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Waterloo High School

Q: Is Waterloo High School a good school?

Waterloo High School ranks 437 th of 686 Alabama alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Alternative Grades PK, KG-12

437^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 686 Alabama Alternative Schools

Better than 36% of Alabama alternative schools

Summary

Waterloo High School in Waterloo, AL, is a small, rural PK-12 school serving 337 students within the Lauderdale County district. It is the only school within 20 miles, making it the central educational hub for this tight-knit community.

One of the school's biggest strengths is its commitment to seeing students through to graduation. The graduation rate has consistently beaten the state average, reaching an impressive 95.8% in 2024-2025, nearly matching the district's 96.0% and well above the state's 91.5%. This is a notable achievement, especially given that a high percentage of students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. However, this success is tempered by a significant challenge: chronic absenteeism. At 23.7%, the rate is nearly double the state average of 12.0%, which almost certainly impacts learning. While the district also struggles with this issue (23.4%), it remains a critical area of concern for the school.

Academically, the school presents a mixed picture. Elementary students, particularly in 3rd grade, often perform at or above state averages in English, with a 75% proficiency rate in 2025-2026 compared to 64.75% statewide. However, there is a sharp decline by 11th grade, where proficiency in Math (5.56%) and Science lags far behind district and state averages. There is a silver lining: 11th-grade English showed a remarkable jump to 46.15% proficiency in 2024-2025, suggesting that targeted literacy efforts can work. The school's "Alternative" designation, combined with its PK-12 span, suggests it may be successfully integrating support for at-risk students, but the data indicates that keeping students in school and ensuring they master grade-level material are two separate, ongoing battles.

337

Students ?

18.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,603

Per pupil spending ?

51.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

311 Schoolhouse Ln
Waterloo, AL 35677

(256) 766-3100

District: Lauderdale County

Racial breakdown:

White:

96.1%

African American:

1.5%

Hispanic:

1.5%

See top rated Alabama elementary schools

Compare Waterloo High School to nearby alternative schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 68th percentile in 2023 → 13th in 2026

Strengths

✓96% graduate in 4 years — above the Alabama average (92%)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Alabama average (37% vs 46% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (24% vs 12% Alabama)

!Ranking has slipped — down 55 percentile points since 2023

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school37%

District avg49%

Alabama avg46%

Elementary school

437^th of 686

Alabama public elementary schools ?

Bottom 36%▼ down 6 pts since 2016

From bottom 42% (2016) to bottom 36% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Alabama Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

201^st of 443

Alabama public middle schools ?

Top 45%▲ up 18 pts since 2016

From bottom 37% (2016) to top 45% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Alabama Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

High school

331^st of 380

Alabama public high schools ?

Bottom 13%▼ down 34 pts since 2016

From bottom 47% (2016) to bottom 13% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Alabama High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

55^th of 139Lauderdale County among Alabama districts

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

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	39.6	437 of 686	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	53.0	334 of 680	50.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	50.6	345 of 684	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	53.8	320 of 680	52.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.3	346 of 687	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	49.0	352 of 692	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	65.3	221 of 681	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.2	341 of 680	49.9%	★★☆☆☆
2017	63.4	227 of 688	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2016	43.3	401 of 691	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	50.3	340 of 691	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2014	42.5	429 of 695	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2013	35.6	554 of 696	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	24.5	607 of 696	12.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	30.9	570 of 709	19.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	47.4	446 of 704	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2009	38.9	495 of 696	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	25.1	606 of 698	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	44.4	440 of 698	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2006	22.2	608 of 689	11.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	28.4	562 of 688	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	25.7	502 of 623	19.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	40.7	412 of 652	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	55.7	285 of 649	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	68.0	188 of 650	71.1%	★★★★☆
2023	70.7	172 of 645	73.3%	★★★★☆
2022	77.2	122 of 656	81.4%	★★★★☆
2021	67.1	189 of 656	71.2%	★★★★☆
2019	57.6	261 of 646	59.6%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	29.0	496 of 668	25.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	58.1	262 of 660	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	65.6	211 of 670	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.4	187 of 651	71.3%	★★★★☆
2021	56.7	274 of 653	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	78.4	77 of 649	88.1%	★★★★☆
2018	58.5	265 of 651	59.3%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	48.9	348 of 660	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	30.7	454 of 651	30.3%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.7	432 of 655	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	40.1	406 of 649	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.6	387 of 669	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	27.4	482 of 669	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	30.5	465 of 650	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	17.8	458 of 500	8.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	34.3	376 of 532	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.6	407 of 535	23.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	31.3	391 of 528	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	32.3	386 of 540	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	33.0	381 of 539	29.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	48.4	269 of 529	49.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	36.0	350 of 508	31.1%	★★☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	53.0	201 of 443	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2025	61.3	143 of 439	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2024	69.1	107 of 442	75.8%	★★★★☆
2023	45.4	233 of 437	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	51.0	196 of 432	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	39.9	264 of 440	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	42.9	265 of 437	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2018	54.9	181 of 423	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2017	53.1	190 of 432	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2016	38.5	274 of 432	36.6%	★★☆☆☆
2015	33.5	295 of 430	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2014	38.8	277 of 438	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2013	19.8	384 of 436	11.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	25.1	353 of 436	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	41.3	281 of 435	35.4%	★★☆☆☆
2010	37.0	301 of 435	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2009	41.2	275 of 425	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2008	45.3	245 of 417	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2007	44.7	246 of 412	40.3%	★★☆☆☆
2006	47.5	226 of 409	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2005	48.5	216 of 415	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2004	27.2	320 of 407	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	76.1	82 of 422	80.6%	★★★★☆
2025	77.3	69 of 415	83.4%	★★★★☆
2024	72.7	87 of 426	79.6%	★★★★☆
2022	81.3	52 of 423	87.7%	★★★★☆
2021	43.1	234 of 415	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	53.1	183 of 399	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	78.1	61 of 392	84.4%	★★★★☆
2017	56.8	149 of 380	60.8%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	48.7	205 of 432	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	73.6	80 of 428	81.3%	★★★★☆
2024	72.6	80 of 437	81.7%	★★★★☆
2022	63.8	110 of 421	73.9%	★★★★☆
2021	31.6	294 of 415	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	52.4	184 of 396	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	51.5	192 of 396	51.5%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	32.7	283 of 421	32.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	24.9	317 of 422	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	56.1	165 of 428	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	41.7	245 of 419	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	27.0	324 of 427	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	26.6	306 of 399	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.8	299 of 397	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	46.0	204 of 380	46.3%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	29.6	269 of 355	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	44.0	200 of 377	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	55.1	138 of 373	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	33.3	248 of 370	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	38.5	220 of 376	41.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	26.9	286 of 369	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	26.6	277 of 343	19.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	35.5	209 of 331	36.9%	★★☆☆☆

High school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	16.5	331 of 380	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	60.6	131 of 374	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	27.8	273 of 378	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	63.0	117 of 371	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	22.1	289 of 367	21.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.1	264 of 371	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	15.3	309 of 366	15.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	50.4	175 of 356	50.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	38.1	208 of 353	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2016	43.6	186 of 351	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2015	42.7	204 of 353	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2014	60.0	129 of 358	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2013	47.2	247 of 358	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2012	51.7	204 of 358	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2011	37.4	273 of 360	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	12.4	350 of 358	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	52.7	190 of 357	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2008	49.1	211 of 359	41.2%	★★☆☆☆
2007	40.9	241 of 358	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2006	61.9	132 of 357	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2005	60.4	137 of 359	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2004	55.6	165 of 357	53.8%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	60.4	122 of 359	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	35.6	229 of 366	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	90.1	37 of 358	89.7%	★★★★☆
2022	31.7	247 of 367	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	21.5	284 of 359	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	20.4	287 of 354	18.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2025	75.0	68 of 367	81.5%	★★★★☆
2024	25.7	286 of 375	23.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	77.5	61 of 349	82.5%	★★★★☆
2022	15.3	325 of 361	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	29.4	260 of 361	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	10.3	337 of 358	5.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	17.9	316 of 375	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	57.0	140 of 363	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	21.6	285 of 358	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.8	316 of 366	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	38.6	217 of 366	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	11.5	317 of 357	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	62.2	129 of 350	63.1%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Alabama percentile	Rating
2026	7.5	311 of 316	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	47.1	162 of 325	50.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	16.4	296 of 325	8.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	45.7	149 of 317	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	12.2	309 of 326	5.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	19.7	271 of 319	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	5.9	298 of 313	4.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	18.5	259 of 300	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Male (2026)47th percentile+11 vs school

Female (2026)37th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)26th percentile-11 vs school

White (2026)8th percentile-28 vs school

Middle school

Female (2026)81st percentile+26 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)53rd percentile~ school

Male (2026)33rd percentile-22 vs school

White (2026)24th percentile-30 vs school

High school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)81st percentile+16 vs school

Female (2025)66th percentile~ school

Male (2026)16th percentile+3 vs school

White (2026)2nd percentile-11 vs school

By subject vs Alabama (2025-2026) ?

English51%-6 vs state

Science31%-16 vs state

Mathematics26%-8 vs state

★

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Schools Near Waterloo High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking ()				Ranking ()				Summative Assessment Mathematics (2026)							Summative Assessment Science (2026)			Summative Assessment English (2026)							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 (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	SchoolDigger Rating ()	Average Standard Score ()	Statewide Rank ()	State Percentile ()	Rank Change from Previous Year	Summative Assessment Mathematics 3rd Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 4th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 5th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 6th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 7th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 8th Grade	Summative Assessment Mathematics 11th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 4th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 8th Grade	Summative Assessment Science 11th Grade	Summative Assessment English 3rd Grade	Summative Assessment English 4th Grade	Summative Assessment English 5th Grade	Summative Assessment English 6th Grade	Summative Assessment English 7th Grade	Summative Assessment English 8th Grade	Summative Assessment English 11th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Waterloo High School	Public, Alternative	PK, KG-12	311 Schoolhouse Ln	Waterloo	35677	Lauderdale County	Lauderdale County	No	No	No	Yes	(256) 766-3100	337	19	18.2	51.9%	324 (96.1%)	5 (1.5%)	5 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)								(n/a)	50.0	22.2	16.7	37.0	21.7	30.8	5.6	33.3	43.6	16.7	75.0	44.4	58.3	51.9	59.1	53.9	14.3	$11,603	$1,560	$10,036

Frequently Asked Questions about Waterloo High School

Is Waterloo High School a good school?

Waterloo High School ranks 437^th of 686 Alabama alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Waterloo High School?

Students at Waterloo High School are 96% White, 1% African American, 1% Hispanic.

What district is Waterloo High School in?

Lauderdale County

How many students attend Waterloo High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 337 students attended Waterloo High School.

Rate Waterloo High School!

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Latest Alabama data All new data »

2025–26 Summative Assessment scoresAug 14, 2026

2024–25 attendance data & graduation ratesDec 27, 2025

2024–25 Summative Assessment scoresAug 14, 2025

2021–22 through 2023–24 attendance data & graduation ratesDec 2, 2024

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