Top Rankings
Waterloo Comm School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Iowa for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 3 public high schools serving 3,304 students in Waterloo Comm School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 1/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in Iowa.
Public High Schools in Waterloo Comm School District have an average math proficiency score of 45% (versus the Iowa public high school average of 60%), and reading proficiency score of 59% (versus the 71% statewide average).
Public High School in Waterloo Comm School District have a Graduation Rate of 78%, which is less than the Iowa average of 88%.
The school with highest graduation rate is West High School, with 90% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Iowa or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 57% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Iowa public high school average of 27% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (IA)
# Schools
19 Schools
365 Schools
# Students
10,619 Students
171,507 Students
# Teachers
716 Teachers
11,091 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Waterloo Comm School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 325 school districts in Iowa (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 78% has decreased from 84% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#299 out of 327 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
53%
64%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
57%
70%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
50%
63%
Graduation Rate
78%
90%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.73
0.45
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
3%
2%
% Hispanic
14%
13%
% Black
28%
6%
% White
40%
73%
% Hawaiian
4%
1%
% Two or more races
11%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $16,536 is higher than the state median of $16,468. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $15,469 is less than the state median of $16,042. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$176 MM
$8,262 MM
Spending
$164 MM
$8,048 MM
Revenue / Student
$16,536
$16,468
Spending / Student
$15,469
$16,042
Best Waterloo Comm School District Public High Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
West High School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
425 E Ridgeway Ave
Waterloo, IA 50702
(319) 433-2700
Waterloo, IA 50702
(319) 433-2700
Grades: 9-12
| 1,713 students
Rank: #22.
East High School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
214 High St
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2400
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-2400
Grades: 9-12
| 1,013 students
Rank: #33.
Expo Alternative Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1410 Independence Ave
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-1930
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 433-1930
Grades: 6-12
| 578 students
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