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Needs Improvement

#1116 of 1,176 schools in SC

Waterloo Elementary

Elementary School · Laurens 55 · Waterloo, SC

A Laurens 55 elementary school where students score 9 points below what's typical for similar communities.

10457 Highway 221 South, Waterloo, SC 29384

  • Math 22% proficient (2022)
  • Reading 32% proficient (2022)
  • 9.9:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress1.4Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-6.02 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics4.1Below Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency22% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency32% (2022 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency27% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)36% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-9.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile22th
Resources & Environment7.3Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio9.9:1
District spending per student$14,216
Chronic Absenteeism31.9%

Students at Waterloo Elementary score 27% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 36%).

How we calculate scores →

2022 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. SC average.

Math Proficiency22%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency32%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 10 points since 2019, to 27% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
92%
ELA
92%
2010
Math
82%
ELA
82%
2011
Math
82%
ELA
92%
2012
Math
87%
ELA
92%
2013
Math
82%
ELA
87%
2014
Math
57%
ELA
32%
2015
Math
62%
ELA
47%
2016
Math
42%
ELA
32%
2017
Math
47%
ELA
32%
2018
Math
37%
ELA
37%
2019
Math
37%
ELA
37%
2020*
Math
17%
ELA
22%
2021*
Math
17%
ELA
22%
2022
Math
22%
ELA
32%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 55% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 53% (multi-year average, 2009-2022)

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

Based on 28 test records from SC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

100%

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 Waterloo Elementary 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 4Car-Dependent
  • Bike 17Somewhat Bikeable
  • County Safety: Elevated1,258/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$50,587

Median home value

$148,600

Median rent

$641/mo

College educated

21%

Homeownership

84.4%

Poverty rate

22.8%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 29384; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

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 in Laurens 55

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
E. B. Morse ElementaryEnrollment path unverified3.5PK–5Not available432Compare →
Ford ElementaryEnrollment path unverified3.7PK–5Not available418Compare →
Gray Court-owings Elementary/middleEnrollment path unverified5.9PK–8Not available755Compare →
Hickory Tavern Elementary/middleEnrollment path unverified6.5PK–8Not available621Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

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

Laurens 55

Schools in district
9
Rank in district
#9 of 9
District spending per student
$14,216NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
26.5%Census SAIPE · 2024

Waterloo Elementary is listed in Laurens 55; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Waterloo Elementary

Waterloo Elementary is a public elementary school in Waterloo, SC, part of Laurens 55, serving approximately 257 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 9.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.4 out of 10 and ranks #1,116 of 1,176 schools in SC. State assessment records show 55% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Waterloo Elementary

What grades does Waterloo Elementary serve?

Waterloo Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Waterloo Elementary?

Waterloo Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 257 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Waterloo Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Waterloo Elementary is 9.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Waterloo Elementary rank in SC?

Waterloo Elementary ranks #1,116 of 1,176 schools in SC.

What is Waterloo Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Waterloo Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.4 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 Waterloo Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Waterloo Elementary has 55% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022).

Is Waterloo Elementary a charter school?

No, Waterloo Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Waterloo Elementary a Title I school?

No, Waterloo Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Waterloo Elementary?

100.0% of students at Waterloo Elementary 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
257
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
26
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Laurens County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
31.9%
Area population (ZIP 29384)
3,440
Area average commute
27.8 min
Area median age
52.6
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 · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • 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 29384; 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, 2009-2022; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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