo 3.0 mi 6.5
Poyner Elementary Evansdale 3.1 mi 8.6
Bunger Middle School Evansdale 3.0 mi 5.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 50702 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$59,784

Median Home Value

$145,800

Median Rent

$926/mo

Population

21,197

College Educated

21.2%

Homeownership

59.5%

Avg Commute

17.7 min

Poverty Rate

12.8%

Median Age

36

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Adel Elementary School Adel, IA 7.3
Alan Shepard Elementary School Long Grove, IA 7.3
Bess Streeter Aldrich Elementary Cedar Falls, IA 7.3
Crocker Elementary School Ankeny, IA 7.3
Edward White Elementary School Eldridge, IA 7.3
Kingsley Elementary School Waterloo, IA 7.3

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
58 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
27 Some Transit
Bike Score
68 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
480
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
39
Free/Reduced Lunch
77.3%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Black Hawk County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
27.1%

District

Waterloo Comm School District
District Enrollment
10,606
Schools in District
18
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,652
District Rank
#8 of 18

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