Beta You're viewing our redesigned school page. Prefer the classic layout?

George Washington Carver Academy

Public Grades 6-8

325^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 344 Iowa Middle Schools

Better than 6% of Iowa middle schools

Summary

George Washington Carver Academy is a public middle school in Waterloo, Iowa, serving 447 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Waterloo Community School District, which is ranked 287 out of 313 districts in the state and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

George Washington Carver Academy faces significant challenges in providing a high-quality education for its students. The school has consistently low academic performance, with test scores in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science that are significantly lower than the district and state averages. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, the school's proficiency rates ranged from 39.6% to 61.5%, compared to the district's 55.1% to 69.3% and the state's 70.5% to 80.2%. Additionally, the school has consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 21.6% to 56.9% over the past few years, which is much higher than the state average.

When compared to nearby schools within the Waterloo Community School District, such as Bunger Middle School, Central Middle School, and Hoover Middle School, George Washington Carver Academy consistently underperforms in terms of test scores and school rankings. However, these nearby schools also struggle, with most of them ranking in the bottom half of Iowa middle schools. The school's high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 89.32% to 90.95%, suggests that the student population faces significant socioeconomic challenges, which may contribute to the school's low academic performance.

455

Students ?

13.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,466

Per pupil spending ?

90.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1505 Logan Ave
Waterloo, IA 50703

(319) 433-2500

District: Waterloo Community School District

Students who attend George Washington Carver Academy usually attend:

High:

East High School

Feeder schools for George Washington Carver Academy:

Elementary:	Cunningham School
	Highland Elementary School
	Lincoln Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

47.5%

Hispanic:

20.0%

White:

11.9%

See top rated Iowa middle schools

Compare George Washington Carver Academy to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 2nd percentile in 2015 → 6th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Iowa average (52% vs 74% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (6th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (57% vs 22% Iowa)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school52%

District avg61%

Iowa avg74%

325^th of 344

Iowa public middle schools ?

Bottom 6%▲ up 4 pts since 2015

From bottom 2% (2015) to bottom 6% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Iowa Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 4Middle Schools in the Waterloo Community School District

287^th of 313Waterloo Community School District among Iowa districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Iowa percentile	Rating
2025	5.7	325 of 344	5.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	3.8	324 of 337	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	5.0	319 of 334	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	2.3	332 of 337	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	2.4	318 of 324	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	2.2	337 of 342	1.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	2.2	313 of 318	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	6.4	314 of 327	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	7.9	326 of 343	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	2.8	342 of 349	2.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	4.8	327 of 337	3.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	4.3	345 of 350	1.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	2.1	347 of 349	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Iowa (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts53%-23 vs state

Mathematics52%-20 vs state

Science52%-19 vs state

4.0

1 rating · 1 written review

5★0

4★1

3★0

2★0

1★0

Rate George Washington Carver Academy

Have first-hand experience? A quick rating - and a sentence or two about what stands out (teachers, academics, safety, communication) - helps other families know what to expect.

Takes about a minute. We email you a link to verify your review - your address is never shown publicly.

Tap a star to rate

What people are saying

by a teacher
Thursday, June 21, 2018

GWCA is a place for students to develop their talents in athletics and music. Students receive instruction from teachers who care about them and love to teach. I have loved being a part of the GWCA staff and love the students I get to work with on a daily basis. We have great kids who are full of potential! Close Quote

Schools Near George Washington Carver Academy

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ISASP English Language Arts (2025)					ISASP Mathematics (2025)					ISASP Science (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ISASP English Language Arts 5th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 6th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 7th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 8th Grade	ISASP English Language Arts 9th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 5th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 6th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 7th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 8th Grade	ISASP Mathematics 9th Grade	ISASP Science 5th Grade	ISASP Science 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
George Washington Carver Academy	Public	6-8	1505 Logan Ave	Waterloo	50703	Black Hawk County	Waterloo Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(319) 433-2500	455	33	13.6	90.5%	54 (11.9%)	216 (47.5%)	91 (20.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (8.8%)	53 (11.6%)	5.7	325^th of 344 public middle schools	5.5%		3.8	324^th of 337 public middle schools	3.9%	1		47.4	48.4	61.1			51.1	42.6	61.5			51.7	$14,466	$860	$13,605
Central Middle School	Public	6-8	1350 Katoski Dr	Waterloo	50701	Black Hawk County	Waterloo Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(319) 433-2100	469	35	13.3	85.1%	122 (26.0%)	160 (34.1%)	70 (14.9%)	18 (3.8%)	2 (0.4%)	39 (8.3%)	58 (12.4%)	3.7	329^th of 344 public middle schools	4.4%		2.3	330^th of 337 public middle schools	2.1%	1		39.6	53.6	64.0			47.5	50.4	48.4			48.4	$16,022	$901	$15,120
Hoover Middle School	Public	6-8	630 Hillcrest Rd	Waterloo	50701	Black Hawk County	Waterloo Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 433-2830	848	57	14.9	56.3%	452 (53.3%)	168 (19.8%)	79 (9.3%)	48 (5.7%)	1 (0.1%)	19 (2.2%)	81 (9.6%)	43.2	238^th of 344 public middle schools	30.8%		42.2	226^th of 337 public middle schools	32.9%	12		72.6	72.9	76.7			73.9	71.4	72.2			69.3	$12,322	$288	$12,033
Bunger Middle School	Public	6-8	157 S Roosevelt Rd	Evansdale	50707	Black Hawk County	Waterloo Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 433-2550	440	35	12.5	74.5%	186 (42.3%)	81 (18.4%)	103 (23.4%)	7 (1.6%)	3 (0.7%)	20 (4.5%)	40 (9.1%)	13.9	310^th of 344 public middle schools	9.9%		17.8	301^st of 337 public middle schools	10.7%	9		41.3	57.7	70.3			41.3	64.1	64.4			59.3	$14,500	$895	$13,604
Peet Junior High School	Public	7-9	525 E Seerley Blvd	Cedar Falls	50613	Black Hawk County	Cedar Falls Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 553-2710	695	49	14.1	20.3%	568 (81.7%)	29 (4.2%)	18 (2.6%)	33 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (0.9%)	41 (5.9%)	78.6	36^th of 344 public middle schools	89.5%		76.3	54^th of 337 public middle schools	84.0%	18			85.0	93.7	87.3			83.8	83.8	79.5		82.4	$12,622	$245	$12,377
Holmes Junior High School	Public	7-9	505 Holmes Dr	Cedar Falls	50613	Black Hawk County	Cedar Falls Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 553-2650	628	47	13.4	25.2%	513 (81.7%)	31 (4.9%)	21 (3.3%)	18 (2.9%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (6.8%)	77.1	42^nd of 344 public middle schools	87.8%		79.6	38^th of 337 public middle schools	88.7%	4			89.5	89.1	94.2			84.5	84.6	87.4		78.6	$13,002	$245	$12,757
Denver Middle School	Public	6-8	800 Longview Drive	Denver	50622	Bremer County	Denver Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 984-6041	238	12	20.2	13.0%	228 (95.8%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.3%)	92.9	1^st of 344 public middle schools	99.7%		90.4	4^th of 337 public middle schools	98.8%	3		94.7	96.7	95.8			90.7	93.5	95.8			95.8	$9,191	$24	$9,168
Jesup Middle School	Public	5-8	531 Prospect	Jesup	50648	Buchanan County	Jesup Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 827-1700	249	18	14.0	22.1%	241 (96.8%)	1 (0.4%)	5 (2.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	73.4	63^rd of 344 public middle schools	81.7%		66.8	108^th of 337 public middle schools	68.0%	45	75.4	80.7	77.8	92.7		73.8	77.2	81.9	90.7		73.8	89.1	$9,239	$118	$9,121
Dike-New Hartford Junior High School	Public	6-8	508 Beaver	New Hartford	50660	Butler County	Dike-New Hartford Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 983-2206	210	11	18.3	22.9%	195 (92.9%)	1 (0.5%)	7 (3.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.4%)	77	43^rd of 344 public middle schools	87.5%					(n/a)		78.9	89.3	94.4			70.2	80.0	93.1			91.7	$12,362	$276	$12,086
Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School	Public	5-8	501 Heritage Way	Waverly	50677	Bremer County	Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(319) 352-3632	681	49	13.8	24.8%	620 (91.0%)	13 (1.9%)	15 (2.2%)	6 (0.9%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (3.8%)	75.1	55^th of 344 public middle schools	84.0%		77.9	44^th of 337 public middle schools	86.9%	11	74.8	82.8	82.1	88.1		88.1	86.1	84.9	84.7		70.4	80.2	$11,433	$283	$11,149

Frequently Asked Questions about George Washington Carver Academy

What high school do graduates of George Washington Carver Academy attend?

Students who attend George Washington Carver Academy usually go on to attend East High School

What district is George Washington Carver Academy in?

Waterloo Community School District

Is George Washington Carver Academy a good school?

George Washington Carver Academy ranks in the bottom 5.5% of Iowa middle schools.

What is the racial makeup of George Washington Carver Academy?

Students at George Washington Carver Academy are 47% African American, 20% Hispanic, 12% White, 12% Two or more races, 9% Pacific Islander.

How many students attend George Washington Carver Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 455 students attended George Washington Carver Academy.

Rate George Washington Carver Academy!

Other helpful SchoolDigger resources...

Compare to nearby schools

IAIowa Middle School Rankings

IAIowa District Rankings

Schools in Waterloo, IA

Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for George Washington Carver Academy!

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Iowa Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.