Best Elementary Schools in Waterloo, IN

The city of Waterloo, Indiana has only one elementary school, Waterloo Elementary School, which serves students from pre-kindergarten through 5th grade. The school is part of the DeKalb County Ctl United School District and faces significant academic challenges compared to state and district averages.

Waterloo Elementary School's test scores are notably lower than both the district and state averages across multiple subjects and grade levels. In English Language Arts, only 20.22% of students are proficient, compared to 39.5% in the district and 40.3% statewide. In math, 42.7% of students are proficient, slightly higher than the district average of 40.88%. However, the school's science and social studies proficiency rates lag behind district and state levels. Additionally, the school has a high chronic absenteeism rate of 17.8%, which can negatively impact student learning.

With over 72% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, Waterloo Elementary School serves a high-poverty student population, which may contribute to the school's academic struggles. Despite adequate funding, with $13,076 spent per student, the school's performance has declined, dropping in the statewide ranking from 743 out of 1,020 schools in 2021-2022 to 757 out of 1,016 schools in 2022-2023. These findings suggest the need for targeted interventions and support to improve student outcomes at Waterloo Elementary School.